Biography
The Apostle Paul did not communicate with Jesus Christ with his earthly life, did not enter the nearest circle of students of the Savior, nor in the number of seventy preachers. In the biography of the saint there are dark spots and incomprehensible events. Pavel - Initially, an ardent opponent of any teaching, the persecutor of the followers of faith, but the texts written to them went into the foundation of the foundation of the New Testament Theological Thought, and the Apostle itself turned into one of the most revered Christian saints.Childhood and youth
Not every saint is known for the date of birth. Paul in this regard is an exception, the question is only exactly. Researchers did not come to a common opinion: perhaps the apostle was born between 6 and 10 of the first century, or in the 5th year. It is called a completely accurate date - 25 May 7 years.
Parents Paul - Pharisees from Tars, the main city of Kilicia. Since the birth of Saint belonged to the elite of society, because not only born in a wealthy family, but also possessed the status of a citizen of Rome. Such an honor was honored not every resident of an ancient powerful empire. The Roman citizen had some privileges: he was not able to punish and the shameful death penalty, without a court decision, it is impossible to wear shackles, and if a citizen does not agree with the decision of the local judge, I had the right to apply to Cesarev court.
At first, the boy was called Savle, in honor of King Saul from the knee of Veniaminov, from which his father's pedigree was led. It is assumed that the family belonged to the enterprise for the production of fabrics or leather goods, and Sawla was taught by the craft of the manufacture of tents in order to make a living.
Initial formation Sawl received at home. Father tweaked the son of honoring the Torah and Pharisee philosophy. The future apostle has expanded the horizon at the school of the founder of the Talmudic Judaism of the Hamalian, succeeded in the Judaism of more than the rest of the peers, did not remain aside from the Christian movement started. But, like all the Pharisees, it was assumed that the Jewish kingdom expedited the Messiah will elevate, and it was wrong when the Savior turned out to be no well-known teacher of Nazareth, and besides crucified on the cross.
Sawl, possessing a living mind and brilliant education, argued with Christians, but came out for a persistent conviction in the matters of faith, because of which he fell and considered the extermination of Christians an incentive.
According to researchers of the blessing of the apostle, Paul was part of Sedrin - a higher religious institution that performed the functions of the court. According to the New Testament, a similar institution made a death sentence to Jesus Christ. It is believed that it was just trapped in Sedrinion, Paul first encountered jealous of the Christian faith, began to pursue the supporters of Christ.
In the Acts of the Apostles, "says that Sawl had the right to put into prison, to carry out death sentences:" For all the synagogues I repeatedly tormented them, and forced to blame Jesus. " For the first time, the name of Savla - the future of the Apostle is mentioned in the Bible in the episode associated with the execution of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. From the same "acts" it is known that Sawl's feet of Saulie Stephen put their clothes and the future apostle "approved the murder."
Christian ministry
Damascus events that happened after the execution of Stephen became the turning point in the life of Sawla. A member of the Sedriner ended the right to pursue Christians in Damascus. On the way to the city of Saorlo, there was a divine phenomenon - a fiery pillar and a voice called to the apostolic ministry. Satellites of the future apostle heard a voice, but did not see the light. Sawla, defeated by blindness, was taken to Damascus, where he spent three days in prayers, rushed and asked for forgiveness. On the third day, the Local Christian Ananya baptized Sawla, and at the time of the sacrament he was prose.
The fact that the Lord has not been discussed by Sawla in the Holy Spirit, but did it in the edification of the doubtful: if such a terrible man changed dramatically, disinterested by God's will, what to talk about the rest.
According to the parties of theologians, the events under Damascus - a clear evidence that Paul joined the teachings of Christ by no means through his students, because for an ardent persecutor of the followers of Jesus, this in principle is impossible. In a situation with Pavl, his appeal is truly God's fishery, a higher revelation. In the Message to Galatians, it is argued that
"Paul Apostle, elected not by human and not through a person, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, resurrected him from the dead."The appeal of Paul to Christianity caused rage among the Jews. The former pursuer for faith was hiding in Jerusalem, where he met other apostles. Together with the apostle, the Varnavoy went on the first journey, bringing the teachings of Christ to the people. Christians initially did not perceive the appeals of Paul, as they remembered his past. It is believed that the Varnabas, as well as the Apostle Peter, helped the newly informed to become their among those against whom he recently performed so violently.
Faith in Christ put an imprint to the entire subsequent life of Paul. He was rebounded in a new man - an exemplary Christian, who bombed his actions, wherever was, with Jesus Christ. The apostle has spent 14 years in missionary trips, from the center of Asia to Rome, and even, according to legend, to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Spain and Britain. In 51, St. Paul participated in the Apostolic Cathedral in Jerusalem, where he opposed the need for the pagans who adopted Christianity, abide by the rites of the law of Moses.
During the travel, Pavloma and Varnava are founded by Christian communities in the cities of Icon and Antioch Pishidian, Athens and Corinth, Solun and Veria and other settlements. In the city of Listra, the Apostles healed chrome. Residents, seeing a miracle, proclaimed Paul and Barnava the gods and removed to bring them the victims, but the apostles managed to avoid the temptation to be equal to the Lord.
On the contrary, the saints convinced the people that they are as simple mortals. At the same time, Paul received a true student Timofey, the evangelist of Luke joined them in the Troadade. Saint went around with the sermons of the Balkan Peninsula and Cyprus, where he drew in the faith of Proconsula Sergius.
The legend tells that Prosonsul served the goddess Venus, but, being a clever man, became interested in the teachings that his guest professed. However, the local Jew Variovus, an approximate Sergius and considered a wizard, in every way prevented this. Paul stopped the wrap, Javil Miracle - Varianus Oplex. The affected proconsul accepted baptism. Luke from now on the travel records called the Apostle Paul.
It is assumed that the newlyranded Christian suggested the apostle to protect, which implied the capture of the name of the patron. However, John Zlatoust adhered to the opinion that Sawl began to be called Pavel after the adoption of her baptism from St. Anania. Evidence of this is the tradition of the Jews to celebrate the name of the name of the iconic events in life.
As follows from the Holy Scripture, the Apostle Paul said that he was "entrusted to the evangelism for uncircumcised as Peter for circumcised." In other words, Peter, a leaving from Galilee, who hardly been given foreign languages, preached among the Jews. Before Paul, there was a challenge to carry the Word of God into other nations living in the Mediterranean area and beyond.
In the second message to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul described his ministry as an act against the attacks of Jews. Unlike other apostles, the former experience of St. Paul allowed to freely navigate in the interpretation of the Torah, and therefore his sermons sounded convincing and brighter, since he foresaw in advance, which objections the Pharisees were put forward. The probability of probability is argued that Paul is inherent in high self-conceit as a person, better than others dealt in the questions of Christianity, which knows "as it should".
Preaching among ordinary people, the apostle often used comparisons, believing that it was so easier to convey thoughts. So, in Corinth, sports competitions were held, whose winner received a laurel wreath.
In the Message to Corinthians, Paul compared the receipt of God's award with a sports rhystal, on which a raven wreath is a crown of eternal life. But only the one who pacifies his desires and pride, who makes their efforts and lives in self-discipline as a winner in sports will be rewarded.
"The prose of life, leading to life, and few find them ... Many souls, but few chosen."St. Paul taught that three components are combined in man - the body, spirit and soul. The body of any person is a temple in which the particle of the Holy Spirit lives. The spirit of man is an intangible part, in contact with the highest start, the symbolic reflection of the Spirit of God. The soul is the main life principle, covering the human mind, ability and heart. At the same time, the mind is not the usual understanding of intelligence or mind, but also the manner, the tendency to think, feeling, opinion.
Paul enjoyed the concepts of "heart" and "conscience". The first in understanding of the apostle is represented by the center of the internal life of a person, where spiritual experiences are stored. The conscience also acts as an internal judge and the law, the moral measure of human actions.
Turning to the listeners of the sermons, the saint called on the uninterestors to leave the old luggage of knowledge and live according to new laws: not to put personal care for the head, sincerely love, not to revenge the persecutors of faith, "dismiss from evil."
Death
According to the legend, during the next trip Paul in Jerusalem, the Jewish community was removed to kill the apostle. From the crucifier of the saint saved the power of Rome, but Paul had imprisoned, in which he spent two years. The local procurator was inactive, and Paul filed a petition for the liberation of Cesare.
According to the requirements of the judicial system of the Roman citizen, they were transmitted to the eternal city, where he lived for some time in relative freedom, but under observation. During this time, the Apostle visited Malta, Ephesus, Macedonia, wrote messages to the Philippians, Palestinian Jews, to Timothy and Titus, who had had a bishop.
Then Paul returned to Rome and preached at the court of Emperor Nero, for which he was again sharpened in prison. After 9 months, the conclusion of the apostle cut off his head. It is believed that Abbazia Delle Tre Fontane monastery stands on the site of the saint's execution. And at the site of the burial of the Pupils of St. Paul left a sign, and two hundred years later, Emperor Konstantin erected the Papan Cathedral of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura at this place.
The Christian Church was installed the day of the Holy Rhinestone Apostles Peter and Paul. In Orthodoxy, the holiday is celebrated on July 12, Catholics - June 29th. On this day, one should not be engaged in economic affairs - from the church service should be returned to the already removed house. In prayers, the Saints Paul and Peter are usually mentioned together, in front of the Icon of St. Paul, it is customary to ask for spiritual and physical healing, about the granting of force in the bodily business and the appeal to Christ the Miller.
Memory
- 1080 - Capital Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Prague)
- 1410 - Andrei Rublev, "Apostle Paul"
- 1587-1592 - El Greco, "Apostles Peter and Paul"
- 1619 - Diego Velasquez, "Saint Paul"
- 1629 - Rembrandt Wang Rhine, "Apostle Paul in Dokton"
- 1708 - St. Paul's Cathedral (Stpaul's Cathedral, London)
- 1840 - St. Paul's Cathedral (Basilica di San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, Rome)
- 1845 - Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Moscow)
- 1875 - Vasily Surikov, "The Apostle Paul explains the dogmas of the faith of the king Agrippe"
- 1887 - Church of St. Paul (Riga)