Goals to make Serve Like Jesus Disciples

According to Luke, there is no indication that Paul saw Jesus in bodily form (9:3–4; 22:6–7; 26:13–14). Additionally, Paul tells us in Galatians that he did not confer with the apostles but that he did receive his revelations directly from the Lord (1:13–17; 2:2). So this naturally raises the question, “What did the apostle Paul actually know about Jesus.” The following table provides a summary of what Paul concludes in his writings regarding his knowledge of Jesus.

 

Human Events

• He was born by a human mother (Galatians 4:4)

• Was a Jew (Galatians 4:4; Romans 1:3); had a family (1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19)

• He instituted the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

• He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11:23)

• He was crucified (Galatians 3:13; 1 Corinthians 2:2)

• He died (1 Corinthians 8:11; Romans 5:6)

• He was buried (1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 6:4)

• He was raised from the dead by God (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

 

Divine Events

• Christ pre-existed (Philippians 2:6)

• God sent the Son forth (Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3-4)

• He was/is exalted by God (Philippians 2:9)

• He is present in heaven at the right hand of God—there he reigns (1 Corinthians. 15:23), destroying every rule, authority, and power (1 Corinthians. 15:24) and interceding for God's elect (Romans 8:34)

• He will descend/come from heaven on the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians. 4:16; 1 Corinthians. 15:23)

• He will achieve universal supremacy (1 Corinthians. 15:24; Philippians 2:10-11)

• He will hand over the kingdom, to God (1 Corinthians 15:24)

• He will himself be subjected to God (1 Corinthians 15:28) (Soards 174-175)