Paul: Difference between revisions - Church of God Knowledge Encyclopedia

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Paul was born in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia in southern Asia Minor. Raised by devout Jewish parents, he was [[Circumcision|circumcised]] on the eighth day, following Jewish tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A5&version=NIV |title=Philippians 3:5 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The Bible provides limited information about Paul’s family, though relatives such as Andronicus, Junia, and Lucius are mentioned as fellow saints and fellow workers in the spread of the gospel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2016%3A7%2C%2011%2C%2021&version=NIV |title=Romans 16:7, 11, 21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> From a young age, Paul studied under the renowned teacher Gamaliel,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gamaliel-I Gamaliel I], ''Britannica''</ref> gaining a deep understanding of Jewish [[Law of Moses|law]]. It is also believed that he learned the craft of tent-making, a skill that later allowed him to support himself during his apostolic ministry.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018%3A1-3&version=NIV Acts 18:1-3]</ref><ref name=":3">[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020%3A33-35&version=NIV Acts 20:33-35]</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012%3A13-15&version=NIV 2 Corinthians 12:13-15].</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204%3A10-12&version=NIV 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12]</ref>

===Young Adulthood: Persecuting Early Church===

Paul belonged to the [[The Pharisees|Pharisees]], one of the three major sects of Judaism, alongside the [[Sadducees]] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Essene Essenes]. The Pharisees were distinguished by their strict observance of the Law, often incorporating additional customs and traditions not found in the Scripture.<ref>[https://www.christianity.com/jesus/birth-of-jesus/genealogy-and-jewish-heritage/how-were-the-pharisees-legalistic.html Who Were the Pharisees in the Bible?], ''Christianity.com'', August 21, 2023</ref> Deeply committed to this legalistic faith, Paul regarded the Church of God as a [[Heresy|heretical]] movement that violated the Law and was, therefore, an ''object of hostility''. As a rising leader within Judaism,<ref>[https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=DdTrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82+apostle+paul+age&source=bl&ots=Sca1NyEwoN&sig=ACfU3U3VDLjUr40cKffj0r-Ydg4kaYASxg&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi65t-Shf2FAxUdh1YBHeRkDl8Q6AF6BAgvEAM#v=onepage&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82%20apostle%20paul%20age&f=false When Paul Met Jesus: How an Idea Got Lost in History], Stanley E. Porter, Cambridge University Press, 2016, pg. 18-21 </ref> he played a key role in persecuting the church.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201%3A13&version=NIV |title=Galatians 1:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022%3A4-5&version=NIV Acts 22:4-5]</ref> Paul was involved in the execution of Stephen, witnessing his death.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207%3A58-59%2C%208%3A1-2&version=NIV Acts 7:58-59, 8:1-2]</ref> Biblical passages, such as “Saul began to destroy the church”<ref name=":2" /> and “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples,”<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1&version=NIV Acts 9:1]</ref> reflect his aggressiveness during this period.

Paul belonged to the [[The Pharisees|Pharisees]], one of the three major sects of Judaism, alongside the [[The Sadducees|Sadducees]] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Essene Essenes]. The Pharisees were distinguished by their strict observance of the Law, often incorporating additional customs and traditions not found in the Scripture.<ref>[https://www.christianity.com/jesus/birth-of-jesus/genealogy-and-jewish-heritage/how-were-the-pharisees-legalistic.html Who Were the Pharisees in the Bible?], ''Christianity.com'', August 21, 2023</ref> Deeply committed to this legalistic faith, Paul regarded the Church of God as a [[Heresy|heretical]] movement that violated the Law and was, therefore, an ''object of hostility''. As a rising leader within Judaism,<ref>[https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=DdTrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82+apostle+paul+age&source=bl&ots=Sca1NyEwoN&sig=ACfU3U3VDLjUr40cKffj0r-Ydg4kaYASxg&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi65t-Shf2FAxUdh1YBHeRkDl8Q6AF6BAgvEAM#v=onepage&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82%20apostle%20paul%20age&f=false When Paul Met Jesus: How an Idea Got Lost in History], Stanley E. Porter, Cambridge University Press, 2016, pg. 18-21 </ref> he played a key role in persecuting the church.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201%3A13&version=NIV |title=Galatians 1:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022%3A4-5&version=NIV Acts 22:4-5]</ref> Paul was involved in the execution of Stephen, witnessing his death.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207%3A58-59%2C%208%3A1-2&version=NIV Acts 7:58-59, 8:1-2]</ref> Biblical passages, such as “Saul began to destroy the church”<ref name=":2" /> and “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples,”<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1&version=NIV Acts 9:1]</ref> reflect his aggressiveness during this period.

===Conversion in Damascus<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209&version=NIV Acts 9]</ref>===

[[file:Conversion on the Way to Damascus-Caravaggio (c.1600-1).jpg |thumb|328x328px|''Conversion on the Way to Damascus'' by Caravaggio, 1600–1601]]

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 Paul was born in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia in southern Asia Minor. Raised by devout Jewish parents, he was [[Circumcision|circumcised]] on the eighth day, following Jewish tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A5&version=NIV |title=Philippians 3:5 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The Bible provides limited information about Paul’s family, though relatives such as Andronicus, Junia, and Lucius are mentioned as fellow saints and fellow workers in the spread of the gospel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2016%3A7%2C%2011%2C%2021&version=NIV |title=Romans 16:7, 11, 21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> From a young age, Paul studied under the renowned teacher Gamaliel,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gamaliel-I Gamaliel I], ''Britannica''</ref> gaining a deep understanding of Jewish [[Law of Moses|law]]. It is also believed that he learned the craft of tent-making, a skill that later allowed him to support himself during his apostolic ministry.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018%3A1-3&version=NIV Acts 18:1-3]</ref><ref name=":3">[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020%3A33-35&version=NIV Acts 20:33-35]</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012%3A13-15&version=NIV 2 Corinthians 12:13-15].</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204%3A10-12&version=NIV 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12]</ref>
 ===Young Adulthood: Persecuting Early Church===
-Paul belonged to the [[The Pharisees|Pharisees]], one of the three major sects of Judaism, alongside the [[Sadducees]] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Essene Essenes]. The Pharisees were distinguished by their strict observance of the Law, often incorporating additional customs and traditions not found in the Scripture.<ref>[https://www.christianity.com/jesus/birth-of-jesus/genealogy-and-jewish-heritage/how-were-the-pharisees-legalistic.html Who Were the Pharisees in the Bible?], ''Christianity.com'', August 21, 2023</ref> Deeply committed to this legalistic faith, Paul regarded the Church of God as a [[Heresy|heretical]] movement that violated the Law and was, therefore, an ''object of hostility''. As a rising leader within Judaism,<ref>[https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=DdTrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82+apostle+paul+age&source=bl&ots=Sca1NyEwoN&sig=ACfU3U3VDLjUr40cKffj0r-Ydg4kaYASxg&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi65t-Shf2FAxUdh1YBHeRkDl8Q6AF6BAgvEAM#v=onepage&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82%20apostle%20paul%20age&f=false When Paul Met Jesus: How an Idea Got Lost in History], Stanley E. Porter, Cambridge University Press, 2016, pg. 18-21 </ref> he played a key role in persecuting the church.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201%3A13&version=NIV |title=Galatians 1:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022%3A4-5&version=NIV Acts 22:4-5]</ref> Paul was involved in the execution of Stephen, witnessing his death.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207%3A58-59%2C%208%3A1-2&version=NIV Acts 7:58-59, 8:1-2]</ref> Biblical passages, such as “Saul began to destroy the church”<ref name=":2" /> and “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples,”<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1&version=NIV Acts 9:1]</ref> reflect his aggressiveness during this period.
+Paul belonged to the [[The Pharisees|Pharisees]], one of the three major sects of Judaism, alongside the [[The Sadducees|Sadducees]] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Essene Essenes]. The Pharisees were distinguished by their strict observance of the Law, often incorporating additional customs and traditions not found in the Scripture.<ref>[https://www.christianity.com/jesus/birth-of-jesus/genealogy-and-jewish-heritage/how-were-the-pharisees-legalistic.html Who Were the Pharisees in the Bible?], ''Christianity.com'', August 21, 2023</ref> Deeply committed to this legalistic faith, Paul regarded the Church of God as a [[Heresy|heretical]] movement that violated the Law and was, therefore, an ''object of hostility''. As a rising leader within Judaism,<ref>[https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=DdTrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82+apostle+paul+age&source=bl&ots=Sca1NyEwoN&sig=ACfU3U3VDLjUr40cKffj0r-Ydg4kaYASxg&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi65t-Shf2FAxUdh1YBHeRkDl8Q6AF6BAgvEAM#v=onepage&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82%20apostle%20paul%20age&f=false When Paul Met Jesus: How an Idea Got Lost in History], Stanley E. Porter, Cambridge University Press, 2016, pg. 18-21 </ref> he played a key role in persecuting the church.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201%3A13&version=NIV |title=Galatians 1:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022%3A4-5&version=NIV Acts 22:4-5]</ref> Paul was involved in the execution of Stephen, witnessing his death.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207%3A58-59%2C%208%3A1-2&version=NIV Acts 7:58-59, 8:1-2]</ref> Biblical passages, such as “Saul began to destroy the church”<ref name=":2" /> and “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples,”<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1&version=NIV Acts 9:1]</ref> reflect his aggressiveness during this period.
 ===Conversion in Damascus<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209&version=NIV Acts 9]</ref>===
 [[file:Conversion on the Way to Damascus-Caravaggio (c.1600-1).jpg |thumb|328x328px|''Conversion on the Way to Damascus'' by Caravaggio, 1600–1601]]