How did one significant person or school of thought shape the development and expression of Christianity?
Explain the contribution to the development and expression of Christianity of ONE significant person or school of thought, with reference to Paul of Tarsus
A focused answer to the significant person depth study in Christianity, using Paul of Tarsus. Covers his conversion and missionary journeys, his letters and theology of salvation by grace through faith, the opening of the faith to Gentiles, and his continuing impact on Christian thought and practice.
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What this dot point is asking
NESA wants you to explain how one significant person or school of thought contributed to the development and expression of Christianity. This page uses Paul of Tarsus, the most commonly studied figure. You must show both his historical contribution (what he did) and his ongoing impact on Christian belief, ethics and practice. This is the significant person component of the Christianity depth study, examined in both Studies of Religion I and II.
The answer
Who Paul was
Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul) was a first-century Jew and Pharisee, a Roman citizen, who initially persecuted the early followers of Jesus. After a transformative experience on the road to Damascus, described in the Acts of the Apostles, he became the most influential missionary of the early Church. He did not know Jesus during Jesus' earthly ministry, which makes his role in shaping Christianity all the more striking.
His contribution to the development of Christianity
- Missionary expansion
- Paul undertook several missionary journeys across the Roman world, founding and supporting Christian communities in Asia Minor, Greece and beyond. He carried the message far outside its original Jewish setting.
- Opening the faith to Gentiles
- Paul argued that non-Jews (Gentiles) could become Christians without first adopting the full Jewish law, including circumcision. The decision at the Council of Jerusalem supported this position. This was decisive: it transformed a movement within Judaism into a universal faith open to all peoples, enabling Christianity to become a world religion.
- The Pauline letters
- Paul wrote letters (epistles) to the communities he founded, addressing belief, conduct and conflict. Letters such as Romans, Galatians and the Corinthian correspondence became part of the New Testament and are the earliest Christian writings, predating the Gospels.
His contribution to the expression of Christianity
- Theology of salvation
- Paul articulated the doctrine of justification by grace through faith: that people are reconciled to God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus rather than by works of the law. This became a foundational Christian teaching.
- Christology and the cross
- Paul's emphasis on the crucifixion and resurrection as the centre of faith shaped Christian worship, preaching and identity. The image of the body of Christ for the community informs how Christians understand the Church.
- Ethics
- Paul's letters give practical moral guidance on love, unity, the use of spiritual gifts and life in community, continuing to shape Christian ethical teaching.
Continuing impact
Paul's letters are read in worship and cited in theology and ethics across all major Christian denominations. His teaching on grace and faith profoundly shaped later figures and movements, including the Reformation. Through his missionary work and his writings, Paul is, after Jesus, the most influential figure in the development of Christianity.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of NESA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
2024 HSC20 marksSignificant people or schools of thought have been agents of change, enriching the faith and inspiring new forms of religious expression. With reference to the statement, analyse the impact of ONE significant person OR school of thought, other than Jesus.Show worked answer →
A 20-mark extended response on Paul of Tarsus. Argue a clear thesis: Paul was the decisive agent of change who transformed a Jewish messianic movement into a universal faith.
Build the analysis around concrete contributions, each tied to "enriching the faith" and "new forms of religious expression".
- Conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) turned a persecutor into the foremost missionary, modelling grace and transformation.
- Mission to the Gentiles. Paul argued that Gentiles need not first become Jews (the Council of Jerusalem, Acts 15), opening the faith to all nations and reshaping Christian identity.
- Theology. His letters (Romans, Galatians, Corinthians) articulated justification by grace through faith, the body of Christ, and the centrality of the resurrection, providing the doctrinal core later developed by Augustine and Luther.
- Lasting expression. Thirteen New Testament letters are attributed to him; his thought shapes worship, ethics and the Reformation.
Sustain the judgement that without Paul, Christianity may have remained a Jewish sect, and weigh his impact against that of the early Jerusalem community in the conclusion.
2021 HSC6 marksWhat impact has ONE significant person or school of thought, other than Jesus, had on Christianity?Show worked answer →
For 6 marks, identify Paul of Tarsus and explain two to three clear impacts on the development and expression of Christianity.
Identify: Paul (formerly Saul), a Pharisee converted near Damascus, the leading missionary of the early Church.
Impacts.
- Spread of the faith. Through three missionary journeys around the Mediterranean he founded churches and carried the gospel to the Gentile world.
- Theology. His letters set out salvation by grace through faith, becoming foundational New Testament Scripture and shaping later doctrine.
- Universality. By insisting that Gentile converts need not adopt the Jewish law, he transformed Christianity from a Jewish sect into a universal religion.
Strong answers name each impact, explain it with a specific example (a letter, journey or the Council of Jerusalem), and link it to how Christianity developed.