In my spare time I am doing something that I rarely do – I am re-reading a series of books. There are so many books out there that it is rare that I re-read anything outside of study material. But the author of this particular series is so unique and entertaining that I have made an exception. In nearly ever second or third page, he uses a word that I’ve never seen before, or he utters a phrase which catches my attention – often making me smile. One of the things which I read the other day was in the mind of the leading character – she was describing something which she utterly detested. She said that she hated that particular thing “more than Paul hated sin – perhaps even more.” Among other things, the author expected his reader to know who he meant when he said “Paul.” A single word – a single name – was meant to identify one of the great men of human history – and it did with me.
There has been no man in human history more important than the Apostle Paul, other than the Lord Jesus. There is not one person who has influenced more lives, changed more societies and so altered human thinking as much as the Apostle Paul. And for those reasons he is worthy of our consideration.
But not only that – we have the exhortation of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to make a study of Paul. How many times did Paul exhort us to follow his example (2, 4, 6 or 8)? (At least 8 times). “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” “Give none offence… even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” “Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: And the God of peace shall be with you.” “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord…” “Of yourselves know how ye ought follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.” “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me…”
Even though there are books written about the person of Paul, a study of him is actually a study of the Word of God. This evening, let’s test ourselves to determine how much about the man we already know. If we’ve been commanded to know and follow him, then this could be somewhat interesting. I’m going to ask a few questions – I hope that you find most of them easy to answer.
For example: of what race of men was Paul?
Acts 22:3 – “I am verily a man which am a Jew…” Of what particular religious sect was Paul? – Pharisee. Acts 23:6 – “When Paul perceived that (part of his accusers) part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” As you know, the Pharisees were the literalistic sect of the Jews, carrying out their religion, at times, to ridiculously small, hand-picked details, like tithing on mint leaves and grains of salt. Generally they had a zeal for the Lord, but their religion was one of cold, hard rules, without any real spiritual connection with God. The Lord Jesus vociferously condemned the emptiness and robotic style of the Pharisees. It was not so much WHAT they believed but HOW they believed it which upset our Saviour.
Who had been Paul’s principle teacher in this religion? Acts 22:3 – “I am verily a man which am a Jew… brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” This Rabbi Gamaliel, was a member of the Jewish ruling council – the Sanhedrin. He was the grandson of one of Israel’s greatest Rabbi’s – Hillel – and he had a great deal of respect. He was a gracious, moderate man, counseling the Jews not to persecute the followers of Jesus. But his most famous student, did not learn any moderation from Gamaliel.
What do we know about the family of Paul? (Very little) Are there any of Paul’s relatives mentioned in the Bible? Acts 23:16 – “When Paul’s sister’s son, heard of (the plot to assassinate him) he went and entered into the castle and told Paul.” Tradition says that this sister’s name was Rachel, and that she was a believer – but there is no proof. Do verses like Romans 16:7 and 21 tell us anything about Paul’s family? “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners…..” “Timotheus, my workfellow, and Lucia, and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.” Are these brothers and nephews in Paul’s family? (Probably brethren in the faith.) Does I Corinthians 9:5 suggest that Paul was married? “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” It is sometimes said that in order to be a member of the Sanhedrin a man had to have been married. But there is no indication that Paul was either married or a member of the Sanhedrin.
Would you say that Paul was patriotic towards Israel, or was his affinity relatively small?
Romans 9:1-4 – “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites.”
Where was Paul born? Acts 22:3 – “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel.” Where is Tarsus (Israel; Syria; Asia; Egypt)? (Near the southern coast of what is now Turkey.)
What about his Roman background? He was born in Tarsus somewhere between 1 and 5 AD. This Tarsus was the capital of Cilicia in Asia Minor on the river Cydus. Jews had been residing in this community since 171 BC. Before Paul’s time Antony and Cleopatra had a famous meeting in Tarsus. Politically it was a city equal to that of Athens or Alexandria, although not as populated. Because of assistance which Tarsus had given to an earlier Caesar, it had been made a Roman free city. So Paul was a citizen of the Roman Empire, and he was free to move about the Roman Empire in perfect liberty. Tarsus had an university which was not one whit behind the schools of Alexandria, Rome or Athens. As William Ramsey says, “It is hard to believe that he grew up without the intellectual stimulus of that school, whether he actually attended there or not.” We know that he was well familiar with the Greek poets and philosophers – Acts 17:28. What languages could Paul speak? (Aramaic, Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Latin?) In Acts 21:37 the chief captain of the Roman castle in Jerusalem was surprised that Paul spoke Greek. Paul was providentially prepared to move about the Mediterranean world spreading the gospel of Christ.
What did Paul look like?
There is no reliable description of his appearance. It is said that he was baldheaded, bow-legged and strongly built, although short of stature. Some say that he had heavy eye-brows that met above his nose; and that nose was rather large. Is any of this true? (Who knows? Probably not.)
Are there any Biblical clues as to his appearance? At Lystra the people thought that Paul was a god, indicating perhaps an impressive appearance. But his enemies at Corinth sneered at his weakness – II Corinthians 10:9. By his own report, he suffered physically throughout his life, which may have affected his appearance. He might have had eye trouble, but he had friends who would gladly have plucked out their own eyes for him.
And what about Paul’s nature?
Would you say that he was simple or intellectual? II Timothy 4:13 – “When thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” Would you say that he was cold or emotional? II Corinthians 2:4 – “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” Was Paul bold or cowardly? Was Paul easily pushed around or was he tenacious? Did he have much of an imagination or was he kind of dull? Did he possess much in the way of spiritual gifts? Was he a great preacher or just average? From what sort of background did most of his illustrations come (New Testament; Old Testament; politics; sports)?
When all God’s saints finally gather together in Glory, do you think that Paul will be the center of attention? Of course not – the center of all things will be Christ. Paul will be just another humble servant of the Lord.