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The Apostle Paul in Malta

On the 10th of February, the people of the Island of Malta celebrate the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul.

In Acts 27:39-42 – “39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.” Acts 28:1 – “Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta." There are four things or four controversies regarding this event in our history that are to be answered. But the first three are not that important for the faith. The truth is, that it is important to know in certainty of the faith that the Apostle Paul preached, and to see if this is faith that the majority believed and practise.

(1) Did the shipwreck occur in February?

(2) Did the shipwreck really take place in Malta?

(3) If it happened in Malta, which bay?

(4) Was the teaching of the Apostle Paul the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that the Maltese practice till this time?

(1) In relation to the shipwreck taking place in February. there is no ground evidence since the feast of ATONEMENT falls between September and October.

(2) There are two more islands that contest Malta for the shipwreck. These are the island of Cephalonia and the island of Mljet.

(3) Another controversy is about which bay the shipwreck occurred. There are at least three sites, St. Pauls Bay, St. Thomas Bay, or Salina Bay. These three controversies need more studies. Now we are not going to discuss this controversy. Our aim is about the teaching of the Apostle Paul and the teaching that the Maltese people believe and practice.

(4) How can we identify what learnings did the apostle Paul spread during his stay? Luke in his narrative does not mention anything in relation to Paul's preaching. Although Paul preached wherever he went, in this case, it has not been specified. So, we do not know. Did Paul start a church on these islands? We do not know. There is no evidence of a Christian Church on these islands at the time of Paul nor after he left. As we read the Bible, we know that the congregations of the church of Christ always met in houses, not in Temples. In Romans 16:3-5 – “3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Philemon 1:1-2 – “To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:” 1 Corinthians 16:19 – “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” Colossians 4:15 – “Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house” We have no evidence about Christians living on these islands at that time.

From the 1st century till the 3rd Century Roman pagan gods were worshiped. In the 8th – 9th century in the late Byzantine era we have a church mentioned. It is a Roman Catholic Church. The islands of Malta are under the Roman Catholic Church teachings. Are these teaching as the Apostle Paul taught? Can we know for a certainty if the Maltese were following St Paul's teaching? Yes, we can prove if the faith of this island is Biblical or not. Let us see what the apostle Paul teaches by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and compare what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. Here are some examples:

Roman Catholic False Teachings   Infant baptism by sprinkling

Teachings of the Bible Mark 16:16 – “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” An infant cannot believe. An infant has not inherited sin. Roman Catholic False Teachings      Prayers for the dead Teachings of the Bible Matthew 25:46 – “46And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” Prayers on behalf of the dead have no meaning, for nothing can be changed by them.

Roman Catholic False Teachings      Praying to Mary & Saints Teachings of the Bible 1 Timothy 2:5 – “5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” No saint can take Jesus’ place: There is one God. Roman Catholic False Teachings      The Doctrine of Purgatory

Teachings of the Bible Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” The evidence from the New Testament simply does not support the existence of purgatory. In fact, the Biblical doctrine of Salvation eliminates the need for purgatory.

Roman Catholic False Teachings          First Pope Linus Teachings of the Bible 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – “3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” For a mere man to assume the authority and titles which belong only to God, is surely the height of arrogance and blasphemy.

Roman Catholic False Teachings           Instrumental music:

Teachings of the Bible Ephesians 5:19 – “19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” It is commanded. There are examples of Christians singing.

Roman Catholic False Teachings          Worship of icons and statues

Teachings of the Bible Exodus 20:4-5 – “4You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”