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.
Les teaches that Paul was in the Jews’ religion, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers. He describes him as a Jewish religious zealot. After God saved him, He did not permit Paul to have contact with the twelve apostles, but sent him into Arabia, where for three years he received revelations from the Ascended Lord to take to the Gentile world. Les notes that if Paul had gone back to Jerusalem, the twelve would have drummed into him that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah, crucified but raised, still willing to be King if Israel repented. Instead, God wanted Paul to learn these things from His own position in heaven.
And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
More Questions
What was Saul like before he became a Christian?
Saul was a religious zealot who had no mercy and no compunction about putting Jewish believers to death.