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Missionary Spirituality of St. Paul

St. Paul was known to be the Great Apostle to the Gentiles, The First Missionary, and the First
Theologian

St. Paul is a model to missionaries possessing the qualities of mission spirituality

1. Encounter with the Risen Christ

- The pivotal event that began all forms of transformation in the life of Paul was his personal
encounter with Christ.
a. Symbol of the Person (Risen Christ)
- All missionary spirituality should begin through a person – the person of Christ
- Direct revelation of Jesus (I am Jesus the one you are persecuting)
- Our encounter with Jesus is the foundation of our missionary spirituality
b. Symbol of the fall
- The end of Paul’s murderous desire, as missionaries we are to fall
- Damascus (Pagan Territory) Gentiles (Universal Mission)
c. Symbol of the light
- Theophany (Resurrection)
- Jesus as the new morning
d. Symbol of the voice
- “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
- The Word came… The Word of God

Changes:

a. Pharisee of Pharisees (Acts 23:6) into an apostle to the Gentiles

b. A persecutor of the early Christian movement into its chief protagonist.
c. An accuser of Jesus as an impostor and a threat to Judaism and later made
Christ as the center of his life.

2. Recounting the “Conversion” Story

a. Paul recounts his conversion story not in the Letters but in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:1-
9; 22:4-16; 26:9-19)
- Missionaries as a good storyteller in the light of grace
b. The conversion story was done in a detailed manner.
- In our repetition of our vocation shows the solidification of our calling
c. Paul interpreted the conversion story three time: (Gal 1:11-17; Phil 3:2-11; and Rom 7:13-
25)

3. Community-centered Mission
 a. St. Paul was not an exclusively itinerant preacher. He stays at the centers of Christianity or
churches for a longer period of time.
b. He stayed one and a half years in Corinth, two to three years in Ephesus to be with the
community.
c. Paul was engaged in “zentrumsmission” (mission in certain strategic centers). Acts 13:46-48
d. The love of the community and willingness to be sent by the community. (Acts 13:1-4)
e. Paul and Barnabas saw mission as a community commitment (Acts 13:1-4)

4. Sense of Concern
a. St. Paul sees humanity outside Christ as utterly lost, en route to perdition (1 Cor 1:18; 2 Cor
2:15), and in dire need of salvation (Eph 2:12)
b. Paul allows no relaxation to mission. He has to proclaim, to as many as possible, deliverance
“from the wrath to come.” (1 Thess 1:10)

5. Sense of Responsibility
a. As the Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul had deep awareness of obligation to proclaim the
Gospel to them.
b. To proclaim is an “inescapable necessity”: “woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor
9:16)

6. Sense of Gratitude
a. Paul’s mission motivation is rooted in the love of God he has received. He said: “the Son of
God… Loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20). “God’s love has been poured into our
hearts” (Rom 5:5)
b. For St. Paul, it is God’s love that moves him for mission. (2 Cor 5:14)

7. Willingness to Sacrifice
a. Leitourgos (minister) – Paul speaks of himself as doing a “priestly service” or functioning as a
priest. (Rom 15:16)
b. Thysia (libation) – Paul considers himself like a drink offering or libation just for the Gentiles
to realized his mission for them. (Phil 2:16-18)
c. Phrosphora (Sacrificial offering) – Paul encourages the Gentiles to present their bodies to
God as a “living and holy sacrifice” as a “spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1)

8. Sense of Urgency
a. St. Paul views his mission as a response to the urgency of God’s Word to the Gentiles. He is
concerned with the salvation that Christ offers to all (Jews and Gentiles) (1 Cor 9:16)
b. St. Paul regards mission as a necessary for salvation. (1 Cor 9:16)

9. Strength in Christ
a. Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel but makes the Gospel as his interpretation. (Rom 1:16)
b. Paul discovered the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Eph 3:8)
- Newness of life is the good news for the Gentiles.
10. The Ability to Adopt to Context
 a. Paul adapts his mission to the hopes and expectations, anguish and sufferings of the people
and cultures through speeches.
- In Lystra and Athens (Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:22-31)
b. In his speeches, Paul enters into dialogue with the cultural and religious values of the
people.
c. To the Lycaonians, who practiced cosmic religion, he spoke of religious experiences related
to the cosmos. (Acts 14:8-18)
d. Paul discusses philosophy and quotes their poets (Acts 17:18; 26-28)
e. Paul used the spiritual language appropriate the Athenians at the Aeropagus (Acts 17:22-31)
11. Courage due to Faith
a. St. Paul spoke with courage and with boldness about Christ (It is called parrhesia) 1 Thess
2:2
b. St. Paul considers himself as a preacher of Christ and an ambassador in chains. (Eph 6:18-20)
12. Awareness of Weakness
a. St. Paul usually would ask for prayers from the believing community. (Rom 15:31-32; Eph
6:19; Col 4:4; 2 Thess 3:2; 2 Cor 1:10-11)
b. St. Paul was contented and convinced of the purpose of weakness in himself (2 Cor 12:10-
12)
c. St. Paul desired to die and be with Christ (Phil 1:23)
13. Love for the Church
a. St. Paul understands well that fidelity to Christ means fidelity to the Church. Paul had
“anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:28)
b. St. Paul sees the willingness of Christ to die for the Church. (Eph 5:25)
c. Paul encourages everyone to use the gifts for the building up of the Church. (1 Cor 14:26)
14. Love for the Church
a. St. Paul was reminded by Peter and the Apostles to remember and love the poor (Gal 2:10)
b. St. Paul encourages the community to give to the poor (1 Cor 16:1-4)
c. Poor: Generosity according to their means and not beyond their means (1 Cor 8:1-15)
15. Spirit of Inclusiveness
a. For Paul, the person who serves Christ considers everyone as children of God: (Gal 3:26-28)
b. Paul encourages everyone to do good (Rom 12:21) and never get tired to do what is right to
everyone (Gal 6:9)
16. Determination to finish the ministry
a. Paul was determined to finish his ministry though it was promised by the Spirit that he will
be undergoing pain and suffering (Acts 20:22-23; Acts 21:13; 2 Timothy 4:6-8)
b. Paul was willing and committed to finish his duty because that was his call. (1 Cor 16:4; Acts
24:17; Acts 20:24; Acts 21:13)