Evaluating Paul’s Thinking
Several factors played a role in shaping Paul’s thinking patterns: Early traditions and Jesus; a revelation that he encountered; his Hellenistic background; his Jewish background; his Pharisaic background; and the experiences he had as an apostle. For instance, his theological expressions and thoughts reflect a Jewish background, and so does his anthropology. The way he expressed his ideas also suggested that he was a diaspora Jew. His Gk rhetoric had a lot of influence and his articulation techniques. His Hellenistic background is brought out by his use of phrases such as “Lord”, “Son of God”, and “Flesh and Spirit”. His thought patterns were also shaped by the experience he had at Damascus and his belief that Jesus was God’s son. Most of his ideas were shaped by the experience he had at Damascus. His interaction with Jesus and the traditions of the early church also shaped his thought patterns. His skills as an apostle and missionary also influenced his thinking.
Evaluating My Thinking
I do respect the Christian religion, but this does not mean that I am Christian. I school in a Christian college and a Christian high school; hence I have an in-depth understanding of Christianity. I also respect people of other religions, such as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, etc. As such, I welcome any religious-related discussions with an open mind because this is the only way I will get to understand other people’s religions. I can also say that my college and high school experiences impacted my thinking patterns, mostly because most of my friends during those years were Christian.
While Paul considers Jesus to be his hero, I would personally say that my parents are my heroes. This simply means that our definitions of hero differ depending on how we interact with them. Individuals who exhibit courage and resilience during difficult situations are viewed as heroes. To others, heroes could be individuals that give them strength and any help they might need during tough situations in life. Heroes may not always be courageous, and they may be scared during some situations. However, they will always display their heroism when circumstances call for it. People who are viewed as heroes are always ready to help others, and they are honest, courageous and selfless.
Comparison between Paul’s Idea and Mine
Our perceptions or descriptions about our heroines and heroes are determined by our personal experiences with them. Personally, the experiences I have had with my parents are the reason why I view them as my heroes. I greatly admire them because I have seen them make sacrifices so that my siblings and I can have good lives. I will raise my children the way my parents raised me.
On the contrary, Paul views Jesus as his hero because of how he experienced him. A good example is when Paul met with Jesus at Damascus and the revelation he had. The encounter shaped Paul’s perceptions of Jesus as his hero. His thinking was shaped by the traditions of the early church and interactions that he had with Jesus. Besides interacting with the Messiah himself, he also had personal experiences with other people who had associated with Jesus, including the disciples who spent a lot of time with Jesus during his ministry on earth. Paul learned many things from them because they had firsthand information about the miraculous deeds of Jesus.
The biblical hero is considered to be humankind’s saviour who sacrifices his life so that humans can be delivered from the bondage of sin. According to Paul, children can inherit the parent’s sins, but they can beat crime by accepting Paul’s hero, Jesus. My heroes’, on the other hand, have no supernatural powers to save humanity. They are humans who need saving from Paul’s description. Paul’s teachings categorize them as sinners because they are also human.