The Rudolf Steiner Archive

44. The Apostle Paul and Theosophy

[ 1 ] The Apostle Paul and Theosophy. Dr. Rudolf Steiner spoke on this topic in Berlin at the lodge on Sögestraße. The speaker outlined the following main points: The source of what we perceive is to be found in the spiritual world, and exploring this world is the task of theosophy. One of the greatest minds of all time, the Apostle Paul, has a close connection to what we understand today as theosophy. He teaches the knowledge of God (theosophy) and is credited with having become the founder of the Christian worldview through his correct understanding of the Christ-being. The Apostle Paul’s conviction is based on a supersensible experience. He looks beyond the sensory world and recognizes its origins in the spiritual world. Only a worldview grounded in the supersensible can understand him. One such worldview is the theosophical worldview. It recognizes that there are forces within the human being that can develop in such a way as to enable him to penetrate the world of the spirit. This was made possible for the Apostle Paul through grace. For modern theosophy, the human being is not merely an external entity. In all living beings in which the “I” manifests itself, it is the same at its core, yet varies greatly in its degree of development. In Jesus, the highest “I” is embodied; it existed before all human beings, and is therefore unique. As an all-encompassing divine being, it triumphs over death. These are also the thoughts of the Apostle Paul. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. What the external Law seeks to achieve—harmony among people—He brings about through His life force. To the Jews, He was an abomination because they were bound by the Law; to the Greeks, He was folly because they believed they could attain knowledge of their divine nature only through initiation into the mysteries. Paul, a representative of the true Christian worldview, teaches that through our union with Christ we are led back to the Father, to the Spirit from whom we originated. The opponents of this worldview should consider that the very sentiments with which they seek to combat Christianity are ones they have learned from Christianity itself.