Paul’s Early Life

Acts 21:39; 22:3, 27, 28; 26:4, 5; Philippians 3:5, 6

GOLDEN TEXT: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”—Ecclesiastes 12:1

PAUL has left the record that he was born in Tarsus, an important city of Cilicia, a Roman province in Asia Minor. While his education, especially in the Jewish law, was obtained in Jerusalem “at the feet of Gamaliel,” his early years were probably spent in Tarsus, his home city. Students of Paul’s discourses and epistles have remarked upon the difference between his illustrations and those of our Lord.

Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem, and brought up in the village of Nazareth. His discourses abound with illustrations drawn from nature. Paul’s, on the other hand, reflect the result of his residence in a commercial city, where he had been impressed with the operations of trade, the life of a soldier represented in the Roman army, games, gladiators, slaves, etc.

It is supposed that his parents were natives of Galilee, who, for some unknown reason, removed to the pagan city of Tarsus. We have every reason to believe that they were ardent followers of the Jewish religion, Paul’s father being a Pharisee. No doubt it was the earnest desire to see his son given the very best education in the law that prompted him to send young Paul to Jerusalem for instruction under the great Jewish teacher.

His hopes were realized, for we know that Paul became a Pharisee and at an early age a leader among them. He says of himself in his Epistle to the Galatians, “[I] profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals [in years, margin] in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”—Gal. 1:14

After Paul’s conversion to Christ, which we will consider in our next lesson, this thorough training in the law and the history of Israel was of great value in his ministry; and there can be no doubt that it was under the special providence of God that he received it. It is of interest to note his own assurance that from birth his life had been under God’s supervision in preparation for his future mission—“To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen.”—Gal. 1:15,16

The early Christian maturity of Paul, Stephen, Timothy, and probably others of the early church, impresses two lessons upon us. It impressed the fundamental fact that man is a sinner; that sacrifice for sin is necessary in order to be reconciled to God and receive his favor.

The law also impressed the essential lesson that no matter how earnestly one endeavored to do so, he could not keep it inviolate, could not commend himself to God thereby, could not obtain that freedom from death which had been held out for centuries to any who would develop an ability to “do these things.” (Lev. 18:5; Matt. 19:17) Thus to Paul, and doubtless to all of the nation of Israel who became Christians it was, “a schoolmaster to bring them unto Christ.”—Gal. 3:24

Another evident advantage to those who had been instructed in the law in their youth is that they had acquired thereby a considerable degree of character: an understanding of right and justice; respect for the rights of others; generous attitude toward the unfortunate; willingness to accept into their community without prejudice strangers who, impressed by the evident care of God for the nation of Israel, or by the grandeur of his law, desired to join themselves to Israel and place themselves under that law and become the servants of God.

The ability of Paul, after the scales of prejudice had been miraculously removed, quickly to become a leader among the Christians—able to discourse, and write, and thus record for the church of Christ profound treatises on the character of God, his holiness, the details of what divine love means in the life of a believer—seems to indicate that there had been a very substantial foundation gained in his studies of the law. It seems to indicate that his early training had developed elements of understanding and character which were not lost, but became a part of the character of this devoted Christian leader, Paul the apostle.

Our Golden Text summarizes the moral to be gained from the foregoing illustrations—and many others which have come to the attention of all of us. How important for parents to give the best they have in the way of religious instruction and training to their children of tender and formative years. And how important for youth to acknowledge the claims of their Creator upon their allegiance and love, and to recognize that there can be no real success, or even true progress in life, unless it is brought under divine instruction and full fervent obedience thereto.

QUESTIONS:

Where was Paul’s early life spent, and what apparent influence resulted?

What influence had Paul’s early training in the law upon his later ministry as a Christian?

What similar conclusion seems reasonable as we consider others who became leaders in the church at an early age?

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