Sticking Up for Paul: Part 1

The Apostle Paul is one of the most controversial figures in modern Christianity. While there are whole denominations that do prize his teachings above all else, there are just as many Christians turned off by Paul.

I was once of those people who wasn’t a fan. I didn’t dislike Paul terribly, but I also didn’t find much resonance with him. That is, until I did my PhD comprehensive exams in the Pauline material. Then, over the next several years, I taught courses on Paul. By spending time with Paul’s letters (rather than just hearing the soundbites we read in church), I have discovered how much I resonate with Paul’s project and passion.

Over the next few blog posts, we will consider some of the criticisms people have about the Apostle when they read his letters. Let’s look now at the most common criticism I hear:

Paul is arrogant! He thinks he knows everything, that he gets everything right. And he tries to tell everyone else what to do!

Now, let’s hear what Paul and his ministry team actually have to say:

• First, let’s establish that Paul isn’t giving unsolicited advice. Throughout the letters, we see Paul replying to questions that churches have asked him (1 Cor 7:1).
• Second, Paul faithfully narrates his journey from misunderstanding to understanding. He doesn’t shy away from discussing his previous pastime as a persecutor of the church (1 Cor 15:9)! He doesn’t hold himself up as model of perfection; it’s more like his life is roadmap that others can follow (Gal 1:13-16; Phil 3:4-7).
• Third, Paul claims that he has been tasked by God with helping these churches remain faithful to the witness of Jesus until the Lord’s return (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 Cor 11:2; Col 1:28). Think of it this way, if you were the leader of a group project—and you would be graded more strictly than anyone else—you would be very invested in everyone’s success!
• Fourth, Paul understands his role in family terms; he sees himself as a parent or guardian (1 Cor 4:15; 1 Thes 2:11). His job is to keep the churches safe and intact. And his language—even when angry—always comes back to his desire for the church’s wholeness. He describes his passionate insistence that the Body ofChrist remain true to its gospel as being rooted in his love for them.Sometimes parents express “tough love.”
• Fifth, Paul has sacrificed a lot for these churches. He doesn’t request or even accept money (1 Cor 9:3-18; 2 Cor 11:7). He risks jail and beatings to travel to be with them. And though letter writing in the ancient world was expensive, yet he stays in close communication. He expresses exhaustion—both physical and mental—by trying “to be all things to all people” (1 Cor 9:22). This is how many pastors of local churches feel, and that’s with just one congregation! Think of the emotional and spiritual task alone of mentoring multiple churches hundreds of miles apart, with different local cultures and characters.

Now, none of this means Paul was perfect. In fact, years after Paul’s letters, the Acts of the Apostles was written in which Paul’s personality is smoothed out a bit.Many scholars think that one of Luke’s goals for Acts was to raise the opinion of Paul! So, it doesn’t mean that everything he said and wrote landed just as it should. And we should take care to allow his letters were for different contexts than our own. But my hope is that by listening to what’s behind the words, we might have more compassion and even find resonance with someone trying really hard to be all things to all people.

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