I think we have all known people who had an incomplete
knowledge of something and yet argue and insist that they are correct in their
ideas and beliefs. Maybe we were like that at times as well. It seems that
sometimes people are so prideful about their knowledge and believing that they
are “right” that they actually exude a stench of rotting garbage. This goes for
religious persons or non-religious persons alike. But it is a very poor example
for followers of Christ to behave in this manner because the accuser uses any
excuse to magnify the mistakes of Christians. Therefore we have to stay humble
regarding what we believe to be true. It is very hard to un-learn something we
thought we knew, but we have a great example in the Apostle Paul as to
relearning what we have been instructed in. Paul really is a great example for
us in this aspect. The disciples and apostles walked and talked with Jesus.
Jesus was tangible to them, so even in his resurrected body they believed on
him because they had known him physically. Paul is in the same situation we are
in, in that he had a Jesus experience and then cultivated and developed a
relationship with Jesus. Paul did not hang out with Jesus before Jesus’
crucifixion. That is the dynamic we live with today.
Before we get to Paul we might want to consider the reason
for the “soft” approach regarding the declaration of our beliefs. Yahweh is
Yahweh and we are not. That pretty much says it all. Whether we are talking
about one person criticizing another person’s ministry or someone disbelieving
that the Holy Spirit led someone to do something, we have those examples in the
Apostle Paul, who did not consult with flesh and blood when he went into the
desert. What exactly did Paul consult with if it wasn’t flesh and blood? Was it
Yahweh, the Holy Spirit, Angels? Whomever it was Paul learned from, it did not
have flesh or blood. Paul’s ministry is the foundation of our Christian
administration. So lest we become prideful and start to smell like rotting
garbage, we ought to consider that humans are not always as smart as they think
they are. Therefore the need for un-learning and re-learning. Which
incidentally is not quite as hard as it sounds when one is not filled with
pride. Pride will always hold one back from increasing knowledge. We have to
realize that there are many levels of knowledge and not everyone will be
inclined to learn as much or at the same pace as another. Again Yahweh is
Yahweh and we are not. We have to observe what happened with Paul for a
balanced approach to un-learning and re-learning.
We have studied the life of Paul previously, so just to
recap Paul’s life, Paul was a student of Gamaliel who was a Pharisee. Paul
studied and became a Pharisee. Paul’s mother was a Jew and his father was a
Roman citizen, but also a Pharisee. As we know, lineage is determined by the
matriarchal line but citizenship was determined by the father’s line.
Technically, Paul had the best of both worlds for this time period. Paul did
not meet Jesus before Jesus’ crucifixion. He did not see the miracles and
healings that took place. He did not hear the voice of the Father and see the
Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism. All Paul knew was what others told him to be
true or false. Paul made the determination to believe those people who said
Jesus was a fake. Paul then believed that the movement of Christianity was a
detriment to society. I find it interesting that Paul’s teacher Gamaliel took a
soft approach to Peter and John’s miracles and all the conversions, see Acts
5:34. As an active Pharisee, Paul felt it was his duty to crush the Christian
movement. Paul was very passionate about his beliefs and very prideful as he
persecuted people.
Acts 22:3-5 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but
reared in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated according to the
strictest care in the Law of our fathers, being ardent [even a zealot] for God,
as all of you are today. 4 [Yes] I harassed (troubled, molested, and
persecuted) this Way [of the Lord] to the death, putting in chains and
committing to prison both men and women, 5 As the high priest and whole council
of elders (Sanhedrin) can testify; for from them indeed I received letters with
which I was on my way to the brethren in Damascus in order to take also those
[believers] who were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that they
might be punished. AMP
Paul was a teacher of the Law, a Pharisee, which is
interesting because after his conversion Paul rebuked those who tried to put
people under the Law. But before his conversion, Paul felt it was his duty to
stop the Jews from converting to Christianity. I think that is a typical
religious attitude. There will always be people who believe everyone else in
the world should live as they live and believe as they believe. That is an
attitude of pride, so much so that it also limits Yahweh and the Holy Spirit,
making a human the god over the whole world. While humans are elohim as we have
studied, we are not elohim in place of Yahweh or the Holy Spirit, and we are to
be led by Yahweh and the Holy Spirit and not behave in prideful arrogance.
Acts 26:9 I myself indeed was [once] persuaded that it was
my duty to do many things contrary to and in defiance of the name of Jesus of
Nazareth. AMP
Pride and prideful thinking leads people astray. The Holy
Spirit is not stagnant but many times people act as if the Holy Spirit doesn’t
move beyond what we ourselves believe. Prideful people believe that the Holy
Spirit stopped moving exactly where they rest their beliefs. That is simply
silly. Again Yahweh is Yahweh and we are not. We have to stop limiting the Holy
Spirit to our own belief system. Naturally, after the Day of Pentecost a new
era started, but Paul was stuck in the old age of thoughts and rules. Paul did
not follow Jesus until Jesus knocked him off his camel on the way to Damascus.
After that, Paul had to relearn a few things. Once Paul received back his
eyesight he went into the synagogue in Damascus.
Acts 9:20-25 And immediately in the synagogues he
proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God! 21 And all who heard him were
amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and
destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here
for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before
the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and
continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by
comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the
Messiah).
Can you imagine what that must have been like? Paul, a
Pharisee, goes into the synagogue and starts teaching Jesus is the Messiah and
no one knows what to believe about Paul. Is this man serious, or is he tricking
people so that he can arrest them, or is this man an imposter and not really
Saul of Tarsus? Paul did something the religious leaders were not doing, he
compared and examined evidence proving Jesus is the Messiah. This is what every
single person is responsible to do, on every subject in the Bible, no matter
how big or small. If we have a belief about something, it does not hurt to take
a broad view, say the view from 30,000 feet, and compare and examine all the
opposing views as well as supporting views. Then it is truly our responsibility
to dig into the minute points and compare and examine all aspects there as
well. Opinions are useless unless backed up by the written words of the Holy
Spirit.
Paul did something even more remarkable. Luke does not
record it as Luke may not have known what Paul was doing at that time, but Paul
went into Arabia for three years. Paul didn’t go to preach, he went to re-learn
the 70 books. Remember that the Septuagint was what the synagogues used to read
from. Paul clarifies this time in Galatians whereas Luke notes Paul was
increasing in strength.
Gal 1:15-18 But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart
[even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor
and blesssing 49:1; Jer 1:5.] 16 To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me
so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the
glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did
not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone].
17 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special
messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia,
and afterward I came back again to Damascus. 18 Then three years later, I did
go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and
remained with him for fifteen days. AMP
Paul didn’t un-learn and re-learn by conferring with other
humans, he relied on the Holy Spirit. Paul left Damascus and went into the
desert for three years, then he went back to Damascus. Think of that. Paul took
three years to re-learn this entire aspect of Jesus the Messiah. Rarely does
one take that much time to learn a subject from the Bible before having
opinions, and yet Paul took that much time to re-learn the scriptures. Paul
already had a knowledge and an understanding of the coming Messiah, but Paul
probably compared all the prophecies regarding the coming Messiah to see how
they applied to Jesus. With computers we can make short work of most Bible
comparisons but here Paul had to read each scroll’s prophecies and scribe them
for his own reference. Not only did Paul do that, he received the greatest
revelations for the church age. Paul learned mysteries regarding dispensations,
the gathering, resurrections, the love of God, the ending of the law and
circumcision. Paul the former Pharisee became the leader of the age of the
nations’ receiving Jesus as Messiah. Not only that, Paul also gained a working
knowledge of the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul did not have
the Holy Spirit on the inside until he believed and confessed Jesus as Lord.
Therefore the operation of the gifts of the Spirit was also something Paul
learned during his desert time. Think about that, three years to study,
examine, and compare, without a computer, and Paul changed the entire world. Paul
then goes back into Damascus and teaches there, but the Jews as well as the
governing officials want to kill him.
Meanwhile keep in mind, Paul did not go visit any disciples
or apostles to learn the mysteries. Paul did not go to Jerusalem to the church
leaders for knowledge and direction either. Paul did not go to a water baptism
class before being baptized. This is an interesting point as today we have a
set of rules for new converts such as taking a salvation class, a baptism class,
and counsel and instruction by church leaders for membership into the church.
Paul didn’t do anything of the sort, in fact he did what the Holy Spirit led
him to do. This is why later, on Paul’s second trip to visit the church leaders
in Jerusalem, the church leaders did not mind selling Paul out to the
persecution of the Jews, because Paul was really not under their direction but
the direction of the Holy Spirit. Paul was ministering to the non-Jews and the
Jews could not stop non-Jews from getting saved. The Jews persecuted the
converting Jews but they had no authority over non-Jews.
In the meantime, after his desert experience, Paul the
Pharisee went back into Damascus and the Jews wanted to kill him there. The
disciples hatched a plan for him to escape.
Acts 9:23 After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews
conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him, 24 But [the knowledge of]
their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the [city's] gates day
and night to kill him, 25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down
through the [city's] wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper. AMP
Paul clarifies Luke’s account.
2 Cor 11:32-33 In Damascus, the city governor acting under
King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus [on purpose] to arrest me, 33 And I
was [actually] let down in a [rope] basket or hamper through a window (a small
door) in the wall, and I escaped through his fingers. AMP
After escaping Damascus, Paul heads south to Jerusalem, but
not for very long. Understand, Paul takes a trip, over one hundred miles, stays
two weeks, and leaves. Paul did not stay and use his former position to
schmooze his way into a new church leadership position. The Greek Jews wanted
to kill him.
Acts 9:26-30 And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried
to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for
they did not believe he really was a disciple. 27 However, Barnabas took him
and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he
had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely
and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out
[as one] among them at Jerusalem, 29 Preaching freely and confidently and
boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed
against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him. 30
And when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent
him off to Tarsus [his home town]. AMP
Paul went to visit Peter for fifteen days, then saw James,
but then went into Asia for fourteen years. Paul did not make a pest of himself
in Jerusalem, in fact later Paul went to Jerusalem only because some people were
trying to put the new Christians under the law. So after leaving Damascus in a
basket, Paul goes to Jerusalem for fifteen days, then heads back north by boat
for fourteen years.
Gal 2:1-5 THEN AFTER [an interval] of fourteen years I
again went up to Jerusalem. [This time I went] with Barnabas, taking Titus
along with [me] also. 2 I went because it was specially and divinely revealed
to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them
that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter]
privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at
first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not
running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what
I was planning to do or had already done]. 3 But [all went well!] even Titus,
who was with me, was not compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised,
although he was a Greek. 4 [My precaution was] because of false brethren who
had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped
in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that
they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses]. 5 To them we
did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might
continue to be [preserved] for you [in its purity]. AMP
This is Paul’s greatest strength. He confronted the people
trying to put new Christians under the law. Paul did not go to Jerusalem to
teach anyone anything after he left Damascus, he went to learn from Peter.
Isn’t that interesting? After un-learning and re-learning, he went to meet with
a guy who actually walked with Jesus on the earth. He spent fifteen days with
Peter. The conversations must have been awesome, with Paul asking questions and
Peter relating story after story. Remember, Peter was a fisherman, not a
Pharisee or a scholar. Paul was a Pharisee, a scholar of the law, who was
learning from a fisherman. This is all backwards comparing this to today. Today
if a scholar needs to re-learn something he goes to other scholars and
university professors not fishermen. This tells us that Paul was a very very
humble man.
Paul was not looking to make a name for himself. He was not
trying to be a leader of the Church over the Jewish converts. Paul did not go
to Jerusalem after his desert learning to tell the church leaders in Jerusalem
anything about what he learned in the desert. He visited with Peter and then went
to Asia Minor. Paul didn’t go back to Jerusalem for fourteen years. Think about
that. Fourteen years is a long time. Even after fourteen years Paul didn’t go back
to Jerusalem to usurp anyone then either. Paul went to Jerusalem to clarify the
non-Jewish position of the law and circumcision. And Paul was not having any
nonsense from people who claim to be leaders.
Gal 2:6 Moreover, [no new requirements were made] by those
who were reputed to be something — though what was their individual position
and whether they really were of importance or not makes no difference to me;
God is not impressed with the positions that men hold and He is not partial and
recognizes no external distinctions — those [I say] who were of repute imposed
no new requirements upon me [had nothing to add to my Gospel, and from them I received
no new suggestions]. [Deut 10:17.] AMP
Paul’s words are sharp here. This tells us something. While
Paul had become a humble man to visit Peter and learn from him, Paul was not a
game player in the politics of Church leadership. Paul was not impressed nor afraid
of men who put themselves into positions over others. Look how Paul describes
the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem. Those people created their own
reputations to be something important over others. Paul says whatever their
positions were, he didn’t care. He then says God is not impressed with these
people’s positions. God is not partial to positions and does not recognize
external distinctions. Hmmm, now we see why it was so easy for the Church
leaders to sell Paul, the former Pharisee, out to the Jews on his next visit.
Paul got his instructions for teaching the non-Jews from
the Holy Spirit, not men, and Paul did not submit to these men. Notice how Paul
described the situation when he said it was divinely revealed to him to go to
Jerusalem. Then he privately had a conference with the leaders, but other
people pretending to be Christians came to spy on them and try to put them (the
non-Jews) under the Law of Moses. Paul was not pleased. There seemed to be a
lot of political wrangling in Jerusalem, but Paul wasn’t sucked into any of it.
Why? Because he spent three years un-learning and re-learning from the Holy
Spirit in the desert. Let’s reiterate, Paul did not receive instruction on the
prophecies of Jesus as Messiah, or the mysteries of the one body, or the new
dispensation, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the gathering of the church
from other people. Paul learned these things from the Yahweh and or the Holy
Spirit, and Paul did not put himself under any man to be directed on what to say
and do in the church. Paul started a new thing with non-Jews that was
technically separate from the Church at Jerusalem. Coincidently, Paul was
teaching the same things as Peter, but Paul was not “under” any human
authority. He was directed by the Holy Spirit. Paul even had to correct Peter
for his stance on the law. After remembering all the contentions between Jesus
and the Pharisees, Paul the former Pharisee is telling people that the law is
not applicable in this administration. That is an amazing realization. A former
Pharisee discounting the law.
Now we have looked closely at Paul, a scholar and second
generation Pharisee who was learning from the top religious leaders and was
zealous for persecuting converting Jews, even consenting to their deaths. Paul
had a pride issue regarding what he believed to be true. Paul really did
believe he was doing the will of God. It took Jesus blinding him to get his
attention. What we see is Paul’s immediate change. Paul was once a man under
other men, but once converted Paul was a man directed and led by the Holy
Spirit. After his conversion we see his pride gone and a willingness to learn
from one man, a fisherman who walked with Jesus. We then see Paul preaching all
through Asia Minor for fourteen years until too many people were trying to
subvert the Christians freedom in Christ. That is when Paul takes a stand.
A short time later Paul was in Athens waiting for Timothy and
Silas. The Athenians had an interesting perspective regarding learning. While
they had many gods, they had a place in the marketplace for discussions. The
Epicureans and Stoics were atheists and the resurrection was a very new and
interesting idea for them.
Acts 17:16-21 Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens,
his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw that the city was full of
idols. 17 So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those
who worshiped there, and in the marketplace [where assemblies are held] day
after day with any who chanced to be there. 18 And some also of the Epicurean
and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion. And
some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say?
Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities — because he
preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him and brought
him to the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], saying, May we know what this
novel (unheard of and unprecedented) teaching is which you are openly
declaring? 20 For you set forth some startling things, foreign and strange to
our ears; we wish to know therefore just what these things mean — 21 For the Athenians, all of them, and the
foreign residents and visitors among them spent all their leisure time in
nothing except telling or hearing something newer than the last — AMP
They wanted to hear this new teaching so they brought Paul
to Mars Hill. They regarded knowledge as important and something worth
considering. Notice the Athenians spent their leisure time discussing new
ideas. Let’s read the last three verses in the ISV.
Acts 17:19-21 Then they took him, brought him before the
Areopagus, and asked, “May we know what this new teaching of yours is? 20 It
sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means.” 21
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time
doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating
them.ISV
It seems the Athenians were not prideful but instead they
hungered for knowledge. As is common with the gospel, some people believed Paul
and some did not, but at least they were willing to hear him. That was far more
than the Jewish leaders were willing to do.
Acts 17:22-34 So Paul, standing in the center of the
Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens, I perceive in every
way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or
very reverent to demons. 23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your
objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the
unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth
to you. 24 The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it,
being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither
is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself
Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people]. [Isa 42:5.] 26 And He
made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to
settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted
periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their
settlements, lands, and abodes), 27 So that they should seek God, in the hope
that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each
one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of
your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring. 29 Since then we are
God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold
or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and
imagination, or anything constructed or invented. 30 Such [former] ages of
ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He
charges all people everywhere to repent (to change their minds for the better
and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins), 31
Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by
a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this
credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising
Him from the dead. [Ps 9:8; 96:13; 98:9.] 32 Now when they had heard [that
there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We
will hear you again about this matter. 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34
But some men were on his side and joined him and believed (became Christians); among
them were Dionysius, a judge of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and
some others with them. AMP
The Athenians were willing to continue hearing Paul teach
about Jesus being raised from the dead, repentance, and judgement. That is
amazing. This is the attitude that we all should have. We should not be afraid
to learn and discuss things we believe with others who may not believe the same
as we do. Paul puts the attitude we should have into perspective when he
addresses the Romans.
Rom 12:3 For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to
me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly
than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but
to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith
apportioned by God to him. AMP
If we compare this to what he says in Galatians regarding
the people who made themselves leaders over the church in Jerusalem we can see
why Paul was not happy with the leaders in Jerusalem. Paul does not want us to
be narcissistic, stuck on our own selves as if we are special. Yet prideful
people do exactly that, then legislate what they believe to others. The other
side of the prideful leader is the followers of prideful people. The followers
gain their own pride in a “team spirit” sort of way. It is easy for people to
become prideful over the church they attend or prideful over the group they are
associated with. Pride feeds on pride and no one learns or grows or is even
allowed to learn or grow. The prideful leader determines the level of knowledge
the followers will have and the prideful followers dare not go outside of the
boundaries set for them. Remember what Paul told us in Corinthians regarding
Apollos, Cephas and himself? Read the whole context and notice that Paul
believed that many people were to work together, some planting, some watering,
but God giving the increase.
1 Cor 4:6 Now I have applied all this [about parties and
factions] to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren, so that from what I
have said of us [as illustrations], you may learn [to think of men in
accordance with Scripture and] not to go beyond that which is written, that
none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one
[minister and teacher] against another. AMP
So when someone talks “at” us, with opinions and judgments
concerning others, we have to keep in mind their own level of pride. What did
Paul do when he was unsaved? What did Paul do after he became saved? We, just
like Paul, will have to un-learn and re-learn things we believe. Our best
approach is to confer with Yahweh rather than men. I recently read of a
prominent church pastor from a megachurch who condemned someone else’s
ministry. It seems easier to condemn what we haven’t learned rather than learn
something new. If we learn something new, as a megachurch pastor, we are
technically admitting we didn’t know it all. Pride. I was also recently listening
as someone explained in a prideful manner everything they believed about a certain
situation. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, but if I could have I would have
said that we really can’t judge some things because Yahweh is Yahweh and we are
not. Pride. It holds us back from learning and growing with Yahweh. Instead of
being like the first century Jewish religious leaders who persecuted the new
Christians, or instead of being like the first century Church leaders who
persecuted Paul for teaching freedom in Christ, we should be willing to take
three years in the desert to un-learn and re-learn what we know before we
condemn anything or anyone. Paul, the scholarly Pharisee did it, and he is our
example for humility and personal growth.
