Week 14 - The Martyrdom of Paul

According to Marcus Borge’s the first Paul, Paul’s death is surrounded by uncertainty.  As stated by Borge the writer of Luke and Acts did not want and both of his books with a roman condemnation.  Judging by this fact and this fact alone it serves to follow that a book of acts would not end with the death Paul.  The roman Emperor Nero was in power at the time of the Paul’s death and it was overwhelmingly likely that Paul suffered a death similar that of many Christians at the time.  Emperor Nero used the Christians as a scapegoat for a mighty fire that destroyed nearly half of Rome.  History proves that Nero started the fire to begin with in fact it was a ploy to rally anti Christian support underneath him.  After this fire Nero went on a rampage massacring hundreds of Christians; yet they continued to survive.

I find that is quite Remarkable that finally after the Romans finished persecuting the Jews the Focus then shifts to the Christians. This actually leads me to understand that the beliefs of the religion had nothing to do with the executions and persecutions of the Jews or the Christians, but the power and Unity that the religions aroused in their peoples.

Christianity has Paul to thank for that.  Through walls efforts to Christian expanded throughout the entirety of Europe.  Paul’s Missions stretched all away from Spain back to Rome and even parts of Jerusalem.  It can be understood that because of his widespread conversions by single man to Christianity in Europe and the Middle East was able to thrive under similar ideas.  This created a unity among all Christians whether not they realized it.  And thus when Nero began to persecute and execute Christians; no amount of propaganda physical violence, or threats could halt movement.

In many of Saint Paul’s letters, there is differing evidence concerning the location and manner of his death.  The most common image that we think of is near a summoning Paul to have him be headed.  However it is far more likely that Paul was just another death among the many Christians who died under Nero's reign.

I find it really interesting that Paul’s death was not separated from that of many other Christians.  Because his death is not separated Paul; is put on the same level as any other Christian martyr.  Because of this to communities that Paul established are able to better identify with Paul, as well as many communities after that.  To this day and Christians can identify more with Paul than they can with Jesus because he is more human.