The Miracle that Was Paul: The Apostle to the Gentiles as Powerful Evidence of the Reality of Christianity

We continue the Romans Project today and here it is appropriate to thank God for one of his greatest gifts to his Bride: the Apostle Paul.

One cannot study Romans without being in awe of the apostolic ministry of Paul.  Other than the Lord Himself, Paul was arguably the greatest theologian that ever lived  (See Romans!).  He was certainly the greatest missionary.  Such a miracle was Paul, that F.F. Bruce argued that by himself Paul is sufficient to prove Christianity.

“No single event, apart from the Christ-event itself, has proved so determinant for the course of Christian history as the conversion and commissioning of Paul. For anyone who accepts Paul’s own explanation of his Damascus-road experience, it would be difficult to disagree with the observation of an eighteenth-century writer that ‘the conversion and apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity to be a divine revelation.’” F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, page 74.

As a result of Paul’s theology and missionary leadership, local churches quickly belted the Roman Empire from Jerusalem to Spain.  The Gospel burned like a flame spreading across a map (picture the opening of the old Western Bonanza) north into Europe and south into Africa, so that by circa 200 Tertullian would insist in a letter to Roman leaders.

We are but of yesterday, but we have filled every place among you cities, islands, fortresses, towns, market places, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum we have left nothing to you but the temples of your gods.

If you would like to read a reliable biography of the Apostle Paul, then I highly recommend F.F. Bruce’s, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free.  Dr. Hoch (for whom I am so thankful) required us to read it in seminary and I still consult it.