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Peter and Paul |
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Written by Fr. Gil Alinsangan, SSP
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About A.D. 96, Clement, the contemporary bishop of Rome, wrote to the church of Corinth, warning the latter church about the terrible effects of jealousy and envy. It would seem that the feuds and dissentions which had split the Corinthian church in St. Paul’s day had, a generation later, sprung into life again. Clement mentions the Roman church’s “series of unexpected misfortunes and setbacks,” which clearly alludes to the persecution of the Christians under the late emperor Domitian (assassinated in September 96). Seven examples are given from the Old Testament about the evil of jealousy. Leaving the instances from the past, Clement turns to the noble figures of his own generation:
Let us set before our eyes the good apostles. Peter, on account of unrighteous jealousy, underwent not one or two but many toils and, having borne witness, he made his way to his allotted place of glory. Paul, an account of jealousy and strife, showed the way to the prize of endurance; seven times he wore fetters, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a herald both in the east and in the west, he gained the noble renown of his faith, he taught righteousness throughout the whole world and, having reached the limit of the west, he bore testimony before the rulers, and so departed from the world and was taken up into the holy place—the greatest example of endurance. (1 Clement 5:1-7)
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St. Paul's Universality |
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Written by Fr. Ruben Areņo, SSP
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The mark of St. Paul’s apostleship comes from his deep awareness that he is called to preach to the Gentiles (Gal 1:15-16); he is an “apostle for the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13). He admits that he is “indebted to Greek and Barbarians” (Rom 1:14). The universal scope of Christian salvation is not just personal, nor limited to a group (the Jews), but extends to all men and women. In the father’s plan of salvation everything finds its fulfillment in Christ, who is the source of grace and merits, reconciliation and justification.
The Gospel (i.e. Jesus Christ) is for all. The Gospel is God’s power for the salvation of “everyone who has faith, the Jews first, then the Greeks later (Rom 1:16; 10:12). I, Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ (Rom 1:1ff).
St. Paul is the perfect apostle of today, because he talks of the total Christ for the total man. Paul’s universality extends “in depth, in height, and width” --- meaning: - “Depthness” of the Gospel drives to the core and root of all beings.
- “Height” refers to the grace that comes from on high --- gratuitous, free, and overflowing; not through any human merits, but God’s abundant grace.
- “Width” means the extension of God’s love knows no boundaries: even to the Gentiles.
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