Enemies of God

Part 3

Gentle Readers,

From Paul’s conversion to his death he never thought that he was "starting a new religion"! It seems that Paul had the understanding of what we call the Old Testament (or better the Hebrew Scriptures). Paul came from Cilicia (specifically Tarsus) and became a follower of Jesus in Syria (Demascus). Paul didn’t even go to Judea for 3 years after he professed his allegiance to Jesus, and then he spent only 2 weeks. After this first visit it was 14 years before he returned. Paul was by his own account first a Jew " Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Phil. 34-6 ). How then could he have know the risen Christ beyond his private revelation on the Damascus road. You have the answer right in front Gentle Reader He was a Pharisee a teacher of the Law [The word Pharisees comes from the Hebrew prushim from parush, meaning "separated", that is, one who is separated for a life of purity. The Pharisees were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BC–70 AD). After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Pharisaic sect was re-established as Rabbinic Judaism — which ultimately produced normative, traditional Judaism, the basis for all contemporary forms of Judaism and even the Karaites use the Rabbinic canon of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh.]

Paul was a scholar and taught by scholars and why he went at once to begin to preach "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas,[ Peter] then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 1 Cor.15:3-9

The thing to notice here that according to Luke Paul’s biographer is that Jesus "appeared " to Paul from the Greek Optanomai ophthe "he was seen" which means in our English to allow one's self to be seen. Paul put his experience along with others who "saw" the risen Christ! "Paul, an apostle, (not from men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ) Gal.1:1. Called to be an apostle by the Very one whom he persecuted. What a beautiful testimony for us to emulate Gentle Reader, That is forgiveness! No wonder Paul could write in Romans Chapter 5 verse eight "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, [ sinners by nature] Christ died for us." The word sinners is  Hamartolos (ham-ar-to-los'); which has the force from the figure of speech [Greek Cat-a-bas-is or Gradual Descent {see Phil. 2 6-8} used to emphasize humiliation, sorrow ] where Paul uses in verse 10 as enemies."For if, when we were enemies,( by practice) we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:10 Which then we translate that verse But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet enemies see Romans Chapter 5 verse ten, Christ died for us." . Now think of your most hated enemy. Would you die for them? Well Christ did and that was not lost of our Apostle Paul. Also note the word Reconciled we’ll come back to that latter.

But for now think on these things. God died on the cross through Christ that He might give to you eternal life.

Till next time.....

Love, Denis