Yes, God chose Paul—a Jewish persecutor of the church—to be the unique Apostle to the Gentiles after Israel rejected Christ.
God had planned for Israel to bring the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles, but Israel rejected and crucified the Messiah. Instead of sending the whole nation, God raised up one man, Saul of Tarsus, converted him on the road to Damascus, and sent him specifically to the Gentiles. Paul, a Roman citizen, was chosen and commissioned on Gentile ground, making him the definitive apostle of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:13 — Paul explicitly states his role, 'I am the apostle of the Gentiles.'
Acts 9:15 — God directly calls Paul a 'chosen vessel' to bear His name before the Gentiles.
In the Old Testament, God promised that Israel, as a nation of priests, would bring the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles. However, when the Messiah came, Israel rejected Him and crucified Him. God responded by raising up one individual, Saul of Tarsus, a Jew and Roman citizen, who was previously a zealous persecutor of the church. On the road to Damascus, God revealed to Ananias that Saul was 'a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles' (Acts 9:15). Paul himself declared in Romans 11:13, 'For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles.'
Les Feldick emphasizes that God's original plan involved Israel bringing the knowledge of God to the Gentiles, but Israel's rejection of the Messiah led God to change direction. Instead of working through the entire nation, God raised up one man, Saul of Tarsus, to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was uniquely called and commissioned on Gentile ground, and his letters alone are written to the Church, making him the primary source of doctrine for believers today.
God had set aside the nation of Israel, giving them covenant promises, the law, and the priesthood, with the intention that they would take the knowledge of Jehovah to the pagan Gentiles. However, Israel rejected the Messiah and crucified Him, so they failed in this mission (Clip 0).
Instead of abandoning His purpose, God raised up one man, Saul of Tarsus, a zealous Jew who was persecuting the church, and saved him by grace on the road to Damascus. God then revealed to Ananias that Saul was a 'chosen vessel' to take His name to the Gentiles (Clips 2, 3).
Paul is not just one of many; he is THE apostle to the Gentiles. His letters alone are written to the Church, and we must go to him for our basic doctrines. He was commissioned on Gentile ground, being both a Jew and a Roman citizen, and he never fit the qualifications for the twelve apostles of Israel (Clips 1, 4, 5).
No, Paul still had a heart for his people. He always began his ministry in the synagogue, but after roughly thirty years of Jewish rejection, he declared that he would go to the Gentiles. Even so, he never lost his desire to see Jews saved (Clips 6, 7).
Israel's Failure
Les explains that God's original plan was for Israel to take the knowledge of God to the Gentiles, but they rejected and crucified the Messiah, necessitating a new approach.
Paul's Unique Apostleship
Les emphasizes that Paul was the one apostle to the Gentiles, and his letters alone are written to the Church, making him the primary source for doctrine.
Chosen Vessel
Les highlights that God brought one little Jew, Saul of Tarsus, and revealed to Ananias that he was a chosen vessel to take the word to the Gentiles.
Raised Up One Jew
Les points out that God raised up one man, a renegade Jew, saved by grace, to be the apostle to the Gentiles, showing God's plan continued despite Israel's failure.
THE Apostle
Les clarifies that Paul is not merely one of many but THE apostle of the Gentiles, and we must look to him for foundational doctrine.
Commissioned on Gentile Ground
Les explains that Paul, being a Roman citizen, was commissioned on Gentile ground, unlike the twelve apostles who were chosen within Israel.
Chosen Vessel for Gentiles
Les underscores that Paul was to bear God's name before the Gentiles, something that was foreign to Jewish thinking at the time.
Salvation to the Gentile
Les notes that Paul went to the Jew first, but after continued rejection, the gospel turned primarily to the Gentiles, fulfilling Paul's unique role.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul clearly states his role as the apostle to the Gentiles, confirming his unique calling.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
God directly declares Paul's purpose to carry His name to the Gentiles.
God chose Saul of Tarsus, a zealous persecutor, to display His grace and power. After Israel rejected Christ, God raised up this one man, converted him on the road to Damascus, and commissioned him as a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles (Clip 3).
Yes, according to Les Feldick, Paul is the sole apostle to the Gentiles in the biblical record. He is not one of many; his letters alone are written to the Church, and we are to look to him for our basic doctrines (Clips 1, 4).
Yes, Paul still had a desire to see Jews saved and would go to the synagogue first wherever he went. However, after continued rejection, he turned primarily to the Gentiles (Clip 7).
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