Paul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, possibly from an affluent family since he was also born a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 9:11). Tarsus, no obscure city, was already several thousand years old at the time Paul was born. Located near the coast of modern Turkey, it served as naval station and port. It was also an education powerhouse called by F. F. Bruce “a university city.” This explains Paul’s higher education, dexterity with the Greek language, and ability to parley with the top philosophers, soldiers, rulers, and Jewish doctors of his time.
His father was a devout Pharisee. After the age of 13 (Jewish bar mitzvah, or “coming to age”)—as Jewish tradition mandated—Paul was sent to Jerusalem to study Judaism at the synagogue. He was also instructed as a tentmaker—Jewish education sought to produce individuals who could think and act for themselves. During his stay in Jerusalem, he probably lived with his sister …show more content…
On the road to Damascus—likely 32-35 A.D.—to persecute Christians, the risen Lord appeared to him (Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14) asking “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” This event in combination with the ministry of Ananias, and a later vision in the temple of Jerusalem, confirmed him as Apostle to the Gentiles. His conversion was followed by three contemplative years in “Arabia” (Gal. 1:17-18) where he rethought his life/theology from a Christocentric perspective. This contemplative period surely included an analysis of who Jesus was in light of Old Testament Scripture. As a Pharisee, Paul would perceive Jesus as accursed, for he was hanged on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:23). The idea of a crucified Messiah was against his Jewish heritage. But he later came to understand that Jesus was not cursed for any device of his own doing, but that he bore the curse and wrath that we deserved to us; and that is the message he preached until his last breath in Rome before his martyrdom under Emperor
His father was a devout Pharisee. After the age of 13 (Jewish bar mitzvah, or “coming to age”)—as Jewish tradition mandated—Paul was sent to Jerusalem to study Judaism at the synagogue. He was also instructed as a tentmaker—Jewish education sought to produce individuals who could think and act for themselves. During his stay in Jerusalem, he probably lived with his sister …show more content…
On the road to Damascus—likely 32-35 A.D.—to persecute Christians, the risen Lord appeared to him (Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14) asking “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” This event in combination with the ministry of Ananias, and a later vision in the temple of Jerusalem, confirmed him as Apostle to the Gentiles. His conversion was followed by three contemplative years in “Arabia” (Gal. 1:17-18) where he rethought his life/theology from a Christocentric perspective. This contemplative period surely included an analysis of who Jesus was in light of Old Testament Scripture. As a Pharisee, Paul would perceive Jesus as accursed, for he was hanged on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:23). The idea of a crucified Messiah was against his Jewish heritage. But he later came to understand that Jesus was not cursed for any device of his own doing, but that he bore the curse and wrath that we deserved to us; and that is the message he preached until his last breath in Rome before his martyrdom under Emperor