'Paul, Campaigner of Christ' presents a compelling historical portrait

Apr three, 2018

"Paul, Apostle of Christ" is worthy of a widespread audience and not just in catechetical circles. It features the same high-level production and the same actor (Jim Caviezel) every bit "The Passion of the Christ," but Paul's PG-13 rating also makes it advisable for high school classrooms and youth grouping screenings. While "Paul, Campaigner of Christ" is not a scholarly effort, it does present a compelling portrait of the historical world of St. Paul in three major ways:

i. The formation of the New Testament

"Paul, Campaigner of Christ" dramatizes the movement from the orally preached kerygma to the written word that would stabilize into the New Attestation, a procedure that most Christians accept probably given little thought. The premise of "Paul, Apostle of Christ" is that Luke (Caviezel) is writing the follow-up story to his Gospel and in demand of source material. Through conversations with Paul (James Faulkner) in prison, Luke transcribes Paul's words into what will become the Acts of the Apostles.

The film'southward frame story is imaginative, and some historians and biblical scholars may question the plausibility of the narrative construction. The speculations, however, practice not distract from the purpose of presenting first-century Rome and the transmission of the New Testament.

two. The creative realization of "modest" New Testament characters

There are many people mentioned in Scripture about whom nosotros know precious niggling. Yet these courageous leaders and martyrs are the sine quibus non of our faith. "Paul, Apostle of Christ" puts mankind on the bones of two figures in particular mentioned in Pauline corpus: Aquila and Priscilla. Through the optics of this married couple, we visit an early church that is live and struggling to live out its experience of the risen Christ.

iii. The internal and external struggle of the early Christian church building

Roman oppression forced the early on Christian community into hard decisions. "Paul, Apostle of Christ" takes place a few years afterward the smashing fire of Rome of 64 A.D., an event described in The Annals past Roman historian Tacitus. According to Tacitus, Nero intensified the persecution of Christians by scapegoating them for the fire. Remaining in Rome put the lives of followers of "the Way" at risk, but too put them in contact with people they desired to serve, such as widows and orphans.

"Paul, Apostle of Christ" shows how external Roman persecution pressurized the internal struggles of kickoff-century Christians. The young church in "Paul" debates the incongruity of the case of Jesus with violent reprisal against Christians' Roman oppressors. The visualization of external and internal pressures offers an analog for understanding the spider web of conflicts and pressures for individual Christians and the church building through the centuries. The picture also offers a moving glimpse of the reconciliation of these struggles in the communion of saints.

Beyond these three historical points, "Paul, Apostle of Christ" has cinematic strengths.

Light and darkness are used effectively throughout the film. The chiaroscuro palate of "Paul" is similar watching a moving Caravaggio painting, especially in the dark and shadowy dungeon scenes lit past flickering torches. The French word for dungeon is oubliette, a discussion that stems from the word for "forgotten." In contrast, the Greek word for truth is alethia, which stems from the things that are "not to exist forgotten." In the forgotten place of the dungeon, "Paul" stages the transmission of the eternally memorable truths of Christ.

The soundtrack is emotionally affective and stirring without whatever words, just a few sparse arrangements in pocket-size and major keys.

A delightful surprise was the supporting duo of the jailor and his wife, who are shades of the Johannine depiction of Pontius Pilate and Mrs. Pilate. They provide a sympathetic point of view while suffering a crisis of conscience defenseless between powerful forces.

"Paul, Apostle of Christ" is worthy of the widest possible audition for many reasons. About films, even those critically acclaimed and awarded, value way over substance and the novel over the enduring. "Paul, Campaigner of Christ" is most what so few films show: the suffering love that gives purpose and pregnant to human being lives.

[Erik Lenhart is a Capuchin Franciscan friar ministering at St. Pius X Parish in Middletown, Connecticut.]

Enter your e-mail address to receive gratis newsletters from NCR.

Join the Conversation

Send your thoughts and reactions to Letters to the Editor. Learn more than here