Mystical Life in St. Paul's Thought

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religions and Mysticism, University of Tehran,

Abstract

This article examines the concept of mystical life and how to achieve it from Paul's perspective. It is clear from the study and analysis of his treatises that he claims that after his conversion, as a result of his experience in Damascus, he has gained a new life in Christ and is teaching a new lifestyle, pure, spiritual and mystical life. Paul describes the most good life as the life of Christ who deserves the children of God. Mystical life means living in the way God wants and its end is to be like Christ. Although Paul emphasizes the grace of God in the realization of such a life, he does not neglect the part of man in attaining it. He considers prayer, meditation, devotion, inner purity, trust, acceptance of God's will, harmony and fellowship with God, faith, hope, and love as the foundations of Christian life, mystical life.
 

Keywords


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