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St. Paul’s writings are not easy to understand! For one thing,
Paul’s style as a writer was not simple or easy. He was writing
about complex ideas, and he wrote in a complex way. For another
thing, Paul was writing letters, and we don’t always know the situation.
Reading his letters can be like listening in when someone is talking on
the phone—we don’t know what the person at the other end of the line is
saying! All of this can make understanding Paul a challenge.
But it helps to start in the right place. Here are some of Paul’s
greatest writings.
St. Paul on Love
Paul urges us to love each other, and tells us what love is like.
Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs,
it is not snobbish.
Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not prone to anger;
neither does it brood over injuries.
Love does not rejoice in what is wrong
but rejoices with the truth.
There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust,
its hope, its power to endure.
Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13)
St. Paul on the Church
In this passage, St. Paul compares the Church to a body – the body
of Christ.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the
body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an
ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,"
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole
body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he
intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it
is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head
to the feet, "I do not need you." Indeed, the parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are all the more necessary.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is
honored, all the parts share its joy.
Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. (I
Corinthians 12)
St. Paul on Baptism
In this passage, St. Paul talks about what it means to be baptized.
It means living a whole new life.
Don’t you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also
share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried
with Christ.
We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised
to life by the glory of God the Father.
As surely as we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with
him. We know that death no longer has any power over Christ.
He died and was raised to life, never again to die. (Romans 6: 3-4,
8-9; Children’s Lectionary)
St. Paul on the Eucharist
Here, St. Paul talks about what it means to receive Holy Communion.
When we drink from the cup that we ask God to bless, isn’t that sharing
in the blood of Christ?
When we eat the bread that we break, isn’t that sharing in the body of
Christ?
By sharing in the same loaf of bread, we become one body, even though
there are many of us. (I Corinthians 10: 16-17; Children’s
Lectionary)
St. Paul on the Love of Christ
How much does Jesus love us? Here St. Paul tells us that
nothing on earth or in heaven will be able to keep us away from Jesus.
If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?
I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or
death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not
powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate
us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 8: 31,
38-39, Children’s Lectionary)
Good Advice from St. Paul
St. Paul’s letters are full of good advice. Here are some
short and simple sayings of Paul.
I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have.
2 Timothy 1: 6
The Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2 Timothy 2: 7
Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or
inconvenient.
2 Timothy 4: 2
You are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Romans 8: 9
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Romans 8: 14
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose.
Romans 8: 28
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8: 31
In hope we were saved.
Romans 8: 24
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Philippians 4: 13
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
The love of Christ urges us on.
2 Corinthians 5: 14
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11: 30
I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.
Galatians 2: 20
You were called for freedom.
Galatians 5: 13
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5: 25
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