How was Paul uniquely qualified to reach both Jews and Gentiles?
Paul was uniquely qualified because he was a Jew’s Jew, an Israelite, a Hebrew of Hebrews from the tribe of Benjamin, and also a Roman citizen fluent in Greek and the culture of the then-known world. That dual background enabled him to go to Jews as a Jew and to Gentiles as a Roman.
Les explains that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of this apostle of the Gentiles. He was a Jew’s Jew, an Israelite, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin, and yet he was a Roman by citizenship, fluent in the Greek language and in the culture of the then-known world. In that man culminated all the things necessary to go, yes, to the Jew as a Jew, but he could go to the Gentiles as a Roman. It was a unique calling and background, which is why he is the apostle that he is. Les also notes that Paul came back to the concept of provoking his fellow Jews to emulation, creating jealousy so they might envy what the Gentiles were enjoying.
More Questions
How was Paul able to minister effectively to both Jews and Gentiles?
Paul could go to the Jews as a Jew and to the Gentiles as a Roman because of his unique background.