Paul the Jew by Rev. Norman Langenbrunner
Though he
was born in the Greek city of Tarsus, Paul was very much a Jew.
Though he
was born in the Greek city of Tarsus, Paul was very much a Jew. His family and
the synagogue formed him in the faith of his ancestors. As a young man he
continued his religious training in Jerusalem. He became a Pharisee, a member of
a lay group whose idea of religion focused on strict observance of the sacred
law. It is no wonder, then, that Paul was upset when Jews who followed the
teaching of Jesus neglected parts of the law, such as study of the Torah and
circumcision for converts. With alarming zeal Paul set out to challenge and
forcibly correct the new way proposed by Jesus’ followers. Paul the Pharisee
thought that one overturned evil by holding on to the traditions of the
ancestors. After his personal encounter with Christ, Paul the Apostle changed
his tune. He now believed that evil was overturned by the goodness and gift of
Jesus Christ.