Who was Saul of Tarsus before his conversion and what did he do to the early church?
Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, corrupt in the Jewish religion, and showed no mercy to those who opposed it. He dragged them in, threw them into dungeons, or committed them to stoning, while profiting in the Jews' religion.
Les teaches that this was Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of the Pharisees who was corrupt in the religion and had no mercy for those who opposed it. Therefore he could drag them in, throw them into dungeons, or commit them to stoning. Paul himself says, "You have heard of my manner of living, I profited in the Jews religion." Les explains that the Bible usually uses "religion" in a bad light, except perhaps James, and here Paul profited because it was a bad, corrupt system. Les also notes the Pharisees were corrupt, as shown when Paul called one a whited sepulcher and later took it back because he did not know he was the high priest.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
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.
What was Saul doing to Christians in Israel before his conversion?
Before his conversion, Saul was trying to stamp out everyone in Israel who had proclaimed and believed Jesus was the Messiah.
What was Paul's life like before his conversion in the Jews' religion?
In times past Paul lived in the Jews' religion as a Pharisee and as a member of the Sanhedrin, and beyond measure he persecuted the church of God and wasted it.