Administrators Gail Posted August 7, 2018 Administrators Posted August 7, 2018 Just listening to Paul in Romans... How did Paul “get it” (an understanding of grace) so quickly and unlearn a lifetime of tradition? Much of the NT is attributed to him. I wish that I could understand better, faster. Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Gail Posted August 7, 2018 Author Administrators Posted August 7, 2018 Looking forward to it, too! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
TrevorL Posted August 8, 2018 Posted August 8, 2018 Greetings Gail, 19 hours ago, Gail said: Just listening to Paul in Romans... How did Paul “get it” (an understanding of grace) so quickly and unlearn a lifetime of tradition? Much of the NT is attributed to him. I wish that I could understand better, faster. A major factor seems to have been the manner of his conversion where the mercy of Christ was revealed to him. He was blind for three days and he must have had a thorough rethinking in that period. Paul seems to base his comments in Philippians 3 on the contrast between his former way of life, and that life that he found when confronted with the Lord Jesus Christ. But it was most probably also a slow process of transformation before he was ready to fulfil the role of Apostleship. He had to allow the correct understanding of the word of God to replace his previous bias. The old patterns of thought needed to be replaced by the new. The letter to the Romans was written towards the end of his life. Kind regards Trevor Quote
Lone Ranger Posted August 8, 2018 Posted August 8, 2018 I don't think Paul "got it" so quickly. He already had a vast wealth of OT knowledge, probably having memorized the entire thing. Which was common among Jewish men. He was a star pupil of Gamiliel. So at his "conversion" he actually wasn't converted as we understand conversion, but rather realised that his previous understanding of the OT/Talmud/Torah was flawed. He then spent 3 years in Arabia learning from Jesus (Galatians 1:11 - 12, 15 - 18). Which is about the same amount of time the disciples spent with Jesus. So Paul put in his time, probably MORE than most. 8thdaypriest 1 Quote
JoeMo Posted August 8, 2018 Posted August 8, 2018 The story is in Acts 9. Like the Lone Ranger said, Paul already had a vast education in the OT. It may not have been an instant download; but it might have been - God can do anything He wants. I'll bet Paul instantly believed in Jesus when he hears the words "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting". He was probably very eager to learn more about this "Jesus - especially after his blindness was cured. Faith often can come instantly as a gift from God. Quote
8thdaypriest Posted August 8, 2018 Posted August 8, 2018 Paul was probably "drawn" to Christ, and was resisting with all his strength. Things the disciples taught - matched up with OT prophecies, and Paul realized this. He just could not reconcile the Messiah he expected with One that was crucified. Jesus had to help him over that "roadblock" (stumbling stone). Quote 8thdaypriest
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