6 - Paul and the Apostolic Mission

Summary

In contrast to ‘ministry gospels’, with their focus on events leading up to Jesus’ passion and resurrection, the Epistula Apostolorum is primarily concerned with the disciples’ preparation for their future worldwide mission following Jesus’ departure. That preparation takes the form of detailed instruction from the risen Jesus about the content of their teaching; there is here no expectation of a sudden dramatic transformation of the disciples along the lines of Luke’s Pentecost narrative. Like GMary and the Longer Ending of GMark, the Epistula draws its version of the call to preach to all nations from the Matthean ‘Great Commission’ (GMt 28.19–20), but in both cases the later texts assert their independence in relation to GMatthew. They also present the disciples as apprehensive about the task of mission, and introduce the figure of a helper: Mary (i.e. Mary Magdalene) in the case of GMary, Paul in the case of EpAp. Here the emphasis on Paul's Jewishness is striking and may be compared with related passages in Acts, Galatians, and Philippians. Equally striking is the account of his conversion, in which (in sharp contrast to Galatians 1), the other apostles play a major role.