“ Last of all, as to one untimely born (ἔκτρωμα), he appeared also to me.”
— THE APOSTLE PAUL
Pauline Institute Classes
Join Pauline New Testament specialist Robert Orlando in a weekly class that delves into the mercurial life of the Apostle and his message. Through structured elements such as weekly sessions centered on Pauline's letters and engaging discussions, participants will explore the intersections of culture and faith. Leveraging influences from resources like apostlepaulsite.com.
pauline resources
The Pauline Institute and its faith community hopes to bridge the gap between historical scholarship and theology, faith and reason. Saint Paul's contributions to Christian thought are significant, and the website's design reflects a commitment to exploring his legacy in a scholarly yet accessible manner.
weekly podcast: ektroma
The Apostle Paul: Ektrōma, “One Born Out of Time.” In the Ektrōma podcast, we delve into the enigmatic figure of the Apostle Paul and his profound impact on early Christianity as we uncover the intricate layers of his identity and mission. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul’s self-identification as ektrōma, meaning “out of time,” sets the stage for our exploration.
Who is our Institute’s Community?
The Pauline Institute is an independent online nonprofit organization dedicated to the latest research and insights on the life of Saint Paul for believers and non believers. It serves as a platform for individuals interested in exploring Saint Paul's teachings, Jewish-Christian relations, Greco-Roman culture, and their relevance to modern society. The community comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a common interest in scholarly research and historical discourse related to Saint Paul.
What values or priorities shape our decisions?
The values that have guided the Pauline Institute include a commitment to:
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Scholarly Research: The website emphasizes the importance of rigorous research into Saint Paul's life and teachings, aligning with the theological value of seeking deeper understanding of his biblical world.
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Interfaith Dialogue: The website aims to foster understanding of Jewish-Christian relations, in critical researh reflecting the value of promoting dialogue and cooperation among different faith communities.
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Relevance: The website seeks to make Saint Paul's teachings relevant to modern society, aligning with the priority of applying biblical wisdom to contemporary challenges.
The Pauline Institute and its faith community hopes to bridge the gap between historical scholarship and theology, faith and reason. Saint Paul's contributions to Christian thought are significant, and the website's design reflects a commitment to exploring his legacy in a scholarly yet accessible manner.
Announcement:
Thomas Aquinas' Summa Analogia:
A Response to Modern Communication Breakdown
Join us for an enlightening talk by acclaimed author, filmmaker, and independent scholar Robert Orlando as he delves into Thomas Aquinas's enduring wisdom, viewed through the groundbreaking insights of modern media theorist Marshall McLuhan. McLuhan's perspectives on media's transformative effects on human consciousness are more relevant in an era marked by divisive discourse and ideological polarization.
Orlando’s study investigates Aquinas’s pioneering efforts to harmonize Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy, highlighting the compatibility of faith and reason. Aquinas’s notion of analogy provides a philosophical framework capable of transcending historical boundaries and fostering constructive dialogue in today’s political landscape.
This talk will seamlessly connect Aquinas’s medieval thought with McLuhan's contemporary views on media, illuminating the intricate interplay between media, cognition, and knowledge. McLuhan's perspective on media shaping behavior and perception is highly relevant in today’s divisive, technocratic world. By considering McLuhan's insights within Aquinas's epistemological framework, we can better understand navigating our media-saturated world and reclaiming common ground in civil discourse.
By exploring Aquinas’s synthesis of reason and revelation alongside McLuhan's media insights, Orlando will profoundly understand how ancient wisdom and modern theory can guide us toward more meaningful communication in our complex world. This approach seeks to unite faith and reason in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding, paving the way for positive dialogue.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives on how ancient wisdom and modern theory can guide us toward more meaningful communication in our complex world.
Robert Orlando, B.F.A., School of Visual Arts; M.T.S., Princeton Theological Seminary, founded Nexus Media as an award-winning author, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He specializes in film, religion, and history. Orlando has directed documentaries such as "Silence Patton," "The Divine Plan," and "Trump's Rosebud." His books include "Apostle Paul: A Polite Bribe," "The Divine Plan," and "Citizen Trump: A One Man Show." He is also working on "To Hell with Karl Marx" for a 2025 film adaptation and completing his ThM degree at Princeton Theological Seminary.
What does the Institute Offer?
The design of the Pauline Institute's website is influenced by the idea that digital media can serve as a powerful tool for disseminating scholarly research and fostering community engagement.
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Digital Engagement: This concept highlights the potential of digital media to engage and connect with a wide audience. It shaped the decision to include a conversational forum on the website, encouraging people to exchange ideas about biblical subjects.
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Website Accessibility: This module emphasized the importance of creating a user-friendly website. It influenced decisions related to website navigation and the presentation of scholarly content in an accessible format.
These ideas about digital engagement and website accessibility have shaped the website's design by ensuring that it provides a seamless and engaging experience for users interested in exploring Saint Paul's life and teachings.
RESOURCES
The Pauline Institute will also live on the already established site www.apostlepaulsite.com.
It will feature:
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Twenty years of taped interviews with diverse top-notch New Testament scholars.
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New and lively articles by pastors, experts, and students advance the Pauline discussion.
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A conversational forum where people can exchange ideas about biblical subjects.
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Live quarterly and annual events exploring various Pauline themes.
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A new podcast, Ektroma, is based on Pauline's unique sense of calling.
FUNDING
At present, The Pauline Institute is seeking individual and institutional partners for donations and long-term support, as well as opportunities to combine interests for events and shows. We will hold our first event in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2025, which will draw on the location’s broader religious and non-religious communities. Our funding Strategy will be provided upon request. If interested please write to: robo@nexusmediasite.com
personal statement
My academic journey spans from the corridors of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan to the hallowed halls of Princeton Theological Seminary, where I've woven a tale of curiosity, creativity, and a pursuit to understand Paul's life and teachings.
Venturing into the film world, I managed theological productions at Trinity Studios in downtown New York. I delved into visual storytelling and crafted "See Her Run," a film showcased at the Tel Aviv festival. Trinity Studios challenged my perspectives and fueled a more profound quest for reflection.
The aftermath of 9/11 shifted my focus towards Paul's mission of unity across diverse backgrounds, catalyzing my critical engagement with Pauline scholarship after encountering John Gager's "Reinventing Paul." This led to collaborations with influential scholars like Alan Segal and a documentary project on the Apostle Paul in 2014.
Years later, I completed my studies at Princeton Theological Seminary under Dr. Dale Allison's guidance, providing crucial insights into New Testament studies at a graduate level. Combined with a career in media as an author and filmmaker, this experience positions me to contribute uniquely to Pauline's studies.
The Pauline Institute represents the culmination of my studies and research and aligns with a commitment to knowledge. With my work at Princeton Theological Seminary, I now envision this institute as the next chapter in my Pauline studies—a journey that unfolds with every verse that elevates Paul's narrative beyond the common understandings.
From my lectures, books, films, and media background, alongside a deep understanding of dramatic storytelling principles, I aim to tackle lacunas in Pauline studies. I aim to present fresh insights and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding this influential and enigmatic figure in Western history.
ABOUT ROBERT ORLANDO
Robert Orlando, BFA, School of Visual Arts, is a filmmaker, author, scholar, and Executive Director of Nexus Media. His studies include film, religion, ancient and modern history, and biography. As an award-winning writer/director, his films include thought-provoking documentaries such as Silence Patton, The Divine Plan, Citizen Trump, and the upcoming Shroud. His books include Apostle Paul: The Final Verdict, The Divine Plan, The Tragedy of Patton, Citizen Trump: A One Man Show, and Karl Marx. He is published in the book Writing Short Scripts. His articles have appeared in the American Thinker, The Catholic Thing, Daily Caller, HuffPost, Townhall, Patheos, and Merion West. Orlando has spoken at numerous churches, colleges, The White House, and The Vatican. He lives in Princeton, NJ, with his wife and son, where he completes his Graduate Studies in Religion and Society and Biblical Studies.
OPTIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE:
Intro to the Apostle Paul
Apostle Paul & Identity Politics
Apostle Paul: Mission, Money, and Mayhem
Paul's Letter to Romans: The Drama of Redemption
Ektroma: Apostle Paul, A Man out of Time
Eschaton: Sacred Story in a Secular World, from Jesus to Marx
Hamlet: Modern Man in Purgatory