Topic: Life of Paul
Throughout this month, New Life has been challenged to read through 1 Corinthians. This letter was written by Paul the Apostle. Who was Paul?
You may not have known this, but there was a time when two of the most famous men in history lived in the same city—the apostle Paul and the emperor Nero. Their lives actually overlapped for a short period of time. Of course, nobody took notice of Paul. He was overshadowed by Nero. Everyone was fascinated by this young flamboyant emperor. Nero would have been invited on Oprah and Larry King talk shows.
If anyone knew anything about Paul, it would have been that he was an eccentric and fanatical Jew who always spoke about some guy, some teacher named Jesus, who he said came back from the dead. In those days in Rome, they took people like Paul and locked them up in prison. So, while he was suffering and growing old in prison, Nero was enjoying life in the palace. He was the one with a future ahead of him. If you asked the common person on the streets of Rome, ‘who’s going to make the biggest difference in the world, Nero or Paul?’ It would’ve been a no-brainer, of course it would be Nero.
According to a first century description of Paul, he wasn’t much to look at. He was bald, bow-legged, strongly built, small in size, meeting eyebrows and a big nose. He didn’t look like much. If we were to take a close look at Paul, we’d see scars across his back from all the beatings he endured.
From what we know, not long after writing most of the New Testament, Paul was beheaded. Four years after Paul’s death, Nero, at the age of 29, was being pursued by his own countrymen, and as they approached him, he killed himself. Some historians say his second wife, Poppaea Sabina, killed his first wife. Some say that Nero, later killed her, this is of course, after he poisoned his half-brother and later poisoned his mother.
You have to look really hard to find a cathedral dedicated to St. Nero, but you don’t have to look too far to find one named St. Paul. I can’t say I’ve ever read a book written by Nero or anything he ever wrote which has survived time. I’ve never met anyone named Nero. But I know a lot of Paul’s.
What was the secret of Paul’s strength? He anchored himself in a purpose that was higher than his life. He realized he was part of a work which began long before he was born, and would continue long after he would be gone from this earth. Do we do the same? Are we anchoring ourselves in something which is higher than this life?
See You Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem