From Schreiner – ch 2:  Proclaiming a Magnificent God
“Magnifying God in Christ was the animating principle of Paul’s life and the foundational principle of his theology” (37).

“. . . Paul’s primary aim was not to leave an epistolary legacy in which subsequent generations would marvel at his theological system.  He was a missionary who wrote letters to churches in order to sustain his converts in their newfound faith” (38).

“When Paul reflects on his calling as a missionary, he invariably attributes it to God’s grace and mercy” (40).

“. . . he also emphasizes his untiring effort and work as an apostle. . . . He labors as a wrestler, runner and boxer (Col 1:28-2:3; 1 Cor 9:24-27) to bring all to completion in Christ and in Christian maturity.  Concerted discipline and painful exertion characterize his ministry.  The apostolic ministry is not one of serenity in the sense that the nitty-gritty nature of everyday life is transcended” (41).

“The remarkable change of course [Paul’s conversion and call] is ascribed to God himself; his induction into the ministry was due to God’s ‘good pleasure’ (eudokesen), God’s ‘separating’ (aphorisas), God’s ‘calling’ (kalesas) and God’s ‘revealing’ (apokalypsai, Gal 1:15-16).  In other words, the radical change in Paul’s allegiance can only be attributed to God himself” (44).

“As Paul reflects on his past, he says the he was ‘formerly in Judaism’ (Gal 1:13).  The word formerly (pote) surely implies that he is no longer part of Judaism.  Indeed, it is telling that the term Judaism (Gal 1:13-14) is used twice to depict Paul’s allegiance before his calling.  He never uses this term in his letters to describe his faith in Christ.  He could easily speak of his calling as an apostle as a fulfillment of his ‘Judaism,’ but he never does” (45).