Paul's Lesson (Part One)

In the last post we reviewed Hilary Putnam’s book “Jewish Philosophy as a Guide to Life.” In discussing Franz Rosenzweig, it was stated that ‘God calls us to love him…and we respond “Here I am!” We do not always hear this voice saying “love me”, but it is there. The request is for us to step outside of ourselves, to enter into relationship. However, this is the hardest thing to do. Rosenzweig argues that “the tragedy that threatens everyone, the tragedy of being completely enclosed in oneself” is “the greatest danger facing the soul.”’ Paul, the Jew, the disciple of Jesus, knew this for a fact…but he learned.

However, “Paul’s theology is often portrayed as the antithesis not only of the teachings of Jesus but also, paradoxically enough, of first-century Judaism.” (Calvin Roetzel, The Letters of Paul, p. 174) I believe that this interpretation is incorrect and that Paul was thoroughly Jewish, not only before his conversion, but also, after his conversion. However, he went through a change following his conversion that was very important for the work that God had in store for him. In order to fully understand Paul and his ministry we must understand this change that took place in him and how it applied to his spreading of the gospel into the Diaspora and to the Gentiles.
It is estimated that Paul was born around 10 C. E. and was raised in Tarsus in Cilicia. (Acts 22:3) I believe that we can assume three things about his youth: he lived in Tarsus long enough to be at home in the urban culture of the Greco-Roman world; he was born a Roman citizen which implied something about the position of his parents within this society; and he must have been quite bright, exceeding that of other children and drew the attention of people within the Jewish community.

He was connected enough and bright enough that he was sent to Jerusalem at a relatively early age…maybe 14 or 15. Why can we say this? He lived long enough in Tarsus to absorb the culture there. His family was well enough placed within the religious community that he was recognized for his abilities. The religious community had to be involved for he was sent to one of the well know teachers in Jerusalem, Gamaliel. There were sufficient connections so that Paul was taken care of in Jerusalem. “I was a student of Gamaliel,” or, “…was brought up (educated) at the feet of Gamaliel.” (Acts 22:3) [Gamaliel, the Elder, or identified as Gamaliel I in rabbinic literature. “A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin, honored by all the people, who counseled letting the apostles out of prison (Acts 5: 34-39) and a teacher of the Law who instructed Paul.” He flourished in the mid-first century. He is listed after Hillel in the list of princes or patriarchs of Judaism in the Mishnah. Bible Dictionary, revised. Paul J Achtemeier, General Editor, Harper-Collins, 1996.]

If this is true, Paul would have come to Jerusalem around 24 or 25 C. E. It is estimated that Jesus was born sometime around 6 B. C. E. and his public ministry was around the period 25 to 27 C. E. At the earlier date for the ministry of Jesus, Paul would have been around 15 years old. At the later date he would have been around 17 years old. And, here are some other dates to remember: Stephen was martyred around 32-33 C. E.; Paul’s conversion came about 35 C. E. or when he was about 25 years old; he spent 3 years being ‘instructed’ by the Lord and then went to Jerusalem and met with Peter and James; from Jerusalem Paul goes back to Syria and Cilicia (to Tarsus); fourteen years later, Barnabas gets Paul from Tarsus and brings him to Antioch somewhere around 48-49 C. E.; the first letter attributed to Paul, the First Letter to the Thessalonians, is dated around 52 C. E.

Let’s return to Jerusalem: Paul was special and he was blessed to be able to go to Jerusalem and study at the feet of Gamaliel. But, there was one problem…he was Greek! Even though he was a Jew and he was a bright student…he was not Hebrew! He was Greek and Greeks were not the equal of Hebrews! Hebrews made up the inner circle, the people to be with, the ‘in’ crowd. Greeks were second-class citizens.

For evidence of this kind of discrimination, look at the story in Acts 6: 1-4: “Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.”
The solution: the disciples said…”It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.” But, it was alright for the Greeks to ‘neglect the word of God’ and to ‘wait on tables.’

So, the Greeks were to choose among themselves those that would be appointed the task of waiting on tables and, for the Hebrews, “we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”

Paul, in my estimation, was not a part of the ‘in’ crowd, no matter how good a student he was. And, this accounts for his attempts to excel in not only his studies but in his observance of the Law. He was a “much better Jew than anyone else (his) own age.” (Galatians 1:14)
When the whole thing about Jesus and his followers boiled over Paul continued to show his value to the Hebrews by his zealous persecution against this sect. And, even further, he probably was most zealous against the Greek followers of this man Jesus…it just showed, Paul thought, that he was really one of the Hebrews, if not by birth…by commitment.

The example of the killing of Stephen is an example of this effort. We don’t know how much of an instigator he was in this death. But Stephen argued with Jews at the synagogue of the Freedman which was composed of “Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia.” (Acts 6: 9) Was Paul one of those who argued with Stephen? He did like argument! But Stephen won all the arguments. (Acts 6: 10) Paul must have been furious…he, a brilliant scholar with Gamaliel, and to lose out to this upstart! Then some of the congregation plotted against Stephen and “stirred up the people as well as the elders and scribes.” (Acts 6: 12) Was Paul one of these?

Paul is never identified as one of these plotters but, he was at the stoning and we are told, “Saul approved the killing of Stephen.” (Acts 8: 1) We also learn that “all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.” (Acts 8: 2) The scattering took place because of the “severe persecution” which “began against the church in Jerusalem” at this time. And, “Saul was ravaging the church” (Acts 8:3)

It seems to me that two points can be made here. First, the non-Hebrew Jewish followers of Jesus were the ones that were scattered from Jerusalem. Paul, and others, drove them out of their homes, put some of them in jail and chased the others away into the hinterlands. Paul, the zealous Greek, was intolerant of the Greek followers (and others) in an attempt to ingratiate himself to the Hebrews that were in power. After the surge took place in Jerusalem, the followers of Jesus were pursued into the surrounding areas…and this accounts for Paul’s trip to Damascus…probably one of many such trips he took. He was ‘wrath’ itself! He was then about 23 or 24 years old! Second, it should be noted that the Hebrew followers of Jesus were not chased out of Jerusalem and as we learn later they continued to worship at the temple and carried on their lives within the city. This strand will be picked up a little later for it is an important part of the story.

This is the first part of the story of Paul. In the next post, on April 7, we shall continue the story.