Paul's Letters on Christ's Death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Paul's Letters on Christ's Death - Essay Example (New American Bible, p. 300). While the nucleus of the community was Jewish, Paul’s affinity with the Greek-Roman culture would contribute to his success in converting gentiles to the new religious faith. (Jerusalem Bible, p. 251). In time, this Christian community would be recognized as being the first Christian community in Europe. (New American Bible, p. 300). At this instance, Paul has sent them a spiritual message while warning them against Jewish teachers, who have caused jealousies and rivalries. Paul was firm on his principle: These teachers are â€Å"enemies of the cross of Christ† (Phi: 3-18). He would also stress that beyond ritualistic practices, what is important is their being favored to believe in Christ. Then he pleads for unity and humility, even as Christ, he says, â€Å"humbled himself, becoming obedient to death† (Phi: 3-8). In the end, he asks for their being true, honorable, just, and pure living in order to earn God’s peace while awa iting the return of the Risen Savior. First Letter to Corinthians At about the year 51 CE, Paul organized a Christian community in Corinth among the city’s poor and underprivileged. (New American Bible, p. 242). ... Also, it is only one Christ from whom is drawn righteousness, sanctification and redemption (Cor.: 2-30). The long letter contains advice on problems in Christian practices. It also contains the famous teaching on love, the greatest of all virtues. On a key portion of his message about the resurrection, Paul stresses that â€Å"if Christ is raised from the dead. . . there is resurrection of the dead† (Cor.:15-12). Clearly for St. Paul, Christ’s death is the key to the new life and victory over the sting of death caused by Adam (Cor.: 15-53). Second Letter to Corinthians More problems arose in the Church at Corinth, and in his second letter Paul asserts his authority as an apostle. He argues for his position by revealing his personal conviction that the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus should be the pattern for all Christian life (p. 265). Using figurative language, Paul expresses his thanks to God for the experience of triumph in Christian living made evident, he says â€Å"through the aroma of Christ for God among those being saved, and among those perishing, the latter an odor of death that leads to death, the former an odor of life that leads to life† (2 Cor.: 2-15). Again in figurative language, Paul alludes to his ministering a new covenant of the spirit, as a contrast to the old covenant of death. In his own words: â€Å"Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory† (2 Cor.: 3-7). In the second letter to the Corinthians, it is