I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. [Acts 26:9-11 (NLT)]
Of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, thirteen are attributed to the Apostle Paul. We know he wrote another letter to the Corinthians and the prolific letter writer probably wrote letters to believers in places like Damascus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem, but these thirteen are all that remain. Considering Nero’s persecution of Christians, the violence during the Jewish revolt, and Domitian’s persecution of Jews and Christians, all of which happened before the end of the 1st century, it’s a wonder that any of Paul’s letters survived! God, however, saw to it that these thirteen ”God-breathed” epistles were preserved and became part of the Christian canon.
What do we know about this man who founded more than a dozen churches—the man scholars consider second only to Jesus in his contribution to Christianity? When we first meet him, he is known by his Jewish name of Saul. As a free-born Roman citizen, he had a commonly used Roman name which was Paullus (Paul). But, as the son of devout Jewish parents, he also had a Hebrew name—Saul—a fitting name for a boy from King Saul’s tribe. It was not until about 15 years after Saul’s conversion, when he moved further into Gentile territory on his first missionary journey, that Saul (and Luke) began using his Roman name of Paul.
Although he was born to Jewish parents in Tarsus, the capital city of Cilicia (modern day Turkey), Paul claimed Jerusalem was his boyhood home and it is believed that his family moved to Jerusalem around 10 AD. As the son of a Pharisee, he would have strictly observed the law and oral traditions and, by the age of five, started studying Scripture and Jewish history. As the son of a tent-maker (or fabric/leather worker), he also would have learned his father’s trade.
Sometime between the ages of 10 and 15, Saul began his studies with the highly esteemed Rabbi Gamaliel, a leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin. As Gamaliel’s student, he would have memorized the Torah and rabbinical traditions. The Apostle’s ability to read, write, and clearly articulate his thoughts in Koine Greek (and quote from the Greek poets), tells us he was extremely well-educated.
As a Pharisee, Judaism consumed Saul’s entire life and he would have been passionate about preserving the faith and traditions he loved. As a result, Saul vehemently opposed the church. While we have no evidence of him killing Christians, he clearly approved of their executions! Wanting to eradicate followers of the Way, Saul zealously went into believers’ homes and dragged both men and women out so they could be imprisoned. He was so enthusiastic about preventing the church from spreading beyond Jerusalem that he requested permission to go Damascus to arrest any Christ followers who may have fled there to avoid persecution. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul literally “saw the light” when he saw the risen Jesus Christ before him. It was then that Saul became a new person in Christ Jesus and the persecutor became an evangelist!
As for Paul’s appearance—an early Christian document describes him as a partly bald, bow-legged, short man with large eyes, long nose, and a unibrow. In 2 Corinthians, Paul refers to having a “thorn” in his flesh but we don’t know the nature of his affliction. Some scholars speculate it may have been an eye problem while others that it possibly was epilepsy. Whatever it was, the condition never deterred the Apostle from his purpose!
With his exceptional education, extensive Biblical knowledge, and intense personality, Saul/Paul was uniquely qualified to become an evangelist for Jesus. Nevertheless, even the best credentials don’t automatically give someone authority. Unlike the twelve apostles, he hadn’t traveled with Jesus from His baptism until His death. He wasn’t there in the upper room or when Christ ascended into heaven. Nevertheless, by the end of the 1st century, Paul’s letters were regarded as authoritative for the church. Why? What gave this man who once mercilessly persecuted Christ’s followers the apostolic authority to preach the gospel, clarify doctrine, or correct the false teachings of others? That question is answered in Part 2.
Devotions of the Heart 