DISCOVERING PAUL

Following in the footsteps of St Paul brought us to Turkey. Christianity did not begin with Paul of Tarsus, but the movement got a huge jump start from his evangelizing journeys and the letters he wrote to various communities he had helped start.  Paul figures in more of the New Testament than almost Jesus, himself.  It was through Paul’s efforts the Way was expanded beyond the Jewish world, the original target for both John the Baptist and Jesus.  Paul allowed non-Jews – Gentiles – to join the party without fully following Jewish law – the crucible being circumcision.  By opening this door, the Way evolved into an entirely new religion – actually, a new family of religions – far different from the original stream Jesus or even Paul had drifted along.