To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 16:30:28 -0600
Subject: HF024 - The Apostle to the Nations
Hebraics,
The focus of this Bible study is the Apostle Paul. How could this
man make such a radical change from being "extremely zealous
for [his] ancestral traditions," to someone who would take a totally an
opposite position, and say, "I count all things [i.e., 'Pharisaism, the
traditions of the elders, and any other Jewish boastfulness that I could
make'] ... but rubbish so that I may gain Christ." (Cf. Gal1:14; Phil3:8)
How could such a man turn his back on everything that he knew
and held dear in life? Paul's world was Jewish to the extreme.
Historically, it seems Paul belonged to the extreme element of the
Pharisee sect. They were known as 'zealots.' And this is why his
conversion was such an amazement to both the early Jewish
Christians as well as to the non-believing Jews.
We can connect Paul to the zealots with a statement he makes;
"For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I
used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to
destroy it ... being more extremely zealous for my ancestral
traditions." (Gal1:13,14 - 'Ancestral traditions' here is not a
reference to the law of Moses, but rather to what Jesus referred to
as the 'tradition of the elders.' These traditions were later codified in
the Mishnah.)
So, for awhile the Jewish believers refused to accept that Paul had
become a follower of Jesus. It took some doing to finally convince
them that he was not a spy. But something had happened to Paul
that penetrated the core of his being. Let's find out what gave this man
such a radical transformation of character.
This is Bible study HF024-The Apostle to the Nations.
Recently I viewed a book that listed the top 100 Jewish personages
in history. Moses was right at the top. Since this was a Jewish
book, we would expect Moses to be in first place. But in the upper
listings I found both Jesus and Paul. You see, it would be
ridiculous to write a book of this sort and leave out the Jewish
persons who have had the greatest impact on this planet by any
Jewish person in all of history. Jesus is the cause of Christianity. But
Paul holds a preeminent place in its forward movement.
Actually the Orthodox Jews today credit Paul with being the true
originator of Christianity, but that Jesus lived and died as a Torah-
observant Jew. Of course this attempt to reclaim Jesus to Judaism is a
more recent innovation.
But now for Paul - In researching some of the ancient writings, I
discovered some things about Paul that I hadn't known before. I am
now better understanding of why Paul was so unyielding on the
claims of Christ and on the glory of the new covenant. He had had
encounters with the Lord that could be placed on the level of the
encounters than Moses had with the Lord. Do you find that
strange? Keep in mind that Paul went to the third heaven.
Remember how the Lord described His relationship to Moses. He
said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the
Lord will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak to him
in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all my
household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even opening, and
not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord..." (Num12)
This could also be said of Paul in a similar sense. When Paul was
knocked to the ground, there was a flashing light around him, and
He heard the Lord speaking to him in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting Me?" Remember this is Hebrew. When Paul
responds, he responds in Hebrew. Paul says, "Who are you Lord
[yhwh or adonai]?"
Paul knew it was the Lord who was speaking to him, but his mind
is now spiraling. Nothing on this magnitude had ever happened to
him. And what he hears next will set the tone for the rest of his life. He
hears the Lord say, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."
Think about how this would affect the man Paul. (He was known
then as Shaul or Saul, his Hebrew name.) Here is a man who has
been persecuting the Christian Jews, even to the extent of seeing
some of put to death. Yet in all Paul thought he was serving the
God of his fathers.
What happens next is very telling. (We will skip over his short time in
Damascus and the disciple Ananias coming to him.) Let's listen to Paul's
own words; "I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I
go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away
to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus." (Gal1:15-18) (It doesn't
say for sure how long he was in Arabia.)
At that time Arabia included the desert areas of Sinai. Where
would Paul have gone? According to the ancient Arabic translation,
Paul went to El Belka. It appears that El Belka had an association
with Sinai. So is it possible that Paul actually went to the holy
mountain, that is, the same mountain that both Moses and Elijah
had gone?
It certainly seems possible. After hearing the voice of the Lord,
after being blinded for a time, after being baptized, after having his
eyes opened. After all the afters, is it not possible that this Jewish man
feel compelled to go to the one place where the covenant of Moses was
brought into being, and where Elijah had heard from the Lord.
No one can prove or disprove this, but there are statements that
Paul makes that could fit the picture well. Paul said; "The gospel
which I preached by me is not according to man. For I neither
received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a
revelation of Jesus Christ." (Gal1:12)
The word 'revelation' (apokalupsis) means to take something out of
hiding, or to cause something to be fully known. Did Paul simply
mean that the gospel came as a divine revelation into his spirit? Or was
there more to this. I am being cautious here simply because of the
conjecture element involved. However, we need to keep in mind that Paul is
very secretive on this part of his life.
Let's hear more. Many years later, Paul reflects on an earlier
experience, when he says, "And I know how such a man - whether
in the body or apart of the body I do not know, God knows - was
caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a
man is not permitted to speak." (2Co12:1-5)
Paul very plainly says in this portion of Scriptures that he is not
allowed to share all that he saw and heard. He even has a problem
speaking of himself in this instance. He could only say, "I know
how such a man." Of course Paul was speaking of his own
experience.
Many have wondered when this experience took place. Some think
it happened when he was stoned and left for dead. But is it not
possible that Paul is speaking of his experience in Arabia, possible even
at Mt. Sinai? Who knows? One thing we know - what Paul saw and heard was
awesome beyond words. It moved him so deeply that this man became the most
passionate proclaimer of the new covenant that the world has ever known.
Another thing we know - Paul never backed down from the truth of
the gospel, not even for a moment.
When the early church leadership came together to discuss how to
deal with the myriads of Gentiles who were being saved, Paul
refused to compromise a single point of 'you are saved by grace
alone.' Perhaps some of the leadership felt it was alright to placate the
Jewish believers who still felt a strong attachment to the law of Moses,
and to the later traditions of the elders. Not so with Paul. He knew that
if they compromised on one single point of the new covenant, it would do
irreparable damage to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is easy to understand why Peter, James, and John, and others,
weren't certain if they should not conciliate some of the Jewish
believers by not making circumcision a problem area, at least, not
this early in the picture. But Paul was able to convince them that if they
yielded on this point, they would bear the hurt from then on. Of course
the Holy Spirit gave the witness that was needed. Then all the apostles
and elders agree fully with Paul. The gospel must not be set forth as the
covenant of Moses refurbished. The new covenant is entirely new.
Everything about it is new.
Well, how could this man Paul have suffered the way he did? What
possessed him to endure ship wrecks, beatings without number,
stonings, and untold persecutions, unless he had seen and heard
something that few men are ever permitted to see and hear? (This
is not an issue of taking away from the other apostles. Each man
had the wonder of his own experience with the Lord.)
But here was a man that the apostles recognized as the 'Apostle of
the Nations (Gentiles).' And so they gave him the right hand of
fellowship.
In this part of our study I have shared but a bit on Paul. We haven't
considered some of the wonders of the revelations that Jesus gave him. We
can do that as the study progresses.
Feel free to make any responses, additions, or inquiries that you
wish. The study is open.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org