Paul means he came to salvation prematurely, before Israel's appointed national 'birth' — like a baby delivered ahead of its due date.
The phrase appears in 1 Corinthians 15:8 where Paul says the resurrected Christ appeared to him 'as of one born out of due time.' Les Feldick explains that Paul was the preemie — a spiritual miscarriage — coming on the scene before the nation of Israel as a whole was ready. Paul's experience was a sampling of the sudden salvation Israel will one day experience.
1 Corinthians 15:8 — This is the verse where Paul directly says he was 'born out of due time' after seeing the resurrected Christ.
Isaiah 66:8 — Les points to this Old Testament promise of a nation born in a day as the future 'due time' behind Paul's phrase.
1 Corinthians 15:8 says, "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Paul places his own encounter with the risen Christ after a list of other resurrection witnesses — Peter, the twelve, more than five hundred believers at once, James, and all the apostles. Then he describes his own experience using the picture of a premature birth. Isaiah 66:8 asks, "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." This speaks of a sudden national birth. Zechariah 12:10 also looks forward to Israel's future recognition of the One they pierced: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." These Old Testament verses form the background for the 'due time' Paul refers to.
Les Feldick explains Paul's phrase as a spiritual preemie. Just as a baby born before its due date is delivered prematurely, Paul says he came on the scene before the due time for the nation of Israel as a whole (Clip 1). Les notes that Paul never saw Jesus during His earthly life or in the forty days after the resurrection; Paul saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, about eight years after Pentecost (Clip 4). Les teaches that Paul was the sampling of what Israel will one day experience. The nation of Israel will suddenly be converted just as Paul was on the road to Damascus (Clip 1). They will look on the One they pierced and mourn for Him, and the nation will be born in a day (Clips 2, 6). At Christ's return in glory, the remnant of Israel protected through the tribulation will see Him and be saved in a moment (Clip 6). Paul's experience came almost 1,900 years ahead of Israel's national birth (Clip 5). Les also ties this to grace: God called Paul from his mother's womb, saved him by grace, and revealed His Son in him — even though Paul had been a persecutor (Clip 7). Paul received revelations that the rest of Israel was blinded to, but their day is coming (Clip 3).
Les uses the picture of a physical birth. If a mother delivers before the due date, the baby is called a preemie — it comes prematurely. Paul is using that same picture spiritually: he came on the scene before the due time for the nation of Israel as a whole (Clip 1). Paul calls himself 'one born out of due time' because he saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face after his Damascus road conversion (Clip 4). He was the sampling that arrived about 1,900 years ahead of Israel's national experience (Clip 5).
Les connects Paul's premature conversion to Israel's future national salvation. Just as Paul was suddenly converted on the road to Damascus, Israel will one day suddenly understand who Jesus is when they look on the One they pierced and mourn for Him (Clip 2). Isaiah 66 describes the nation being born in a day (Clips 2, 6). At Christ's return, the remnant of Israel protected through the tribulation will see Him coming in glory and be saved in a moment (Clip 6).
Les says Paul received the revelations of the mysteries that had not yet been revealed to the rest of Israel. Israel was blind to the great things Paul experienced, but their day is coming (Clip 3). Paul's own testimony is that God separated him from his mother's womb, called him by grace, and revealed His Son in him (Clip 7, Galatians 1:15-16).
Resurrection Appearances Lead to Paul's Claim
Paul lists the witnesses of the resurrected Christ before he comes to his own encounter, setting up his statement about being born out of due time.
Born as a Preemie
Les explains Paul's phrase as a spiritual preemie or miscarriage — Paul appeared before the due time for Israel as a whole, as a sampling of Israel's future sudden conversion.
Israel's Future Birth
Les ties Paul's experience to Israel's coming national salvation, when Israel will look on the One they pierced and the nation will be born in a day.
Revelation Ahead of Israel's Time
Les says Paul received the revelations before the rest of Israel was ready; Israel remained blind to the great things Paul experienced.
Paul Saw the Ascended Lord
Les stresses that Paul saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face after his Damascus road conversion, and that Paul is using the physical picture of a premature birth.
1900 Years Ahead
Les says Paul was the sampling that came nearly 1,900 years ahead of Israel's coming national experience.
Nation Born in a Day
Les explains how the remnant of Israel at Christ's return will see Him in glory and be saved in a moment, experiencing what Paul experienced.
Called by Grace
Les shows God saved Paul by grace and revealed His Son in him — the backdrop for Paul's unexpected, early encounter.
1 Corinthians 15:8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
This is the verse where Paul uses the phrase 'born out of due time' to describe his own encounter with the resurrected Christ.
Isaiah 66:8: Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Les points to this verse to show that Israel's national birth will be sudden, like Paul's conversion.
Zechariah 12:10: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
This verse describes Israel's future recognition of the One they pierced, which Les connects to Paul's Damascus road experience.
Galatians 1:15-16: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul himself testifies that God called him by grace and revealed His Son in him, the experience behind his premature 'birth.'
No. Les says Paul is speaking spiritually, comparing himself to a physical birth that comes before the due time. Just as a baby born early is a preemie, Paul came on the scene before the due time for the nation of Israel as a whole (Clip 1).
According to Les, yes. The nation of Israel will one day experience the same kind of sudden salvation Paul did on the road to Damascus. Israel will see who Jesus really is, look on the One they pierced, and the nation will be born in a day (Clips 2, 6).
Paul never saw Jesus during His earthly life or during the forty days after the resurrection. Les says Paul saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, about eight years after Pentecost (Clip 4).
Watch the Teaching: What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse