He murdered Christians and oh yeah he murdered Christians. You'd think one of the earlier non-murdering Christians would make a more credible prophet.
2007-10-17 07:55:17 · 16 answers · asked by Paperdoll 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The ways of man are not the ways of GOD. Besides the message is from GOD not from Paul. Praise the LORD.
2007-10-17 07:59:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Consider believing the Message of Saul as opposed to "Saul" in Literal terms.
The message of the Saul Saga was the intent; there was no murdering, it was symbolism.
2007-10-17 08:42:32 · answer #2 · answered by Adonai 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good question with an equally confusing answer. But it begins with John 3:17, which says, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
If you remember from Sunday-school, Jesus ate with tax-collectors and other people who were hated by society. When asked why, He said that He come to save sinners, not to condemn them.
The story of Paul (or Saul) being visited by the Lord on the road to Damascus, is an example of God's infinite mercy, and His compassion for sinners. But keep in mind, that just as easily as it took God to save Paul, God could have just as easily let him wither away in his sin, and go on persecuting Christians.
But why?
We see that God exercised mercy on Paul, brought him to Himself, and showed him the way of Life. God took this wicked man, and turned him around into a passionate follower of Christ.
In short, we should believe Paul, because his life was the evidence that God did a mighty work in him, and the example that God can do the same for others. And by the influence that Paul made on the world, we see that he followed the same principle as Jesus, and that was to save sinners.
2007-10-17 08:35:05 · answer #3 · answered by Edward Inkling 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Saul was not a prophet...he's a disciple. He was a Jew converted to Christianity following a face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ.
Saul's name was then changed to Paul and he became one of the best known advocates for Jesus following Christ's resurrection in the early church.
If you've read any of Paul's letters to the early churches, you'd know he's not super proud of his past...his persecutions of Christians. He learned from his past and used that as his message to believers.
One reason to "believe" in Saul is simply because he DID kill Christians...and turned his live around. Jesus' love goes to everyone...killers and all. Jesus calls us to love everyone despite their history.
I mean...the Bible is full of not-so-perfect people. Israel's greatest king...David...had an affair, sent his misstress's husband into battle and had him killed...yet Jesus is a descendent of David...
Jesus loved sinners....it's plain and simple...so why shouldn't we?
2007-10-17 08:04:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He was chosen by Jesus who reads the heart of a person. Jesus knew Saul's motivation was pure although misdirected. that is why he appeared to Saul and blinded him for a time to allow for a transition of his mind and heart attitude. This was an attitude adjustment Big Time.
As we see it worked. He became a zealous disciple, giving up what must have been a position making lots of money for one making zero cash and much hardship.
2007-10-17 08:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by grnlow 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Interesting question since Jesus said that Peter was the rock onto which to build the church. Why then does Paul say he has a vision from God. Paul's writings are arrogant and he likes to compare himself and his sufferings to Jesus a lot. Who else witnessed his vision on that road? Why isn't there any other link to it in the old or new testament, such as prophecy.
2007-10-17 08:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by Rockford 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They really shouldn't. The things that St. Paul says don't really add up with the teachings of Christ. After all, they also believe that Jesus remained on earth to teach following his resurrection and prior to ascension, so why didn't he ever mention the things he revealed to Paul?
Most of Paul's words are admittedly his own opinions. You'll see that if you read it closely enough.
2007-10-17 08:02:51 · answer #7 · answered by ??????? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
At John 16: 2 Jesus said "Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone tht kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God."
This is exactly what Saul did. He zealously persecuted Christians and participated in the killing of Stephen. All the while, thinking he as doing the right thing. (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Acts 9:1 & 2) After Jesus spoke to Saul and he was blinded, Jesus spoke to Ananias and told him to go to Saul. Ananias questioned why because he had heard of the things Saul had done. (Acts 9: 3-14) Jesus told Ananias "Be on your way, because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. for I shall how him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name." Acts 9:15 & 16 Ananias spoke with Saul and he recover his sight by means of the holy spirit.
What was the first thing Saul did? He had not eaten for three days. Verse 18 - 20 "And immediately there fell from his eyes what looked like scales, and he recovered his sight; and he rose and was BAPTIZED, and he took food and gained strength. He got to be for some days with the disciples in Damascus and immediately in the synagogues he began to preach Jesus, that this One is the Son of God."
Saul realized his error and took that same zeal for presecuting Christians and turned it into a zeal for preaching and teaching ones about Jesus. And as Jesus said he suffered much for doing so. 2 Cor. 11: 23 - 28 "Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: in labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in blows to the excess, in near-deaths of - ten. By Jews I five times received forty stokes less one, trhee times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreak, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from (my own) race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers of false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thrist, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day, the anxiety for all the congregations."
Paul suffered much for the sake of the good news and shows how no matter what our former course, we can change and repent and know that we will be forgiven. He is also a fine example endurance that all Christians should follow.
2007-10-17 08:40:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus forgave Saul and though his killing wasn't justified it was forgiven and after that he served Christ to his best ablity. He was a great choice b/c Jesus shows us through Saul's life that no matter what you've done or been through you can be forgiven.
2007-10-17 08:02:43 · answer #9 · answered by m cheryl 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They not only believe in him, they follow him as well. More Christians follow Saul/Paul than follow Jesus. I think he had the ultimate revenge - he invented Christianity and everyone bought it.
2007-10-17 07:57:22 · answer #10 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋