In the final battle of the First Round, Paul takes on Theodore in the epic Battle of Tarsus (you get extra Lent Madness points if you can find Tarsus on a map). The winner will do battle with Brigid of Kildare in the subsequent round.
Yesterday, in a hotly contested scrum between Margaret of Scotland and William Temple, Margaret ultimately emerged victorious 52% to 48% in heavy voting and commenting (119). Overall, it was a full day of Lent Madness news as the Supreme Executive Committee announced that they are threatening a lawsuit against some basketball tournament that uses "Madness" in the name. This led to an ensuing "controversy" over which virgin the state of Virginia was named after. Fortunately, this was all put into perspective on our Facebook fan page once a picture was posted of our two favorite voters, eight-year-0ld twins Hope and Skye of Burke, Virginia. Yes, that Virginia.
The Round of the Saintly Sixteen kicks off tomorrow with a fascinating match-up between two powerful and popular women, Joan of Arc and Mary Magdalene. Tickets are currently being scalped at astronomical prices.
Paul of Tarsus (5-67), the most influential Christian convert of the Early Church, is best known for his zeal in spreading Christianity and for writing more New Testament books than anyone else. His conversion story, from persecutor to disciple, involves an appearance of Christ so real that Paul insisted on calling himself an Apostle even though he had never met Jesus during Christ’s lifetime.
Paul was raised a pious Jew. His zeal for the Jewish faith is detailed in the Book of Acts where Paul condoned the stoning of Stephen, Christianity’s first martyr. Paul was then famously converted on the road to Damascus when he was blinded, knocked off his horse, and addressed by the voice of Christ. Following this conversion his name was changed from Saul to Paul. He then set out on full-time missionary activities, helping spread the Gospel to early Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean.
Paul’s journey included incarceration, which is where he wrote several famous letters to his followers, including Galatians and Philippians. Fourteen epistles in the New Testament are attributed to Paul.
Paul took three missionary journeys, the final one ended in Rome where he settled as a tent maker and Christian leader. Christian tradition says Paul was beheaded during the reign of Nero around the mid-60’s. He is often depicted in art with a bald head. He shares his feast day with St. Peter who was crucified upside down, also in Rome, at the same time.
Collect for Peter and Paul: Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
-- Chris Yaw
Theodore of Tarsus, also known as Theodore of Canterbury (602 - 690) was, according to the Venerable Bede, “the first archbishop [of Canterbury] whom all the English obeyed.” Tarsus was a city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), part of the Byzantine Empire, the same city that the Apostle Paul called home. At some point, Theodore moved to Constantinople and later to Rome to join a community of Eastern monks. At the age of sixty-six, he was appointed seventh Archbishop of Canterbury, a seat which had been vacant for four years.
Most of the information we know about Theodore comes from the aforementioned Bede, who reported that Theodore first of all had to grow out his hair for four months so he could switch from the Eastern to the Western tonsure. Soon after his consecration, Theodore traveled around England, appointing bishops (there were many vacancies due to the plague) and reorganizing dioceses to make them of manageable size for both pastoral care and administration. Upon his return to Canterbury he drew up a book of canon law to organize the Church in England, a diverse church of Roman, Celtic, and Anglo-Saxon Christians. Theodore, perhaps because he was a Greek who lived in many places himself and was an outsider, was able to bring all the parties together into one Church despite the ill feelings engendered from the Council of Whitby’s decision in 663 to favor Roman over Celtic practices in Britain.
Theodore also established the influential school at Canterbury modeled on the great school in Antioch where Theodore himself may well have studied. Latin and Greek, poetics, computistics (the calculation of the church calendar, which was a big issue in that time and place), astronomy, Biblical exegesis and church music were taught at the Canterbury school. The liturgical use of sacred music as taught at Canterbury (which included Roman chant) spread throughout England during Theodore’s archbishopric.
Theodore served for twenty-two years as Archbishop of Canterbury and died at the age of eighty-eight. He is venerated as a saint in both the Anglican (including The Episcopal Church) and Eastern Orthodox churches. His feast day is celebrated on September 19.
Collect for Theodore of Tarsus: Almighty God, who called your servant Theodore of Tarsus from Rome to the see of Canterbury, and gave him gifts of grace and wisdom to establish unity where there had been division, and order where there had been chaos: Create in thy Church, we pray, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, such godly union and concord that it may proclaim, both by word and example, the Gospel of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Penny Nash
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103 comments on “Paul of Tarsus vs. Theodore of Tarsus”
This woman loves Paul, run-on sentences and all (completely understandable to me, since he was dictating and it's unlikely his scribe had access to White-Out).
What an incredible heart, and what tenacity! And given the overall shape of his writings - "no Jew nor Greek, no slave nor free, no male nor female in Christ Jesus" - and his close work with, and admiration for, women (and given the stuff about prophesying, etc,, and the fact that a female Apostle is *called* to witness to others), I can no longer understand him as a misogynist and am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (remembering, too, that we don't have the letters *from* the Corinthians, and deciding that he was addressing a particular pastoral issue of that congregations, as he usually was, and was not creating a general rule, as he usually wasn't).
Paul: yes. Yes: ALL!
For you 8 am lectors, I would suggest almost memorizing the passages. Paul dictated his letters. You need to present the lesson as a talk to a friend, not as a written treatise. At least that is how 8 am best worked for me.
As I grow older, I recognize the politics behind some of Paul's passive-aggressive ways of controlling people and why he did it. I give him a pass.
With regards to the treatment of women, remember that Paul placed some pretty steep requirements on men, too. Of course. Male preachers don't emphasize those passages.
Hey folks. Paul was his Greek name, Saul was his Hebrew name, not uncommon among the Greek speaking Jews of the diaspora. When is in Jerusalem with the Jewish Christians he is referred to as Saul, when he is with Gentile Christians (or writing to them) he is Paul. His name was not changed when he became a follower of Jesus.
This one wasn't an easy choice for me, but Paul got my vote since his work set the ground for Theodore's.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that Paul was the inevitable 'bring on the lawyers' part of the early Church that set some pretty pathetic 'standards' for all that came afterwards. Particularly Paul's virulent misogeny. I'd vote for anyone else just so I never have to read that blasted Roman's 'circumcision' passage at the lectern again! Did he write that on a dare? Inquiring minds....
Take out 1 Tim and Ephesians, which most non-fundy scholars believe Paul himself didn't write, and add in his sharing of ministry with women like Priscilla, Phoebe, Chloe and Junia (whom Paul calls an apostle), and I don't believe that Paul was a misogynist.
We all know Paul is going to win hands-down if no more than for these simple reasons: Everybody who attends a St. Paul's church will vote for him out of some misguided loyalty,,,Yes, I said it, so sue me !/ He wrote so many NT things, never mind, many are attributed to him/ He suffered so much for the Lord...Well, who wouldn't if you got knocked blind off your horse, and I agree with the writer who said he couldn't have walked all that way. BUT...he watched Stephen be stoned to death and I don't care how sorry he was afterwards AND a bigger misogynist (sp !) never walked the face of the earth
AND the supposed thorns in his side..or wherever? Come on, pipple...let's be adults here, OK? Always for the underdog I am, so THEODORE ! You got my vote, especially as A of C in the C of E.
SO. Let's try to make sense of this comment shall we? You're saying that A) Paul didn't write all of his letters, then B) You DO believe enough of the Bible to say that Paul only became a really devoted follow of Jesus because he had a really significant experience then C) He was a terrible person because he held the cloaks at Stephen's stoning, then D) You don't believe in repentance and forgiveness then E) Based on an incredibly narrow reading of a handful of passages (particularly from letters which theologians largely believe he did NOT write - see your point A), and ignoring the high respect and authority he placed in a substantial number of (named) women you assert that he is the world's greatest misogynist
Then you say something bizarrely ambiguous but which I THINK equates to point F) "Paul was gay"
I'd continue scratching my head in confusion, but I'm afraid that I might bore right through my skull.
I do challenge the point that Paul was misogynist - that's why it matters that not everything attributed to him is likely authentic. Instead of being distracted by phrases in pseudonomic letters, look at how he conducted himself (eg his address to female co-workers in Romans 16).
I can't hold Paul responsible for what people writing after him in his name said. That would be like saying Jesus -- who charged Mary Magdalene with the first telling of the gospel, and affirmed Martha's sister Mary of Bethany in her commitment to learning -- thought that women should not preach or teach...as some that came after Jesus writing in His name have said. THOSE people are far bigger misogynists than Paul ever was! (IMHO)
The music. . . . . THE MUSIC!!! Paul gets enough attention (and, I DO find that, in spite of Paul's obviously good points, Heidi's "televangelist" comment resonates with me), so Theo it is.
Theodore gets my vote because I want to support the underdog and he did wonderful things for the folks of the British Isles. I've come to admire Paul over the years and understand that he is actually very much a supporter of women and their leadership in the church, but I still always see him as sort of a Danny DeVito kind of character.
I've been waiting for years to switch from Eastern to Western tonsure, it just won't grow...Gotta vote for a man with a full head of hair. Theo's my man!
I think that beloved Paul, who I absolutely adore, would be horrified to know that he might win the coveted Golden Halo. His deep humility would advise us to vote for Theo. The truth is, Paul already has the Golden Halo, and always will have it, so he can step aside on this one. He is my favorite character in the scriptures. (Love the idea of Danny DeVito playing him in the movie, Joan; thanks for that image!) And, Theo, who was "the first archbishop of Canterbury that all the English obeyed", and was also probably the last Archbishop that all the English obeyed, deserves a shot at this.
Have to vote for Paul, regardless of any real or perceived warts. Without him, Christianity might very well have been a "cult of Jesus" within Judaism, rather than a great religion.
Can't quite believe I've done this - much though I hate how Paul's writing has been used and abused (particularly with regard to the role of women), I still am captivated by his humanity (when it seems to sneak out of his writing), his flexibility of approach to different situations, and his preparedness to turn around and follow the way of Christ.
Paul, because he struggles with so many of the same questions I struggle with.
It's a bit out of season, I suppose, but this Lent I'm struggling with the concept of "resurrection of the body/dead," which probably gets much the same scoff now as it did when Paul was preaching about it in Athens. So I struggle with I Cor. 15, trying to understand what he thinks it means.
I'm an Anglican, and Anglophile, and a geriatrician (day job). Theodore went to England--can't have been easy--and built the English Church into a shape to hand on and persevere. My vote goes to the older guy for whom life is not over. Go Theo!
Just because I don't think we use the title Venerable enough any more, I'm sticking with Bede and voting for Theo. If he was good enough for Bede, he's good enough for me!
another challenge for this voter... two saintly attributes... "grace" in Paul of T (where would we be without his capture of this insight) and the "willingness to follow God any where he leads" even into the heart of conflict as it must surely have been in England with the Celts, Anglo-Saxon's & Romans with their own visions and priorities for the faith and to manage sainthood across the divide of the english church and the eastern church. Still I think we would not be much of a church without the theology and witness of Paul, inspite of his not being perfect... so today the apostle gets my vote ...
Having spent considerable time studying Paul's writings, both as a student and a teacher, I am convinced that it is not Paul's writings that I have problems with but the way in which his writings have been misused and abused. Besides, I'm feeling a little less kindly these days to ABCs who are so focused on unity that other things like inclusion of all believers and differences of opinion slip to the side.
What's an ABC?
Arch Bishop of Canterbury. : )
I'm a career musician. Theodore gets my vote. He was also my favorite chipmunk. Seriously, St. Paul gets entirely too much attention.
Yes, I too, have difficulties with Paul and some of his viewpoints. I guess that's they way a lot thought in those times. As a reader, I too find Paul difficult to read. (P.S. Sometimes I want to smack him too, but sisters are supposed to be kinder than that, I'd I'd refrain) I vote for Teddy ( as in Bear)
Another difficult one. But as Peter once remarked, Paul is too difficult to understand. I actually enjoy puzzling out Paul but today Ted's my man.
Having been on the road to Damascus-albeit Maryland- have to go with Paul
Skye and Hope are keenly interested in the name change from Saul to Paul and wonder if he ever traveled to Gaul. Hope then asked if she could change her name to Justina Bieber. Mom said no. Paul gets their vote today.
We need a "Like" button here!
Rachel and Adam were done after the beheading.... Paul had their vote. Rachel is far more concerned about tomorrow's match-up.
So all of you "uncomfortable" with Paul's first century views on women, how many women did St. Ted appoint and ordain as bishops and priests in merry old England?
Here's Tarsus:
Location of Tarsus
Coordinates: 36°55′N 34°54′E
Please forward my bonus points to "The Most Exalted Scorekeeper-Michael T". at Saint Matthias' Episcopal Church in Minocqua, WI (http://www.stmatthiasminocqua.org)
I need them to break a tie after the first round.
Paul needs the golden halo. He really likes being number one. Chief among sinners -- give me a break! I mean maybe you sin some, but surely there are those who are just a bit worse.
Remember what Jesus said about those who said the didn't sin versus those that asked for foregiveness. Then consider what Saul did before he became Paul.
Chief sinner may not be hyperbole.
After 4 years of Education for Ministry followed by 7 years as an EfM Mentor, I'm of the opinion that there has been too much emphasis placed on Paul. My vote goes to Theodore.
Tedd-y! Tedd-y! Tedd-y!
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Paul's letter to the Romans 8:38-39
Why is there even any discussion over who deserves the vote today?
I was torn, but I think Paul gets enough appreciation for his prodigious gifts to humanity, week in, week out in the Episcopal Church. Since I am a new Vestry member at St. Bede's in Mar Vista, CA, I must cast my vote for the V.B.'s favorite, and hope to shine the spotlight in a different corner of the realm this time.
I understand how people can be put off by Paul. I lector at my church and, after many years of reading his words, I can see his massive intellect, his self-doubt, and his care for his churches. I voted enthusiastically for Paul.
Look. A man who is knocked off his A** and lands on his A** in the middle of the road deserves a little compA**sion.