Paul-Thessalonians

What are your first impressions of this early Christian missionary? My first impression of Paul is his concern for his own authority and his desire to remain in control. Further, I discern a distinct lack of humility on his part, perhaps a bit of self righteousness, and a “father knows best” mentality. And, perhaps most disturbing he strikes me as unenlightened and overly harsh in his vilification of the Jews.

Does Paul's self-description coincide with characteristics that you infer from your reading of the 1st Thessalonians? In chapter two for example; Paul plays the braggart when he states that despite all of the outrages his party suffered they declared the gospel fearlessly (2.2). He states that he does not resort to flattery but his writing is filled with it (2.5). He believes he has the right of power over the Thessalonians but stays his hand (2.7). He plays the part of the martyr when he reminds them how he had to work for a living while amongst them(2.9) He exhibits self righteousness as he calls on them to witness how devout, just and blameless he was (2.10) He claims his teachings as the very word of God (2.13). He judges his former religious brethren harshly, his statement can be seen as a precursor to anti-Semitic movements and pogroms through the ages (2.15-16).

What do you think of his conversation with the Thessalonians regarding expectations for the end-times? Paul seems to be most concerned with patching up the holes in his eschatological teaching. It appears to me that Paul was teaching an immanent eschatological transformation as had Jesus (Matthew 16.28, 23.36, 24.33-35) This miscalculation required some revision which eventually resulted in the Parousian adjustment. Paul had to address the concerns of the Thessalonians as their peers began to die before the promised return of the Christ figure. Paul responds by claiming to speak for the Lord (4.15). He puts forth the argument that all that die in Christ will rise and share in the Parousia. The framework of his original teaching remained intact. He could claim that neither he, nor Jesus, had been wrong; their hearers had only misunderstood their original intent.

What else would you like to learn about Paul as you encounter him in other letters? Was Paul a Gnostic and were his original teachings glossed over by later writers to promote orthodox conformity as claimed by Elaine Pagels? Was Paul as homosexual as suggested by Bishop Spong and others? Could Paul have created Christianity by combining elements of Rabbi Yeshua ben Yusef’s teachings with the Mystery religions?Why is Pauline Christianity so different from what appears in the synoptics, especially the words of Jesus himself?