According to Gal 1:17, shortly after his conversion Paul went away to Arabia. Scholars have puzzled over this, as it seems an odd choice. So at least three interrelated questions arise:
1) Where exactly does Paul refer to by Arabia? (Hint: where else is Arabia referred to in Galatians? Does this matter?)
2) Why did Paul choose to go there?
3) What exactly was Paul doing while there?
The floor is open ...
72 comments:
1) Base on your hint he could have gone to Mount Sinai (mentioned in 3:25).
2) Although it's not specifically stated, I'm not sure it was Paul's decision to go there. Based on Paul's later sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit as seen in Acts 16, he may have gone out of obediennce to the Spirit's lead.
3)This could have been the period during which he received the personal training in the revelation of the gospel, much like the forty days Christ spent with the disciples between the resurrection and ascension.
Not sure, just my stab at it.
According to the account of Paul's conversion in Acts 9 the Lord stated twice that He would show Paul what to do and what would happen him for the Gospel's sake. However, Paul immediately began to show from scripture that Jesus was the Christ apparently displaying his capability to communicate to the Jew but his ministry was to the Gentiles as well something that would not go down well for some one trained in the sect of the Pharisees. So if Paul was to go Arabia where would this work into the account in Acts 9. Verse 23 states that "After that many days were fulfilled" the after that would refer to Paul's showing the Jews that Jesus was the Christ many days past. This would work in very well with Paul's traveling to Arabia.
As far as the location of Arabia it is irrelevant something we really do not need to know. It is relevant and clear form Paul's epistles that he was very intent to be led by the Holy Spirit. With tis being said it would be obvious that Paul went to Arabia, where ever it is, because the Spirit led him there. From the epistle of Galatians there are two key pieces of evidence to help understand what he went there for. First, is the word revealed and that three main areas are accounted for here Gal. 1:15-16 1. God had called him from the womb 2. Jesus was in him 3. He was to preach to the gentiles. Second, is the word confer Paul did not confer with other believers.
This would indicate that was sent to Arabia by the Spirit to receive revelations relating the purpose of the law, his relation to the law, and the gentiles relation to the law. This was shared in all of his epistles but more so in Galatians 2:16-20. Paul's statement in verse 20 could be called the main doctrine of Paul's personal life and ministry.
Simple, Back then the disciple of Jesus knew that the comforter/helper will come from Arabia. So the self-proclaimed apostle (Paul), wanted to convince them he's the one Jesus had prophesied. For more information visit http://www.voiceforislam.com/Pdfs/GospelOfJesus.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTSG0YzlGB8&feature=related
Some have suggested that there are parallels between Paul and Elijah; zeal for the law in Arabia followed by revelation of a remnant elect and a mission to proclaim a new king in Damascus.
The theme of men retreating into the dessert/wilderness to meet with God (Moses, Elijah, Jesus)and perhaps this was Paul's purpose. He seems to already have knowledge of the Law, thus instruction in the Law in Arabia seems unlikely. Perhaps he fleshed out his theology of the Law throughout his ministry (research in libraries, dialoging in the synagoges, etc). It is hard to believe that he received this divine revelation in one moment in Arabia. We know that Elijah went to Mt. Horeb in 2 Samuel 19:8 to inquire whether the Law was still in effect in the midst of the idolary occuring in Judah. I think that Paul went into Arabia for an indefinite period of time to pray, reflect upon his conversion, meet with God, read the OT Scriptures, and prepare for the ministry that God called him (as he knew he was called to ministry as evidenced his preaching the Gospel immediately following his conversion). Man must go alone with God before he does great work for God.
The Apostle Paul comments in Galatians 1:16-17 that after first receiving the Lord’s command to preach to the gentiles, he went to Arabia. The Apostle Paul does not explain why. No mention is made of preaching there. If one were to speculate, it seems logical that the Apostle Paul might have been overwhelmed by his supernatural experience with the Lord, and perhaps troubled by what the Lord was requiring of him in spreading the gospel to the gentiles (so aware was he of the great danger of Jewish persecution). Did he temporarily retire to a place far from the persecution of the Jews to fast and pray, to gain certainty and prepare himself for what lay ahead?[Galatians1:17-19]
Pat:
I think you missed the exact point here. Certainly he was led by the Spirit, which would of course not contradict his going to Mt. Sinai or any other place. And this was very likely the time he received those elements of the Gospel which were uniquely charged to him (Eph. 3:6), since he says he did not receive them from men (precluding the possibility that he learned these things in the Damascus church) and that he seems to say that he had learned them prior to going to Jerusalem (though this is not specifically stated). Certainly he learned something in the time in the desert, and it was almost assuredly not a first missionary trip, since the context is how he learned what he preaches.
Paul calls Sinai Damascus. The parallel with Elias is intriguing but speculative. What we know is that Paul went for a time, less than three years (and maybe considerably less) into the desert, probably to be alone (since it was unlikely he was led into his first mission to the Gentiles prior to receiving the message for the Gentiles) where it is at least likely he learned the essence of the Good News he would communicate to the Gentiles. Undoubtedly he learned more in the years in Tarsus and even in the ministry in Antioch, but it seems likely that the trip to Arabia was a trip to the desert, similar to that of Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus and others, for preparation time for his future ministry.
Where in Arabia? That appears to be an unknown, and probably covered in the intimacy of Paul's experience with Christ, an invitation to us to seek that time alone with the Lord.
How long has it been since you took a time to hide away from everything else and spend time with the Saviour? How long has it been for me?
Oops! Make that "Paul calls Sinai Arabia..." Sorry!
Thank you for all your thoughts on this. I was reading this morning through Galations 1 and was seaching for some further insight to Paul's first chapter. I appreciate Socialized's insight, though I am not a Bible scholar, It really made the most practical sense to me an what I read this morning. I did a lot of writing in the margins this morning and this discussion clarrified some thoughts I had.
Read the sentence carefully, paying attention to grammer. Cross reference with Acts 9:19-20.
Remember that Paul was a man of the strictest obedience to the word of God.
In his conversion experience, it was revealed to him that God's plan for his life was to Preach Christ to the Gentiles.
Acts 19 says that upon regaining his sight from his conversion experience that he took food, was strengthened was with the disciples and immediately started to preach in the synagogues.
He was a man of strict obedience. He was given a command from God and he immediately followed it.
He then left for Arabia, then came back to Damascus later.
Let's look at Galatians
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Galations 1:10 shows that Paul is trying to show them that he is not trying to prach in order to please men, but to please Christ.
He then says that he received Christ's gospel not by man but by Christ himself. Paul is not talking about Arabia yet, but rather his conversion experience on the Damascus road. He received the gospel throguh Christ's direct revelation when he was blinded on the road. Paul knew about the Christian faith - and did not need to be "taught it" - he was a scholar, and he knew well what he was persecuting.
Rather, he needed direct revelation from Jesus himself to show that he was indeed the Son of God.
The gospel, he says is not according to man - but it is trustworthy because God himself revealed this to him in his conversion.
Jump further forward to verses 15-17
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Read this carefully, Paul says it was revealed to him that he should preach among the gentiles, he didn't go talk to someone about it, nor did he speak to the Apostles in Jerusalem about it, but he went immediately to Arabia.
This is not talking about where he learned about the gospel, or some mystical teaching he received in the desert, but the grammer points to him immediately following through on the direction given to him through the revelation - to go preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
His methods, and his results, we don't know, and we cannot be sure of, but given the contexts of Acts 9 and the other verses in Galations, I think we can be fairly sure that Paul went to Arabia to Preach redemption through Christ.
Peace,
D.S.
i must say this is all very deep, and good! stay deep, and get deeper!
Wow! So there may be a Apostolic Christian Church there,huh?
Hello all, my few contributions: The chapter's main points of Galatian 1 simply show: (1) Paul carries the right "gospel" as an apostle of Christ. (2)to remind the Galatians Audience to the pure or unadulterated "gospel" that Jesus Christ revealed directly to the apostles...The rest are narratives of Paul showing the evidences that he is the apostle to the gentiles and his gospel was not influence by other people particularly the other apostles hence the period 3 years and 15 days are too significant to note... As to the question of what Paul exactly did in the Arabia or what transpired there were but speculations, however, we could speculate safely as what he did but we could not conclusively detailed what exactly transpired over there as compared to what Moses did when he received the tablet of ten commandments. However, the hints from the Chapter itselt shows the hint of the activities of Paul... Perhaps he check the scripture thoroughly and understanding it in light of the prior experienced with the Lord in the road to Damascus or probably he has a direct communication with the Lord... Bottomline, he is an apostle to the gentiles who carried the true and pure gospel, he hid not received the gospel as a second hand information. He received it directly - hence, he is an apostle!... For us, we can only reflect God's message from the written word...I wonder why many Christians would push hard their interpretations of the word as if they received directly the word - great authority? or arrogance? Thanks I haven't read one from the thread above... Thank you for this blog. God bless us all.
it is well known that there is no specific reason that paul was led to go to Arabia. if there was a reason then it would have been writtten.
Has anyone read questioningpaul.com ? Can you really imagine that Paul wouldn't consult with Peter, James, and John, those who actually lived with Yahushua? Why does Paul first say that he went "immediately" preaching Christ, and then in other places say that he went to Arabia? Who is the ravening Benjamite wolf in Genesis 49:17? Who is the "wolf in sheep's clothing" that Yahushua specifically warns Peter of? Why does Paul say that the Torah was "administered by angels" when it was given directly by God to Moses? Why does Paul say there are "two" covenants; one through Isaac and one through Hagar? Hagar and Ishmael had NO PART in the Covenant. Hagar was given her freedom, and sent away. Why does Paul call the elders of the Assembly in Galatia “judiazers who crept in unawares”? Why does Paul belittle Peter, the lead Apostle in front of everyone? Maybe Peter didn’t want to eat “unclean” food, or food “offered to idols.”
Every time Paul quotes Scripture, he MISQUOTES it. Why does Paul never quote Yahushua? Why does Jesus say to the church at Ephesus that they have correctly tested "false apostles" when Paul and his companions were the only ones claiming to be "apostles" at the Ephesus church within the past 7 years of the writing of Revelation? Why does Jesus tell the churches not to "eat meat offered to idols" when Paul said it was OK? Why was Paul on trial at Ephesus? Why does the Epistle of James refute what Paul is saying? Why does Paul allow an uncircumcised Gentile into the inner court of the Temple? Why doesn't James defend Paul at that point for a "misunderstanding"? Why does God say in Ezekiel that to stay in the Millennial Temple and the eternal city, one must be circumcised "in the flesh AND in the heart?"
Questioning Paul, eh? Interesting to see that those legalists who hated Paul during his days are still at work, preaching against Paul's teaching of grace through faith. However, the apostle Peter accepted Paul as a "dear brother" with wisdom from God.
2 Peter 3:15 "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him."
As for Paul going into Arabia, we are not told why. We can only speculate. Speculation is fine, and asking questions and wondering is a good thing. But it's important to understand that if we needed to know the answer, we would have been told.
As for the Muslim friend who posted that Paul went into Arabia because he knew that the comforter would come from there, I am curious what ancient source pre-dating Paul indicates any such thing. No ancient prophet said that the comforter would come from Arabia, as far as I know. Jesus himself declared that the comforter came from the Father.
In view of the context and intent within this section of Paul's letter, the answer to all of the questions is to further ephasize the fact that his revelation of the Gosple was all delivered to him by God alone.
Even the generic nature of the setting seeks to remove it from human influence.
Paul would no doubt smack his head and mumble "oye vey" upon hearing any speculation that he went to mount Sinai.
I think that Paul went to Arabia (to the desert, to the wilderness or however you look at AWAY from civilization) because at this point in his life, he could not see how he would be used by God. After all, he had been the one instrumental in Stephen's martyrdom as well as responsible for plenty of havoc and suffering in the Church. I believe that he needed the time in the desert to understand God's mercy and grace before he could come back and really be used by God FOR the Church. The Law that he learned under Gamaliel painted God as a judgmental God - not a God of mercy and grace. That whole part of his being needed to be transformed.
Where are the answers? (Paul in Arabia)
Maybe Paul went to learn in the desert from the Children of the East, the descendants of Ishmael and Abraham's son's by Keturah including the Rechabites who in Jeremiah 35 God promised would always have someone before Him to serve Him. It seems that the Rechabites and the Nabataeans were the same people and worshippers of God. Paul had contact with King Aretas' of Petra (Nabataean capital) who had placed one of his men as governor of Damascus when Paul escaped from their shortly after his conversion (2 Corinthians 11:30-33). So Paul probably went to Petra in Arabia to hide out and study with the other line of Abrahamic believers in the one true God to complete his education that he had started under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) by studying the Hebrew scriptures. Just like Moses studied under his father-in-law Jethro, priest of Midian, Paul studied under the Rechabites or Nabataeans before going up to Jerusalem and meeting with Peter, James and the other pillars of the Jewish church. This allowed him to be more well-rounded in his knowledge of God than those who had only studied under Jewish teachers. Plus, his time in the desert was consistent with the other great prophets, Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus.
From BROWN COUNTY PRESS, Letter to Editor, Georgetown, OH, June 12, 2011, p.5:
http://browncountypress.clermontsunpublishing.com/2011/06/10/brown-county-press-june-12-2011/
Denominational Flavors Of Salvation – Take Your Incorrect Pick!
It is not difficult to read and plot the chronological trajectory of Paul’s travels in the Book of Acts by connecting the “dots” of his travels from one geographic location to another. Use two dependent variables that do not change throughout the whole Book – time and geographic location – both are totally independent of specific denominational false doctrines. Yes, it takes some time, but not really that long when compared to how long you will be dead – as in FOREVER.
The only secure assurance of salvation you will ever find here on earth is contained within the pages of that Book, not any denomination, especially those claiming to be “Christian” today.
Make your own chronological trajectory map of Paul’s [Saul’s] travels from Acts 7 through 28, using the King James Bible text. You won’t be able to connect the dots once you get to Acts 9:30 through Acts 11:25, but you’ll find those “dots” to connect, in between those two verses, in Galatians chapter 1, from Arabia back to Tarsus [Cilicia]. [You have to draw in the line from Tarsus to Arabia to complete the overall trajectory line with that short trajectory described in Galatians 1]. Once you take the time to do that, you will discover the “key” that proves all these “Christian” denomination doctrines [as in Baptist, Church of Christ, Roman Catholic, etc.] to be false doctrine teachings. You will realize that Paul did not get “his gospel” [as described in Galatians 1] until a chronological point in time contemporaneous with Acts 10:10-16, when Peter was in a trance in Joppa the exact same time Paul was in heaven getting “his gospel” directly from the Lord Himself.
From this study you will find that Paul first accepted the gospel being preached by Peter, James, and John, back in Acts 9 time frame. That gospel included “calling” and/or “believing” on Jesus Christ, repenting, and getting water baptized. You can even see Paul immediately preaching repentance and works after accepting that gospel in Acts 9 [see also Acts 22 and 26, where Paul was a “minister and witness” of two things – two gospels – verse 26:16], but you won’t find Paul preaching repentance, works, or water baptism in conjunction with the gospel he received while in Arabia, contemporaneous with Acts 10 time frame. Paul’s “his gospel” only included faith, no works at all, and no water baptism. Adding water today to a dead “Christian” will only result in more steam being produced as the volcano erupts to make room for that poor soul who went to hell believing a false denominational preacher instead of the Book. There were two gospels in play back in the Book of Acts, not just one. This preaching of both gospels is clearly delineated in Acts 18:1-13, where Paul only baptized Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas and his household at Corinth [1 Cor. 1:14-17], reverting back to Peter’s gospel after attempting to preach “his gospel” a couple of verses earlier to those blasphemers in the synagogue, but finally ending his stint there with “his gospel.”
When you say that the Bible
doesn't tell us something,
you've probably not studied
the Greek New Testament.
The Lord says: "I will show
him (Paul) great things he
must suffer for my sake."
Acts 9:16.
The Lord taught Paul - in
Arabia - at least 3 things.
1. Paul must get rid of his
Jewish snobbery, and learn
to get along with many kinds of people.
a. The word "Arabia" is
related to the Hebrew word
"ah-rev" - which means
"to mingle, so that you
can advertise what you
have to offer."
b. The Arabs - with their
caravans and market-places
- were good in this.
c. Paul - in I Cor. 9:19-23
- says that he has become
all things to all men - so
that he can win some.
2. "ah-rev" means "to be
dark" - pertaining to skin
color.
a. This relates to the Arabs. It relates to
Paul's mission to the
Gentiles of various races
and cultures.
3. "ah-rev" pertains to
weather conditions: both
the coolness of evening,
which saves from the heat
of the desert. "ah-rev"
is related to both coolness
and heat.
a. This is related to the
Arabs.
b. Paul speaks of the
hardships of his journeys
in II Cor. 11:26. His
main weather adversary
was the sea wind in Acts
24:17 - when he suffered
shipwreck.
4. To be practical:
a. Does your ego get in
the way of your sharing
the gospel?
b. Do you share the gospel
with people of different
races and cultures?
c. Do you share the gospel
- rain or shine?
I have found that I need
the Bible in front of me;
Strong's Hebrew and Greek
Concordance to my right;
and the American Dictionary
on my left. Bill S.
This is shortly after the Apostle Paul's conversion (Acts 9).
It is likely that the Apostle Paul went to Arabia to commune with God (Galatians 1:17). The passages in Galatians 1:15 & 1:16 indicates, "was pleased to reveal His Son in me". The first thing Paul wanted to do is to draw near and commune with the Creator as He has revealed His Son in him and not to immediately consult with people. Thus he did not "immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him; but he went away to Arabia" (Galatians 1:16 & 17).
Paul's relationship with God was everything to him and all else was "loss and rubbish". Philippians 3:8, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ."
are there any reference book to read about his activities there?.. pls. i need your help..
because there is the mountain of God....in arabia,,,in median region of now a days called Saudi Arabia....in a place called jethro son of Mosesfrom a Woman in Arabian Desert.
He went into the desert to die to the old self. The discples also were trained for three years. There's nothing in the desert, that's why you don't read any info. the same with John the Baptist. It is to deal with sin and made holy and ready for the Lord.
Paul went to be taught by Christ Jesus himself as to the Mystery of the Church which had been revealed to Paul, for the first time.
Paul was also instructed as the other disciples were so instructed..
Col 1:26+
Here was given the mystery hidden in God, then he was taught..
Blessings,,,
I know that this conversation was posted in 2007 and now it is 2012 - but I was just doing some research on "Paul's Mission, or Commission."
Now, this is based upon a Theory... Just like many of the other posts that I have viewed, but if we return to the Torah - during the Exodus, there is a "possible" parting of ways with "Hobab" (Moses' brother-in-law - Son of Jethro). Hobab wishes to return to his own land. (Numbers 10:29-32)
Now, History would have it that in the city of Medina (Arabia), there was a Large "Jewish" Community.
In fact, in the story of Mohammad, he runs to Medina to "Other Mono-theists" for support, but the Jews of Medina reject his coaxing to join him to battle the Pagans of Mecca. (This, and not from Ishmael, is where the animosity begins, as is so commonly accepted).
Now, WHY-OH-WHY, is there a large Jewish Community in Medina of Arabia?
My Theory is that this is the land of Ra'uel, the descendants of Jethro. It is my belief that THIS is where Paul went, sent by the LORD into the "Galut" (Outside of the land of Israel) to share the Gospel with His Children in Arabia.
There is a hierarchical order within "The Great Commission." 1) Jerusalem (The Heart) - Judea (The Home Country) - Samaria (The outer part within) and the Outer Most parts of the World.
Notice how Paul always visits the Synagogues first? "To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile." Romans 1:16 - This was the meaning of the Great Commission, and WHY it was presented this way.
Therefore, Paul - Although he may have visited Horeb - this was not the target of his stay. He spent time in Medina sharing Messiah Yeshua with His Jewish breather, and I'm sure the Gentiles amongst them, as well.
I stumbled across this discussion, while doing research on Paul's so-called "Special Gospel." Re: Daniel Lancaster's book "Galatians."
I do not believe for a moment that Paul was teaching a different Gospel than what was ordained by the Church in Jerusalem. Even though he says that He was not a "Sheliach" of men, but of Messiah Yeshua Himself, Paul wasn't teaching something contrary to the Church in Jerusalem.
However, what my study is bringing me to, is that Paul was not breaking the Law, in order to do this, but rather that He was working under a "Special Dispensation."
This special dispensation is revealed by Yeshua in Matthew 9:9-13, "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This is to say, that it was against Torah for a Jew to associate with those outside the Law. (Acts 10:28) - But Paul received this same revelation as Peter, and this is why he rebukes him in Galatians 2.
Never the less, as much as I do not "Bash" Paul for his outreach to the Gentiles, I strongly appose the point of view that Paul taught that The Law was "Finished." If there is "No Law," or we are "No longer under the Law," this would be to state that we are "Above the Law."
Simple Logic would dictate that without the Law, there is no Sin, and if there is no Sin, then there is no need of Salvation from it.
Therefore, Yeshua hasn't done away with 'The Law,' but rather the condemnation that comes with The Law.
The Law is still the Law. Paul was simply teaching that "Salvation," is not "Achieved" by The Law, but rather it is "Given" through "Faith" in God's Promise, which is Messiah Yeshua.
That being said, "Faith without Works is dead," and to "Sin, because we are Saved anyway," is not the purpose of Paul's Message.
The so-called "Old Testament" as some of us still call "The Torah," is still alive and well. It is God's Eternal Word -- That same Word that became Flesh to dwell among us. There is so much hidden within these words - In Hebrew - Hidden FOR us, not FROM us. (Matthew 13:11)
Either way - Keep studying and drawing closer to the heart of HaShem, and "Shabbat Shalom," or was that Yesterday? Blessings...
It would indeed be very weird for Paul to drive west all the way to Sinai in Egypt. That is, if Sinai was really in Egypt. What if Sinai was really Jabal Al-Lawz in NW Saudi Arabia, as attested to by recent scholarship? Even Josephus said that Mount Sinai was in Midian. I think this answers where he really went. The question now is, Why?
PAUL GO TO SAUDI ARABIA .
HE GO AND LEARN ABOUT JESUS CHRIST .
AND THINK OF HOW TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN RELIGION
PAUL IS A CRIMINAL, IS A FAKE PROPHET, IS NOT RECEIVE ANY MESSAGE FROM HOLY SPIRIT , IS RECEIVING HIS MESSAGE FROM DAJJAL .TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS TO DECEIVE THE WORLD BY PREACHING WHAT IS CONTRADICTING THE WORLD OF GOD SO THAT THE LAW THAT ALMIGHTY GOD PROMISED MOSES THAT WILL COMES FROM SAUDI ARABIA THAT THE WHOLE WORLD WILL FOLLOW WE NOT BE IMPLEMENTED . THAT'S WHY PAUL TRAVEL TO SAUDI ARABIA TO GO AND LEARN ABOUT JESUS CHRIST FROM JEWS THAT RAN AWAY FROM JERUSALEM THE TIME THEY WANT TO KILL JESUS WHOP HEAR THAT JESUS SAID THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL SHIFT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK
Is it possible that the numerous prophecies cited here are all individually and combined out of context misinterpretations? Is the opposite true, that such infrequently studied verses fit together consistently and clearly point to the advent of the man who changed the course of human history, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Is it reasonable to conclude that all these prophecies, appearing in different books of the Bible and spoken by various prophets at different times were all coincidence? If this is so here is another strange "coincidence"!
One of the signs of the prophet to come from Paran (Mecca) is that he will come with "ten thousands of saints" (Deuteronomy 33:2 KJV). That was the number of faithful who accompanied Prophet Muhammad to Paran (Mecca) in his victorious, bloodless return to his birthplace to destroy the remaining symbols of idolatry in the Ka'bah.
Says God as quoted by Moses:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:19)
Hey can you elaborate on this more? Where exactly does Jesus give this information in the New Testament? And in your scriptures, how come they don't testify that Jesus died on the cross and rose again. My point is that your scriptures make Jesus to be a liar and a false prophet. Yet He was God. So if in Islam it is impossible to accept the diety of Christ than I can see the reasoning behing your innaccurate comments about Paul. If I sound harsh I am sorry but these are crucial matters and I don't want you to be deceived. God loves you and the perfect display of that love is on the cross of Christ God in the flesh. Jesus died in your place. There is no other way to see Gods love for you or His acceptance of you. The gospel is good news not morality. Every single human being is condemned because they fail to meet Gods standard yet Christ did perfectly obey God and died a guilty sinners death. Because He loves you that much and only God could pay the full price of you own redemption and buy you and I back from eternal seperation from Him in hell. This is only true for you if you believe. Jesus died on the cross for His sheep. Will you believe?
I was reading this portion from the Galations letter, compared it with Acts 9, 22, 26 and was a bit confused. According to Galations, Paul had the vision near Damascus, traveled down to Arabia (bypassing Jerusalem - the mother church), headed back up to Damascus (again bypassing the mother church), then 3 yrs later went down to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and James. Acts tells a completely different story. If the Galations account is the true story - why Arabia? If I were newly converted, I think I would want some connection with other believers, not isolation. Did Paul go there to bake in the hot sun, or did he find a cave, like Mohammad did 400 yrs later? This is a puzzle for sure. What is known is that Paul's christianity and Peter's christianity may not have been the same. Paul becomes the prominent figure in the NT, not the 12 apostles, the very ones Jesus had trained and anointed. Ah, such a dilemma.
Paul's timeline of events in a nutshell from his conversion:
Paul gets saved on the road to Damascus and receives his commission from the Lord Jesus himself. He then travels into Arabia for some unknown reason, returns to Damascus, is let down the wall in a basket, then travels to Jerusalem (not to solidify his calling as he had already received his commission). Under threat of death, Paul gets sent to Tarsus via Caesarea. Barnabas comes to Tarsus seeking Paul to work at the church in Antioch he pastors there for a while, takes his first missionary journey with Barnabas and then returns to Antioch. This all happens in his first three years after conversion.
He heads up to Jerusalem after the Judiazers come to Antioch, stays with Peter for 15 days during the synod and sees James there as well (the only two apostles recorded at the synod in Acts 15), leaves for Antioch again, has the dispute with Barnabas, leaves with Silas for Syria and Cilicia.
That's Acts 9-14 in a nutshell, as well as an overview of Acts chapter 15 which meshes perfectly with the questioned verses of Galatians 1:15-24.
There is also the hypothesis that Paul went in to Arabia at the time I mentioned above and preached to the Babylonian, or Eastern Jews, of the dispersion, which is where he received the stripes, scourges and imprisonments he mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:22-29.
A great ransom was being prepared in Arabia. Ishmael. A great and necessary ransom was going to develop out of Arabia and Paul needed to go there to lay hands on it. 600 years later an angelic thing would go on with a. Arabian man, it would be designed to activate a world wide Ishmael sacrifice at the door to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the son of God!
I dont believe Jesus (pbuh) is God.Let me ask you some questions,but the first reason is that God cannot be born God did not come into existance,He is always EXISTED.He has always been before there was even a thing called Time.And as we all know Jesus (pbuh) was born,he was born without a father yes indeed that was one of his true Miracles.Where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says that I AM GOD or he says WORSHIP ME,Anywhere in the Bible?JOHN (5:30) Jesus said I can on my own self do nothing,which implies that He cannot do without the will of God.Anyone who says;Not my will but God's will is a muslim,so Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.Now God,when He speaks of things,when He talks of His own characteristics and who He is,He is very very Explicit.This very clear in JOHN (1:18) It says NO MAN HAS SEEN GOD AT ANYTIME in 1st JOHN and in JOHN (5:37) Jesus says and the father Himself who sent me have born withness of me and you have neither heard His voice,nor seen His face at anytime and Jesus was standing right there amongst them,so had He been God,,why would he say that?GOD does not beat around the bush about these type of issues,when g it comes to who He is. Almighty be tempted,the answer is NO but Jesus was.So the live of Jesus points us to the direction of ISLAM"
My last statement is that,can God Almighty be tempted,NO is the answer but Jesus was..The life and teachings of Jesus Christ (pbuh) points us to the direction of ISLAM AND THE LAST PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W).
Jesus said in John 8:56 to the Pharisees, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." Then the Jews said to Him, "Thou are not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" Jesus said unto them, Truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then they took up stones to cast at him. Why did they pick up stones to cast at him? In John 5:18 it says they sought to kill Him because he said that God was His Father, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD. Perhaps you do not know that the Name of G-d is YAHWEH, which translated means, "I AM". That is why the Jews felt He had blasphemed and wanted to kill him. He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM' which doesn't make sense grammatically unless Jesus was claiming to be God. There are also many Scriptures where Jesus accepted worship from people. Paul refused to accept worship (Acts 14:15) and neither do angels when they appear to humans, but Jesus did. (John 9:38; Matt 8:2; 9:18, 14:33, 15:25; 18:26; Matt 28:9, and 17; Mark 5:6, and 15:19; Luke 24:52; John 9:38 and more. Also, in Philippians 2::5-11, it says, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD, but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. Wherefore, He has been given a Name which is above every Name, that at the Name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD....
By the way, thank you for using "pbuh" when referring to Isa because I have only ever seen or heard it used for your Prophet and it is respectful, which I appreciate.
bible is a satanic book establish by satan under the authority of constantine the then emperor of rome, the highest representative of anti christ on earth after 300yrs that jesus left the earth in order to deceive people from true religion of GOD.the only word of GOD is holy Quran and holy Torah .
. Christians was deceive that bible is word from God and they completely ignore HOW it was compiled, filtered, and put together by pagans!
The Council of Nicea in 325 in Rome DECIDED for christians what books would be included and what would be official church doctrine. Constantine the empror of rome was the ultimate approver or disprover of word of God, not a Spirit led born again believer in Jesus! Most will claim Constantine was a believer, what they don't tell you is that Constantine didn't convert until he was on his deathbed! Which means the early church majority did nothing as a pagan compiled and Told US what doctrine was true or false! thats how they change word of God from torah to Bible. while The Torah states that all mitzvot remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the Torah is immediately identified as a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4).
if you allow your salvation to rely on this satanic book called bible it means you will end up your life in hell fire . for more information click here
any body that called jesus lord is enemy of GOD and jesus himself says only almighty GOD is lord and moses says thesame thing , while holy prophet muhammad also says thesame thing but
And his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket. And when he had come to Jerusalem he attempted to join the disciples but they are all afraid of him for they did not believe he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him. And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and set him off to Tarsus. (Acts 9:25-30)
And (Ananias) . . .said, The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; and you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name. When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me. And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in very synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee. And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.' And he said to me, 'Depart; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' (Acts 22:14-21)
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; and I still was not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea; they only heard it said, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. (Galatians 1:15-23)
My conclusion: Paul either had a very poor memory, was mentally ill, or lied about what he did in the weeks, months, and first few years after his conversion experience on the Damascus Road. Yet, Christians base their belief in the Resurrection, the pinnacle event of their faith, on this man's testimony, which in his own words, was a "heavenly vision" of a talking, bright light...along with the writings of four anonymous first century authors, writing decades after the alleged event, in a foreign language, in far away foreign lands, for purposes we do not and will never know.
That isn't evidence, folks. That is speculation, superstition, and fantasy.
Isiah 60 says that the sons of Ishmael (Kedar and Nebaioth) will one day come to faith in the King of kings in all His glory. Paul knew the scriptures and went to preach to his Arab "cousins". BTW, Arabia is Arabia and not something else.
It's because he was a false Apostle.
I have an answer THE GOSPEL OF PAUL to the gentiles
Ro 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Ro 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
2Ti 2:8 ¶ Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
(KJV)
Ga 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Paul used the OT Scriptures and His encounter on the Damascus road buttressed with his past exercises of forced denials in his 3 year Arabian repositioning far away from his past escapades and the opinions of other human connections (pro and con). Was Word establishing a new Spirit in a new tabernacle in this case? or was this just Word converting behaviors?
interesting that he had three years of time here that he does not specify what he was doing. Jesus taught his 12 disciples for three years in his earthly ministry. Possibly this is Paul's three years of revelations from the risen Christ.. I think there is no mistake that it was three years and that he conferred not with flesh and blood. also interesting that Moses was taught in arabla on mt Sinai.. the law was given. and Paul contrasts Mt Sinai later with Hagar as the law has been done away with and he in now preaching the grace of God with what the revelation of CHrist taught him after the jews rejected their messiah.. lots going on after Isreal's fall.. Acts is full of meaningful transitions..
Acts is full of meaningful transitions.. the gospel peter preached was to the jews and one man who was a Jew blessing Gentile.. Cornelius. YOu never see Peter preach to the heathen. Paul was separated to preach the gospel of Christ. But first he was removed for a specific purpose. his revelations were a mystery that peter nor the other disciples knew about. it was kept secret but is now revealed to us today from paul. Jesus did not stop talking after Peter.. he had more to say through paul regarding salvation offered to all today (no longer with w a Jewish priority after Israel fell) in the dispensation of grace. your kjv will give you all you need to know. if the details aren't there, you don't need to know.
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Wow! Lots of speculation! Here's mine: I think that the Transfigured Jesus appeared to Paul on Mt. Saini, similar to his appearing with Moses and Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration elsewhere.
It would not surprise me that it would take a long time to immerse Paul in the doctrine of Grace (so distant from the Paul's Old Testament laws and works) and prepare him to preach Grace to the Gentiles. Plus he had to be mentally and spiritually steadfast to withstand all of the immense trials he would encounter over the years.
Just speculating.
Why would Paul go to Saudi Arabia (after his alleged "heavenly vision" on the Road to Damascus) to receive personal "revelations" from a man who had been dead for at least three years?
Answer: He was mentally ill.
Whenever I read this portion - st.paul went to arabia -- I mediate that st.paul due to the
fear of persecution from the Jews -- immediately after his meeting with Jesus Christ, he took shelter in Arabia - Jews will not venture into arabia to find out their erstwhile jewishfaithul Mr.Saul -- So after meeting with Jesus Christ st.Paul fled to arabia to save himself from the hands of jews. AS its proved later that he came back to the christian world to be persecuted by jews -- as he himself narrates -- the number of times and places and incidents and events where st.paul was beaten, scourged, stoned, jailed,and put in all kinds of hardships even to the hedge of being dead. So in all simple christian faith, it very obvious for St.paul to flee to arabia for 3 years and come back to preach Jesus Christ and as expected Jews never allowed him in peace to go about preaching the Jesus Christ whom he with his old Jews faithful friends tried to finish off.
I trust this simple mediation is good not undermining the other theological,history- chronological mediation about st. paul in Arabia for three years.
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Islam says that Jesus(Isa) is the Word of God but not God and that Jesus is not the Son of God but a mere prophet. There's a major conflict in the context of Islam that has provoked ignorance which is the true blindness in this race.
Islam says God spoke and created the world, thus, if God's word created the world, it means Jesus was spoken by God and Jesus created the world. Since a man's word defines him, Jesus is therefore same as God.
Be enlightened fellow humans and seek out light for yourself not the one they told you or you saw existing.
Don't be surprised if those you think started Islam ended up accepting Jesus at the verge of death and God grants them mercy.
Stand for your family and serve Jesus, the only one who saves.
Thank you
Greetings to the faithful seekers of the God of Abraham through his son Jesus Christ,
I am also seeking the truth concerning Paul. I was enrolled in an on line seminary classes. Started with the OT, which was fantastic. Then I started on the NT and was stumbled by the writings of Paul. I was confused by the over complicated directives, double talk, self question and answers, and the discounting of the God of Abrahams Torah, handed down through Moses. Jesus never deemed the Torah null and void that I could find.
I could not and chose not to read anymore from Paul in my KJV. I was intreagued by the prophetic warnings about the False Prophet in the OT. I believed that identifying the False Prophet was my first responsibility as a new follower. Instead I began digging into Paul and the line of Benjamin.......
continuing....The blessing of Jacob for Benjamin, the ravenous wolf, the flag of Benjamin (wolf), and the split between Judah and Israel.
Then I looked into Pauls movements and actions beginning with his blinding and the message Jesus had Ananias pass on to Paul. Here I found a big question in Acts 22:14-16, and am still looking for answers.
Acts 22:14 Paul is directed to "...see the Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth."
Jesus' brother James was the leader of the temple in Jersulem. James was known as "James the Just". It appears to me that Paul was told to seek out James the Just and learn Christs teachings directly from James. This makes sense to me. James and the counsel were developing statutes for the Gentiles to follow. 4 main laws were being established and the rest of the directives were to be handed down at Synagoge weekly. If Paul was to be the "Apostle" to the Gentiles, it would have been imparative that he be involved.
As is is recorded by Josephus and others, The subject of mantitory circumcism of the Gentiles was on the table among other considerations. Paul and his desciples stormed the temple. Paul confronted James about making demands on the Gentiles. Paul in a rage, raised his hand to
James who would not fight his Brother Paul. Paul threw James from the top platform of the temple to a lower level and James was killed. Paul also held the cloaks of Pharasees who stoned the desciple Stephen but James was killed after Pauls conversion. Pauls doctrine appears to be quite a bit different from what Jesus tought his desciples. If Jesus wanted Paul as a desciple he would have recruited him and made him an Apostle.
Pauls 3 years in the desert bring a question to my mind. Paul was the next account of a desciple going for a time into the desert. No additional info directly form Paul but we do have a detailed account from Jesus and his time in the desert. We know that Satan, the adversary, tempted Jesus and offered power, wealth and worldly influence. Jesus turned away. That left the adversary wandering about looking for a soul to do his bidding and carry out...
Satan's master plan. God's prophets fortold of a False Prophet to come. A wolf in sheeps clothing. Jesus did call on Paul as a vessel,(tool) of the Lord. Paul is of the line of Benjamine. So,.....is Paul actually the False Apostle and this might explain the differences in Pauls confusion teachings compared to Jesus' crystal clear message.
Looking for details and clarity, Thanks!
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