From Saul the Persecutor to Paul the Persecuted

Saul of Tarsus was a man who despised Christians and who represented one of the most serious threats to burgeoning Christianity. Believing Christian teachings to be blasphemy, Saul aggressively sought out and persecuted Christians including giving his approval for the stoning death of Deacon Stephen. He was indeed, Saul the Persecutor and was feared by even the most devout Jewish Christ followers.

But Saul was singled out by God for a special job, “But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Thus, Saul the persecutor was changed by an encounter with God and became Paul the persecuted for the Faith he once sought to destroy.

Second Corinthians is powerfully personal. Here we learn more intimately the soul of the Apostle Paul as He pours out his heart in profound distress over the church. He writes this epistle under extreme duress, and it explodes with the kind of deep heartfelt emotion we do not normally associate with Paul. It is here is 2 Corinthians that we get a glimpse into the man's soul. We feel his hopes, sorrow, ridicule and betrayal, his fears, joys and agony; we feel his love, disappointment, disillusionment, commitment and sacrifice. What aroused such fervent passion in Paul?

The Judaizers had arrived in Corinth trying to destroy Paul's authority and motives and bring churches under bondage to the Jewish law. They attacked Paul on many levels. We can infer from his responses what the charges were against him. A few of the main accusations and his rebuttal will be highlighted.

Judaizers Accusations and Paul’s Rebuttal

Judaizers: He is unreliable and vacillating.

Paul:

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." (1:12-18)

Judaizers: He recommends himself, but no one else commends him.

Paul:

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? (3:1)

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (4:2)

Judaizers: His condition is not always rational, he must be mentally unbalanced.

Paul:

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (5:11-13)

Judaizers: He hurts the congregation to enrich himself.

Paul:

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. (7:2)

Judaizers: He may even have embezzled church funds.

Paul:

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. (8:20-21)

Judaizers: He is a coward, bold only at a distance or in writing.

Paul:

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! (10:1)

For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. (10:10)

Judaizers: In his exaggerated opinion of himself he lords it over the congregation.

Paul:

For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. (10:8)

Judaizers: He does not accept our church support, proving he is no true apostle.

Paul:

Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. (11:7-9)

Paul accuses his opponents of seeking their own personal profit, they have no pastoral heart: "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God," (2:17)

They boast of advantages, but all they have done is lower the spiritual standard to their own level, then compliment themselves and boast of their attainments.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you." (10:12-13)

They invade communities already evangelized and live as parasites of the congregation,

"Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory." (10:15-16)

Though they are proud of their Jewish heritage…

"What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I." (11:22)…

They preach another Jesus.

"For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."(11:4)

Their ministry is only a caricature of true ministry.

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (11:13-14)

They corrupt the gospel they preach.

"Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (4:2)

Their corrupt preaching is proven in the mutinous, unrepentant living of their converts and of themselves.

"I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged." (12:21)

Faith for the Corinthians was participation in the Jesus demonstrated in appearance of the Spirit, freedom from the "flesh," and enthusiastic soaring above the world. Paul replies by reversing their creed: we see Jesus as the Crucified One. Preaching is the word of the cross, where God's power appears in the form of weakness.

According to Christian tradition, Paul was behead in Rome during the reign of Nero.

"Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail and unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this first persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that under his execution Nero sent two of his esquires, Ferega and Parthemius, to bring him word of his death. They, coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray for them, that they might believe; who told them that shortly after they should believe and be baptised at His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and led him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword."

Source:

Fox's Book of Christian Martyrs, Chapter I

History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions

Worthy Reading