Consider Paul

 I am grateful to N. T. Wright and his book on Paul. He has given me many ideas to ponder.

As usual, my thoughts then lead to other thoughts, maybe to places triggered in my own mind, but not explicitly in the book (or lecture or article).  So one strain of my thoughts went something like this: 

What would the world be like without Paul, if he hadn't gotten on fire with his message and instead just stayed  at home? Would the Jesus message have spread far and wide without Paul? If spread, would it have been a different message without Paul? Would we even know about Jesus without Paul?  

 We of course can never actually know the answers to these questions, but we can see how Paul's understanding and robust, confrontational teaching style stood out in contrast to the time. And, if the status quo had not been interrupted by this fiery orator and deep thinker, we can guess it would have been the same old same old for much longer.

Into the pagan culture, the culture of extreme hierarchy, of promiscuity, of infanticide, of brutality against all who dared to challenge how it was, of low literacy, etc- came a new way championed by Paul.

His passion fired his message that the new Temple was Jesus, a new day had begun, and it was time to start living into the Kingdom of God on earth. The idea of the family of the Messiah people extended what family had meant. His exclamation of no Jew or Gentile, free or slave, male or female brought new hope. Caring for the poor and sick, even strangers, was a new idea, including them as children of God. Teaching  reading to everyone interested so they could read the Torah (including women, children and slaves) spread literacy. His emphasis on loyality and faithfulness taught honesty and fidelity. Retelling the story of Abraham and on to Jesus, grafted people onto the story of an ancient people. His ideas precipitated things like hospitals, orphanages, codexes leading to books, and so much more.

So eliminate all that Paul taught and started. The hordes still would invade and smash Rome. Now their ways would take over. Civilization would move backward for some length of time. It is likely that some humans would be curious and discover this and that, and a new civilization of some sort would emerge. But it most certainly would be different.

Maybe Paul and his 7 authentic letters are at the top of the list of importance to humanity.