Leadership Skills of Paul of Tarsus

Leadership Skills of capital of Minnesota of TarsusCarmel GittensIn the light of Romans, 1 Corinthians and Galatians, what sources of ascendance does capital of Minnesota draw on to reinforce his case and what crapper be learned from the apostle in this respect for contemporary church building leadership?Following his conversion on the lane to Damascus, where Paul of Tarsus, one time persecutor of the followers of Jesus met with the risen gentle, he became the superlative defender of the newly forming Christian faith. His zeal and fervour once so attuned to ridding the world of this perceived holy terror to Judaism now turned to promoting the same. However, such was his dramatic and life changing meeting with Jesus, that Paul non tot aloney devoted his life to growing and nurturing early Christian churches, and spreading the gospel across the Mediterranean and beyond, only if if was willing to endure persecution and indeed martyrdom himself in the pursuit of his divine miss ion. It is widely held that Paul was uniquely equipped for this mission as he had many of the qualities needed for such an enormous task. In this essay, I will look at Pauls journey from persecutor to proselyte, a journey that took him many thousands of miles and one that needful him to assert his message with conviction and authority. Paul would have to defend his teachings and the gospel he proclaimed in many varied and often difficult situations. To do this he used a variety of sources, for example, when Paul defends his apostolic status or challenges lax moral behaviour or advocates his gospel message he draws on his conversion experience, the Hebrew Scriptures, his finely honed and excellent rhetorical skill, and subsequent force of argument, to strengthen his case. Finally, I will look at how his leadership skills and methods may give us an insight into contemporary church leadership today.Let us first look at Pauls apostolic authority. There is no doubtfulness that Paul cl aimed to be an apostle, and he certainly exercised authority, but when he did would he have claimed this to be as an apostle? He would non particularly have claimed that his authority came from his appointment as an apostle, but there atomic number 18 times when in defending his status he does assert his apostolic blank space. In the first ii chapters of Galatians and in the letters to Corinth Paul hotly defends the position of being an apostle. In Galatians, some had argued that because he was not one of the original apostles appointed by Jesus he is somehow inferior to them, but to a greater extent importantly as inferior to Peter. Of course, this is at the heart of the debate over apostleship. Pauls response to this was ferocious, he was furious with the old teachers who questioned his authority and tried to tie up the Christians with the old laws. except he was eve more than furious with the Christians for succumbing to their intimidation.Paul begins his letter with a st rong and clear account of how his commission is not by vote of man, but God given. He continues to state how once James, Peter and John have recognized this they shake hands with him and Barnabus and assign them to a ministry with the non-Jews, while they continue with the Jews. He is stating here also that even as he rebukes Peter for certain practices that he thinks are out of line, Peter recognises his authority and equality with himself.In 1 Corinthians 9.1 15.8-11 Paul asserts his right to be included as an apostle. He had after all seen the risen Christ, and the mission work he was doing with the Corinthians attested to his position (1 Cor.9.1-2)Am I not thaw? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.But this claim is not one that Paul constantly refers to. He actually only claims to be an apostle in Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians. In both Corinth and Galatia some denied that he was an apostle so it is here in his letters to them that he launches his defence. But in Romans he speaks from the outset as being an apostle perhaps because having never personally visited these churches he wants them to be clear from the outset that the gospel he proclaims is on the same standing and has the same authority croup it as that proclaimed by Peter and the twelve. He does not however have to defend his position as ofttimes in Rome as he does in Corinth and Galatia. But rather he gently reminds in Rom 11.1313 I am talking to you Gentiles. In as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry.It is clear from this that Paul only therefore claims his apostleship when this has been called into question by others, and not on the basis that he needs this authority in order to be a witness to the gospel. Pauls self-professed authority comes from God himself via J esus the Son. Paul claims this has come from his road to Damascus vision of Christ, and as such he believes that he speaks authoritatively as one the Lord trusts. For example, when speaking to the Corinthians on the subject of marriage (1 Cor 7.25)25 Now about virgins I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lords forbearance is trustworthy.Although he does at times directly speak of the Lords teachings as when instructing about the proper way for the Lords supper to be celebrated (1Cor 9.14),23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,he does not regularly use the words of Jesus but claims that his authority comes directly from the Lord e.g.,for building up not tearing down (13.10).Scuhz1 argues that Authority is the interpretation of causality and for Paul that big businessman would be the gospel He claims that the thing that makes Paul so authoritative is his cogency to i nterpret the gospel. This act of interpretation unlocks the source of power in the gospel and thereby makes that power well-disposed to those who respond in trust and obedience to it. Pauls ability to be a vessel of this power to passel is what establishes his apostolic authority.Because the gospel has both an initial and ongoing task to accomplish in the community, Pauls authority extends previous(prenominal) the initial acceptance of the gospel and well into the intricacies of the communities everyday forms, patterns and practices. His right to speak to the communities he founded arises out of the foundational power which they both have experienced, the gospel that he both mirrors in his life experience and which he preaches.The simple mindedness on apostolic authority has its anchor in the nature and meaning of that same gospel. Power finished weakness. No egotistical or authoritarian style for Paul. His authority and leadership are informed, shaped and modulate by the para doxical content of the gospel he preaches. see I Cor 118ffBibliographyDunn, James D G (ed), The Cambridge Companion to St Paul (Cambridge CUP, 2003), especially the essays in Part 3.Furnish, Victor Paul, Theology and Ethics in Paul (Nashville Abingdon, 1968).Longenecker, Richard (ed), The Road from Damascus The Impact of Pauls Conversion on His Life, Thought, and Ministry (Grand Rapids, Michigan Eerdmans, 1997).Malherbe, Abraham J, Paul and the Popular Philosophers (Minneapolis Fortress, 2006).Sampley, J Paul, Walking between the Times Pauls Moral Reasoning (Minneapolis Fortress, 1991).Kim, Sayoon, Paul and the New Perspective Second Thoughts on the Origin of Pauls Gospel (Grand Rapids Eerdmans, 2002).1Schtz, John Howard, Paul and the Anatomy of Apostolic Authority (Cambridge CUP, 1975).