Final answer:
The six major elements of Paul's Christianity in James Tabor's 'Paul and Jesus' are Love, Faith, Hope, Grace, Salvation, and Obedience, which describe the underlying principles of Paul's teachings and his impact on spreading Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The six major elements of Paul's Christianity according to James Tabor's book "Paul and Jesus" are Love, Faith, Hope, Grace, Salvation, and Obedience. These elements form a framework for understanding the apostle Paul's contributions to early Christian theology. Paul is recognized for his role in spreading the message of Jesus Christ and establishing Christianity in the Greco-Roman world, and these concepts are central to his teachings. Christianity's universal appeal, as seen through the missionary work of Paul in cities such as Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, and Rome, was largely influenced by these foundational principles.
Paul's interpretation of Jesus's death on the cross as a part of a divine plan for salvation has had a lasting impact on Christian doctrine. His teachings balanced the idea of a universal faith open to anyone who would accept it with the need for specific behaviors such as showing love and compassion to one's neighbor. This balance is reflective of the key elements he espoused. Moreover, the spread of these ideas was facilitated by the outlook of spiritual equality and the absence of social distinctions among the early Christian community.