Transforming life through difficulties--The content and meaning of the giving-spirit of St. Paul

• Main Authors: Yu-Wen Fan, 范玉玟
• Other Authors: 涂艷秋
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/61381320966327386583

碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 生命教育與健康促進研究所 === 96 === St. Paul has occupied a unique place in the Church from the beginning of Christianity. Much of New Testament came from the pen of St. Paul. His experience on the road to Damascus turned his zeal of persecuting Christ’s followers into the zeal of sacrificing his life for Christ. It was a dramatic change of direction. While propagating the faith, he met many difficulties and sufferings, so how did he face them? From his letters, we see that he not only was able to overcome the many challenges of mission, most of all, in the midst of trials he continued selfless giving. He even said: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Why would he say so? This thesis is about the giving spirit of St. Paul and how it could transform lives of modern people in the face of their trials and sufferings. First, it describes the impact of the Damascus experience on St. Paul’s life. Second, it shows how that event led him into many troubles, and how he faced them. Third, looking at the person of St. Paul, it demonstrates how he developed the giving spirit in the midst of difficulties and afflictions. Finally, it analyzes why St. Paul could show such a giving spirit, and could show it continuously, and discusses how the revelation from the giving spirit of St. Paul could transform our perception of adversities. In his life, St. Paul suffered many hardships. But once he discovered the real meaning of life – Christ the Lord, the focus was no longer Judaism but how Christ could through him reveal His giving spirit. This is why he was willing to give love for love, even in the most adverse circumstances, and thus followed Christ’s example of endless giving, which, ultimately, helped him to overcome the limitations imposed by difficulties. As such, the giving spirit of St. Paul could become a model for modern people how to face adversities. “For it is in giving that we now receive, it is in pardoning, that we are now pardoned.”