Compare and contrast the Gospels and Paul's letters with respect to purpose, audience and major themes.

Introduction

Paul of Tarsus, also called Saint Paul, Paul the Apostle, or the Apostle Paul, (Ancient Greek: Sa??? (Saul), Sa???? (Saulos), and ?a???? (Paulos); Latin: Paulus or Paullus; Hebrew: ???? ?????? Ša?ul HaTarsi (Saul of Tarsus) (c. 5 - c. 67), was a Jew who called himself the "Apostle to the Gentiles". According to the Acts of the Apostles, his conversion to Christianity took place in a profound life-changing experience on the road to Damascus. Together with Simon Peter and James the Just, he is among the most notable of early Christian missionaries. He was a Roman citizen—a fact that afforded him a somewhat privileged social status with respect to laws, property, and governance.[Acts 22:24-29]

Compare and contrast the Gospels and Paul's letters with respect to purpose, audience and major themes.

Thirteen epistles in the New Testament are attributed to Paul. Within these epistles other letters are referenced that do not appear in the Bible, such as a Laodicean epistle (Col. 4:16). Authorship of six of the thirteen is questioned by some scholars. According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Paul's influence on Christian thinking arguably has been more significant than any other New Testament author.

Paul's conversion, after an encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, dramatically changed the course of his life. Through his activity and writings, his beliefs eventually changed religious thought throughout the Mediterranean. This leadership, influence and legacy led to the formation of communities dominated by gentile groups that adhered to the Judaic "moral code" but relaxed or abandoned the "ritual" obligations of the Mosaic law on the basis of the life and works of Jesus Christ. These communities eventually formed Christianity, see also Biblical law in Christianity.

The Book of Acts contains an account of Paul's travels and deeds, his conflicts with Pagans and Jews, and his interactions with apostles. (Bart, 45) It was written from a perspective of reconciliation between Pauline Christians and their opponents, and portrays Paul as a law-abiding Jewish Christian and omits his dispute with Peter. A primary source for historical information about Paul's life is the material found in his seven letters. However, these letters contain comparatively little information about Paul's past. It is worth noting that Acts leaves several parts of Paul's life out of its narrative, such as his execution in Rome.

Scholars such as Hans Conzelmann and 20th century theologian John Knox (not the 16th century John Knox) dispute the historical reliability of the Acts of the Apostles. Paul's own account of his background is found particularly in Galatians. According to some scholars, the account in Acts of Paul visiting Jerusalem[Acts 11:27-30] contradicts the account in Paul's letters. (Please see the full discussion in the Acts of the Apostles article). Some scholars consider Paul's accounts to be more reliable than those found in Acts.

The New Testament (Greek: Ka??? ??a????, Kaine Diatheke) is the name given to the second major division of the Christian Bible, ...