The Remains of Paul of Tarsus Found in Rome
We are coming on to the time when Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christians like myself know that Jesus is God in human flesh, born and sent to die for the sins of mankind as the perfect sacrifice. He preached turning away from sin and towards God. He also preached how God’s people should not just follow the letter of the Ten Commandments, but that we should follow the spirit of the commandments. Like for example, the commandments say that we should not kill. Jesus taught us that to hate our neighbor was the same as killing him, because we have broken the spirit of the commandments. This is the Jesus we love and teach.
For Christians there is no apostle more important than the Apostle Paul, particularly since he was appointed to the position by Christ himself. History gives Paul more credit than anyone else for the spread of Christianity around the world, though I think he receives far too much recognition for its increase. Paul spread the message of Jesus Christ, but it was the Roman emperors like Nero who caused the flight of persecuted Christians. I would even go as far as to say God used the evil Roman emperors to disperse Christians around the world. As they fled, they took their knowledge of the Savior with them.
Paul was one of those rare individuals who was a Jewish leader, a Roman, and a persecutor of Christians. His name was feared by Christians throughout the Roman world and even held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr in the New Testament. Then Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus who renamed him Paul. This one time tormentor of Christians became a Christian and persecuted as well. What follows is a very short and condensed account by Paul on how he came to know Jesus found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-10.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
I mention Paul because his remains are believed to have been unearthed in Rome.
Vatican archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul that had been buried beneath Rome’s second largest basilica.
The sarcophagus, which dates back to at least A.D. 390, has been the subject of an extended excavation that began in 2002 and was completed last month, the project’s head said this week.
The finding of Paul is neat. Not that his remains has any significance for his soul has already gone on to heaven. The find allows many of us the opportunity to talk about Jesus Christ, our Lord. I will share the good news of Jesus even if the only ones who listen are those who are Christians. With that said, Merry Christmas and remember He IS the reason for the season.
Update: Oops, forgot to give LaShawn Barber credit for the story. Sorry.
Hat tip: LaShawn Barber
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