Relationship to Jerusalem
Paul is connected to Jerusalem in only a very small way. His only contact
with Jerusalem was during his "second missionary journey" when he traveled
back and forth through the city. However Paul was associated with Judaism
in many ways. Paul was known as the Apostle of Gentiles, or the Apostle to
Gentiles. Gentiles were the Jews that Paul attempted to convert on his three
journeys. He called himself this because he felt that he had to bring the
believers of Judaism out of the darkness and into the light of Christianity.
After his conversion in Damascus, Paul became very serious about converting
people from all over Europe. Paul's God-given responsibility is to change
the Gentiles and keep authority over them. In many books of the Bible, acts
of Paul's conversion attempts are described. Being known as the Apostle of
Gentiles is not a negative term, although many think that the name offends
Jews. With this title Paul felt he was satisfying and trying to let all people
know about Christianity.
"Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Rom. 1:5
"I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I
might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles."
Rom. 1:13
"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Messiah Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that
was given to me for you...To me, the least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Messiah..." Eph. 3:1-2,8
"Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Rom. 1:5
"I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I
might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles."
Rom. 1:13
"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Messiah Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that
was given to me for you...To me, the least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Messiah..." Eph. 3:1-2,8