Explore the intriguing reasons behind Paul's initial opposition to Jesus and his followers in this podcast. It delves into Paul's beliefs, his expectations of a Messiah, and his violent persecution of Christians. The podcast also discusses the complex relationship between Paul and Jesus, the development of creeds in early Christianity, and Bart Erman's extensive knowledge of languages.
Paul's persecution of early Christians stemmed from his fervent Jewish beliefs and the contradiction between Jesus being crucified and the belief in him as the Messiah.
Paul's conversion from persecutor to follower of Jesus played a crucial role in the development of early Christian theology.
Deep dives
Paul's Persecution of Christians
Paul, one of the most well-known figures in Christian history, initially opposed Christianity and actively persecuted followers of Jesus. His writings, which became part of the New Testament, played a crucial role in shaping Christian thought and practice. Before his conversion, Paul was a zealous Pharisee engaged in the violent persecution of early Christians. The reasons for his persecution stemmed from his fervent Jewish beliefs and the belief that Jesus, who was crucified, could not possibly be the Messiah. This contradiction infuriated him, leading him to take drastic measures against the early Christian movement.
Sources on Paul's Persecution
The sources on Paul's persecution of Christians mainly come from his own writings and the Book of Acts in the New Testament. In his letters to the Galatians and Philippians, Paul briefly mentions his previous life as a persecutor before his conversion. The Book of Acts, while providing insights into the spread of Christianity after Jesus' death, also presents conflicting accounts of Paul's actions. Scholars debate the reliability of Acts, as it sometimes differs from Paul's own accounts. Nevertheless, these sources offer a valuable understanding of Paul's behavior and mindset during his pre-converted years.
Motives Behind Paul's Persecution
Paul's persecution of Christians can be attributed to his strong devotion to Pharisaic Judaism and his understanding of the role of the Messiah. As a devout Jew, Paul believed that the Messiah would be a powerful figure sent by God to overthrow Israel's enemies and establish God's kingdom on Earth. The claim that Jesus, a crucified man, was the Messiah directly contradicted Paul's deeply held beliefs. He considered it blasphemous and offensive, leading him to vehemently oppose early Christians. Paul's rage toward the early Christian movement stemmed from his conviction that their teachings were not only wrong but also a severe distortion of Jewish expectations concerning the Messiah.
Paul's Conversion
The conversion of Paul from a persecutor of Christians to a follower of Jesus is a significant turning point in his life. Although the specific details of his conversion are not extensively documented, Paul's encounter with the risen Christ dramatically transformed his beliefs and his understanding of Jesus' messianic role. This radical transformation led Paul to become one of the most influential figures in the early Christian movement and a significant contributor to the development of Christian theology.
Next to Jesus, Paul is the most important figure in the history of Christianity, but as is well known, before he was a zealous apostle he was an equally zealous antagonist. What was that all about?
Why would a Jew in the Roman world outside Israel even care if a small group of Jews were claiming that Jesus was the messiah who brought salvation? Wouldn't he just write them off as another bunch of crazies? What about their claims did he find so offensive that he had to take them on? And when he took them on, what did he actually do? Was he murdering them? Sending them off to prison? On what authority? Can the NT be right that he was authorized by Jewish authorities? Was he just beating up people he didn't like?
These are important questions because the answers can help explain the transformation of Christianity into a world religion. In this episode, we try to figure it all out!
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