What was Paul's well-paying job before he became a Christian?
He held a well-paying position as a member of the Sanhedrin and as a Pharisee, making big money as one of the religious leaders of Israel. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, he turned his back on that position.
Les explains that before his conversion, Paul held a well-paying position as a member of the Sanhedrin and as a Pharisee. He was making big money as one of the religious leaders of Israel. Les notes that after Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, it totally upset his whole apple cart of life, and he turned his back on that position. Paul himself says in Galatians that he profited in the Jews' religion. The context also indicates that this leadership role required Paul to be married and have children, though what happened to them is unknown.
And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Why did Paul not take money for his ministry as an apostle of grace?
Paul chose not to profit monetarily from his apostleship so that no one could accuse him of getting rich by his ministry. This contrasted with his former life in the Jews’ religion, where he profited above many equals, but as the apostle and preacher of the age of grace he did the opposite.
What was Paul's religious background and zeal like before his conversion?
Paul was a Jewish religious zealot, thoroughly immersed in the Jews’ religion and exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. The context describes him as a Jewish religious zealot before God saved him, indicating his pre-conversion life was marked by intense devotion to ancestral Jewish traditions.
More Questions
Why did Paul say he profited in the Jews' religion?
Paul says he was profiting in the Jews' religion because it was a bad, corrupt system.
What does it mean that Paul profited in the Jews' religion?
Paul's profiting in verse 14 means he was more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers, that is, Judaism and its religion.