Paul’s Teachings Essay

1. Essay on the Epistle to the Galatians The New Testament Book Epistle to the Galatians is ascribed by the Catholic Church to St. Paul but now believed to be written by early Christian missionary Paul of Tarsus to the early Christian communities in Galatia, then a Roman province. It was an intensely personal letter wherein Paul primarily tackled the circumcision issue during those early days of Christianity. The issue of circumcising Gentile converts, considered to be culturally offensive to Romans, was then being hotly debated. In the Epistle, Paul cautions against the introduction of Jewish practices, such as circumcision, into the community of Christians. The circumcision debate written in Galatians was important for St. Paul because he wanted to point out to the Gentiles that the prescriptions that regulated the day-to-day lives of the Jews under the Law of Moses are meant to lead men to salvation through Christ. Some Galatian converts or Judaizers at that time insisted that observance of the Law, including circumcision, abstinence and certain ritual purifications, was prerequisite to being good or perfect Christians. During the Old Testament, circumcision served as a man’s public pledge to the complete observance of Mosaic Law. In Paul’s argument against circumcision, he mentions Old Testament figures such as Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Sarah and Hagar in order to explain and illustrate â€Å"what it means to follow God’s advice† ( 4:21, Galatians). Using the story of the birth of Isaac and Ishmael, Paul stresses that Christians should genuinely believe and follow all of God’s advise, not only religious traditions but more so, following the examples of Christ. In addressing the circumcision issue in the Epistle, Paul thereby explains that by itself, the Mosaic Law had no power to save because salvation needs individual faith and the grace of Jesus. 2. Essay on the Books of Timothy I, Timothy II and Titus The New Testament Books First Epistle to Timothy, Second Epistle to Timothy and Epistle to Titus are three Pastoral Epistles attributed to St. Paul but now believed to be from Paul of Tarsus. They are collectively termed as the Pastoral Epistles chiefly because the letters are addressed to pastors or heads of the early Church regarding proper handling of the ministry. Together, the Epistles instruct the Bishop Timothy and the Christian worker Titus on the general principles regarding community order and faith. Specifically, the greater part of the Timothy I is devoted to instructions on the proper ordering of Christian community life for it to function smoothly. It also admonishes Timothy on the duties of the bishops and deacons in terms of preaching, praying in public and care for the Church members. Timothy II, on the other stresses the faithful dispensing of the responsibilities by church leaders and provides encouragement to the Bishop. The Pastoral Epistles talk of the proper conduct of both men and women; proper behavior when inside the Church; respect for old and young people; treatment of elderly and rules for the enrollment of widows and other prescriptions for good and Christian behavior. They also talk of how to remain steadfast in faith by rejecting false teachings and safeguarding the truths in the Church. Such is a suggestion of the pressures against and the corresponding struggles to strengthen the faith within the community. The administrative activities, especially as found in Timothy I tell us that the early Church then was already, or at least beginning to be, structured and orderly and made up of united members. This is seen, for one, in the discussion on the selection of church leaders. These three Epistles definitely communicate to us the difficulties of the early Church. The part in Timothy II wherein Paul exhorted the Bishop to be patient in the face of persecution is best illustrates the serious problems they encountered. The recommendations in the Timothy I and Titus regarding the kind of character needed for the leaders of the Church suggest the earnest efforts to build and fortify what we know now to be a heavily challenged Church back then. In gist, Timothy I and II and Titus portray the picture of the Christian community during the incipient period of the Church. The Books show that times were hard but that the early Christians, herein guided by Paul, mustered their faith and effort for the ministry.

Globalization - Good or Bad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Globalization - Good or Bad - Essay Example In terms of International Trade, the author has described globalization as the platform that sets a level playground for both rich and poor countries. The author has also affirmed the less developed country can only improve their situation through the assistance of World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. I agree to a greater extent the assertions of the author except at some few issues which I total disagree. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have been described by the author as the pillars of global governance systems. The author overlooked the power of sovereignty of states, democracy, and the international justice system. The claim that developing countries can only improve their situation through these two global financial institutions is not accurate. Wallerstein (2004) pointed out that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is ‘training’ poor countries to depend on them. Developing countries have difficulties servicing the loans they receive from these organizations. They find themselves overburdened by the huge interest rates and end up borrowing again from other sources including internal sources. This creates a scenario similar to the one of digging a hole to bury another hole. The problem still remains. In this regard, I view the two institutions as contributing to the slow growth of developing economies and not as the sole path to their economic prosperity. Multinational companies in developing countries have been highlighted as better paying compared to the local firms and that foreign firms are not really oppressing their workers. Hurst (2008) claim that multinational companies are one of the social oppressions in less developed and poor countries. They offer jobs to locals at a higher wage than local firms, but this should not justify the poor, working conditions, job insecurity, or the prolonged hours of work often witnessed especially in the manufacturing industry. The author claims that if the w orkers were not happy with these companies then they would leave. Hurst (2008) explains that is huge labor force in developing countries and very few job opportunities which leaves many workers to ‘persevere’ where they are. The reason, therefore, why these workers continue working for the foreign firms is not because they are happy but rather because they have nowhere else to look for a livelihood. On the issue of foreign companies being nothing compared to the government, and not being able to raise an army or taxes, the author failed to put into perspective that, at times, some senior government officials usually have personal interests in these companies. Revesz (1997) stated that when it comes to crisis where multinational firms are being accused of various reasons, ‘the states cannot be trusted’ in the way the matter is handled. He observed that despite huge negative publicity and accusations from both the media and the public, the government remains silent and waits for the ‘tide to settle’. The international trading system has been implied by the author as unbiased against developing countries. This may be true as far as international trade laws and regulations are concerned. But, on the other hand, according to Wallerstein (2004), there is a more serious issue of trade imbalance whereby developed countries have an upper hand due to their economic strength advantage, superior

Oligopoly and possible collusion in the UK domestic utilities market Essay

Oligopoly and possible collusion in the UK domestic utilities market - Essay Example Utilities market is essential for every country and any disturbance in the utilities market can have detrimental impacts on the economy of the country. It is of utmost importance that every country ensures that the organizations involved in utilities market are operating smoothly and fairly. The following paper would analyse the domestic utilities market in UK, the organizations involved in providing domestic utilities, and the analysis of the recent hike in prices of the domestic utilities. The paper would attempt to evaluate whether the rise in price of utilities in domestic utilities market in UK is a result of oligopoly and possible collusion in the market. DOMESTIC UTILITIES MARKET IN UK Domestic utilities market in UK is a vast and diverse sector of the UK economy. It includes a number of companies that provide energy and other utility services. The UK utilities market comprises of; the oil, petroleum and gas; nuclear power and coal; water and waste management; renewable energy industries; and energy conservation organisations. The utilities market in the UK plays a significantly important in the economy of the country. ... mers, markets traditions, products and knowledge required in order to succeed in the utilities market in the UK are considerably different than those required in other industries. In other industries, the main objective of the companies is to succeed by way of earning more and more profit. The entry in other commercial industries is comparatively easier therefore the number of firms in other industries is high. The competition within an industry is determined by the number of firms and the availability of substitutes in the market, and the level of prices is determined by the extent of competition in the industry. Therefore in the commercial industries the prices of products are determined by the extent of competitiveness of the industry. This situation is completely different from that of the utilities market. Utilities market have fewer number of companies in the market therefore there is a clear tendency for high prices for the utility services therefore regulatory authorities pla y an important role in the utilities market in order to ensure that the prices of services provided to the citizens are reasonable (Simmonds 2000). Even though the utilities market is different from commercial, industrial and residential markets; it is considerably a big sector in the UK economy. From the perspective of revenue, the UK utilities industry forms a significant proportion of the overall economic growth of the country. In the year 2010, the UK utilities industry had total revenue of $126.3 billion. The most successful segment in the UK utilities industry is the electricity segment. The total revenue of the electricity segment was $57.6 billion. It has been anticipated that the industry will continue to grow and the overall value of the UK utilities industry by the end of the

The Body Shop Marketing Plan In Hull Assignment

The Body Shop Marketing Plan In Hull - Assignment Example Since it is a socially committed company, Body shop gives more priority to environmental protection and human right protection. Hull is one of the most heavily populated cities in England. It has a large tradition and heritage. Moreover, Hull is one of the heavily industrialized cities in England. The per capita income of people of Hull city is more than that of other people in England. Body shop has better business potentials in Hull city, especially in the coming spring season. This report discusses the marketing strategies suitable for body shop to exploit the market potentials of Hull city in the coming spring season. Background Corporate social responsibility and sustainable development are some of the popular business terms in the modern world. These terms got popularity because of the increasing awareness of the people about the protection of environment and the consequences of injudicious exploitation of natural resources. Corporates in the past heavily exploited the natural resources and hence the environment is facing huge problems now. Modern generation believe that it is the duty of the corporate companies to give something back to the communities in which they operate and to the environmental protection. ... d.). The Body Shop is the leader in cosmetic industry at present. Founded at Brighton, UK, in 1976, Body shop has expanded its wings to continents such as America, Asia and Europe. Hull is an important British market for the body shop. Hull is a city with immense heritage and people in this city give more importance to the protection of their beauty. The demand for cosmetic products is high in Hull compared to other cities in England. As in the case of many other businesses, cosmetic business depends heavily on seasonal changes. March, April and May (spring) are months with pleasant climate in Hull. During spring, people got out quite frequently and engage in so many activities including beauty care activities. With the help of suitable marketing activities, Body Shop can increase its sales in Hull city during the coming season. This paper analyses the marketing strategies required to position The Body Shop and its products during the spring in Hull. Environment analysis External and internal environments are equally important for a company like body shop to formulate effective marketing strategies. External environment has to be analysed at the macro and micro levels to get more insights into the effectiveness of the marketing strategies of Body shop. External Environment Robens (2007) pointed out that â€Å"Mergers and acquisitions are two common and prevailing means for company growth in today’s business world. They represent options that aim at a very high degree of integration, as opposed to cooperative agreements and joint ventures† (p.12). â€Å"On March 17, 2006, Body Shop announced that it had agreed to be taken over by L’Oreal in a ?652 million (US$ 1.14 billion) deal. L’Oreal offered 300 pence a

Celebrity Interventions - Government Class Essay

Celebrity Interventions - Government Class - Essay Example Some of the interventions by such celebrities have seen the establishment and shaping of policies that have enhanced the lives of the people in the rest of the world who suffer from illnesses, poverty, and injustices. For example, the activism by Bono, to have the African countries relieved off its debt is an act of honor by a top celebrity (Nelsen, 2). Such intervention is for the interest of thousands of millions living in the African continent, whose country’s economic status cannot survive without debts from other countries and from the World Bank. Through such an intervention, millions of people benefit by having the money that would have been committed to debt repayment be invested in other social and economic projects that can directly benefit the people. His concern for the uncontrolled spread of HIV in Africa is yet another major intervention worth recognition, in that, it enhanced the participation of the developed countries to offer free medical equipments and drugs for the control and intervention of HIV in Africa. This way, the celebrity has played an active role in saving the lives of many people in the African continent who would have otherwise succumbed to HIV and die. Celebrities are in a better position to make such interventions, since they can easily mobilize, persuade, and influence people and leaders in positions of authority to indulge in interventions for addressing humanity problems (Liza, Christos, and Asteris, 59). For example, the call for relief of African debts by Bono saw a meeting of highly ranked world leaders to discuss the issue. Such intervention was a success, since it saw the world’s most developed country make a decision to relief debts for African countries, which were perceived to be most affected by worse economic situations, to the point of making them unable to service such debts. In support for justice

Foreign language courses in public school Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Foreign language courses in public school - Essay Example According to (Dillon 2010), this is a distressing news that many schools nationwide have stopped teaching foreign languages overlooking the fact that a greater number of linguists are present needed in America in an order to look after the global business and diplomacy. The talk about necessarily requiring the American students to take foreign language courses at the schools is weighty and fraught with positive merits because research shows that younger children are more able to develop familiarity with foreign languages and learn to speak them fluently than senior people are. Young school students are of that age when acquiring knowledge about new and difficult things does not create much hurdles for the students and they are able to go all the way through to acquire control over foreign languages, which are sure to assist them a lot in their later lives when they would have to survive in a culturally diverse society and interact with people speaking different languages. There are m any jobs which essentially demand the candidates to be bi-lingual. Jobs in the fields of teaching and business require an individual to be able to socially interact with many people from different backgrounds and who may be speaking different languages. Moreover, according to (Peckham, n.d.), â€Å"children in foreign language programs have tended to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity, and divergent thinking than monolingual children.† ... elds of teaching and business require an individual to be able to socially interact with many people from different backgrounds and who may be speaking different languages. Moreover, according to (Peckham, n.d.), â€Å"children in foreign language programs have tended to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity, and divergent thinking than monolingual children.† Early foreign language learning is also important because children are the future of a country and arming them with the tool of speaking foreign languages can help them in accepting different cultural beliefs. Even proponents believe that being bi-lingual is important and beneficial in the 21st century since globalization is a prominent feature of the present America, still they obstinately stand by the viewpoint that making the foreign language courses mandatory at school level is not a wise step and should be re-considered in many educational setups. Proponents suggest that though learning foreign langua ges has its merits, still importance of an individual’s freedom should never be forgotten and in the end, it should be the student him/herself and no other authority that should decide whether taking foreign language classes is important at school or not. Proponents also claim that essentially requiring the American students to take foreign language courses at schools is not a wise step because there is already a complex and tough academic course for the students that may virtually leave the students with no excess time for learning foreign languages. This claim may be true to some extent but can be suppressed by adjusting the curriculum in such a smart way that the students would not have to face troubles in adjusting their time between other courses and additional foreign language courses.

Article Critique Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Critique - Article Example Relationship marketing is described as the model of creating and retaining customers in a business. Developing strong value and retaining customers are important strategies that markets employ in the modern competitive business environment (Trasorras, Weinstein, & Abratt, 2009). Perhaps one of the most disturbing issues is that some businesses experience cases of customers defecting from them even when they think that their services and products were best offered out. This is the issue that Relationship marketing tries to explain. Positive customer relationships are well maintained through different methods that businesses choose to invest in (Eriksson & Soderberg, 2010). Some of the methods that have proved successful include the use of incentives like customer clubs. In this method, businesses create social forums where customers can be meeting frequently and sharing ideas with the business’ stakeholders on areas that need general improvement. Customers are also able to shar e their views on the kinds of products offered and give inputs towards further developments. Erickson explains in his paper that the intersubjective approach to customer relationships means that the â€Å"self† of the business and others, who are customers in this case are usually inseparable. In this approach a business is able to put the customer are the core of their business. A customer based approach to marketing is thus the system adopted in marketing where inputs from clients are highly adhered to and respected. Customers are meant to have confident in the services offered by the business, in this case, they should be easily approached for feedback. Customers who experience maximum utility in service delivery are loyal to the business and can trade with it for a long time. Should be the duty of management in this case? Managers are meant to study into issues that need to be adopted in order to create and retain customer’s