How did Paul's past persecution of the church affect him later in his ministry?
Paul never got over his past persecution of the church. As he suffered the ramifications of his apostleship, he constantly remembered that what goes around comes around, and his was coming around. He had persecuted believers beyond measure, chasing them to the ends of his authority and wasting them.
Les explains that Paul never got over his former vicious persecution of the church. Saul had gone to the high priest for letters to the Damascus synagogues, seeking to bind and bring back any who followed Christ as Messiah, whether men or women. He was merciless, considering them not worth living and a threat to his religion. Later, as Paul suffered the ramifications of his apostleship, he remembered that what goes around comes around, and his was coming around. He confessed that beyond measure he had persecuted and wasted the church, chasing them to the ends of his authority.
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:
More Questions
What does Paul say about his persecution in Galatians 1:13?
In Galatians 1:13, Paul says he persecuted the church beyond measure and literally chased them to the ends of his authority and wasted it.
What does Paul mean in Galatians 1:13 by persecuting the church 'beyond measure'?
When Paul says in Galatians 1:13 that he persecuted 'beyond measure,' he means he literally chased believers to the ends of his authority and wasted (destroyed) the church.