Saul Of Tarsus Essay

To describe the life of Saul of Tarsus is to pursue the question: “How did this zealous Jew, Saul the Pharisee, who by his own admission had been an active persecutor, a hater, of the early Jesus-movement, suddenly emerge as a fervent follower of the risen Christ?”. For the sake of understanding, Paul’s life can be neatly separated into three distinct stages: his identity prior to his conversion experience, his conversion experience, and his life as a follower of Jesus. In the following pages, these stages of life will be dissected to obtain a firm grip on the person of Paul. The Apostle Paul used his Jewish training and identity to disseminate the Gospel of Jesus Christ deep into Europe and Asia Minor. Seeing that he rejected many traditional

After debate on the necessity of circumcision among the barbarians (Gentiles), the “Council of Jerusalem” took place to resolve the dispute. Acts recounts Paul attending the Council because he was “sent forth by the church” (προπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας); effectively, Paul was summoned by those leaders in Jerusalem who possessed authority over him. This notion of subservience is in stark contrast with Paul’s aura of independence and pious. Paul records the events leading up the Jerusalem council including a “revelation” from God, which lead him to the city. There is a good chance that Paul was attempting to flaunt his autonomy regardless of whether or not it actually existed. Doctrinally, the conclusion of the Council at Jerusalem would have been a great victory for Paul. Paul’s vehement fight against the necessity of circumcision for the Gentiles was validated by the distinguished church leaders, namely Peter and James. As it is written in Acts, Paul was “dismissed” (ἀπολυθέντες) from the council, with only a few especially important Jewish laws for Gentiles to uphold. Possibly as a matter of hubris, Paul neglects to mention any laws imposed upon his gentile