Paul is a Pharisee.

[visionary]

Paul is a Pharisee
Paul still identified himself as a Pharisee

Acts 23:6
6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

As a good Pharisee, Paul would have upheld and kept the Torah all of his life. Paul called himself a "Hebrew of Hebrews," a term that means he was not a Hellenistic Jew.

Philippians 3:5
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Paul received his "marching orders" from the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. This council was called to address the specific issue of Gentiles having to prove themselves through works of the Torah PRIOR to salvation.

Acts 15:1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

The Gospel was now going out to a very pagan Gentile world, and these new believers were coming directly into the faith of Israel through the Messiah. No longer did they have to come up through the ranks of Judaism as Gentiles, godfearers, had before. This was a new way of doing things, but it was confirmed by God.

Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us.

It was difficult for many Jews to embrace this instant acceptance of Gentiles, whom knew nothing of Torah brought a lot of terrible practices with them. So baby steps were introduced, and the first is a minimum of compliance so that they could attend the local synagogues every Sabbath and learn Torah. Peter's comment pointed out to those who wanted the gentiles "to become Jews first," that if God had commanded perfect Torah observance as a prerequisite to faith, then they all were in jeopardy, as none of them could keep it perfectly prior to faith.

Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Scriputre shows that he himself kept Torah and spoke in favor of it:

He circumcised a man who had not yet been:

Acts 16:1-3 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

He took a Torah vow:

Acts 18:18 - And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

He continued to follow the Levitical feast day of Unleavened Bread:

Acts 20:6 - And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

He kept and encouraged others to keep Passover:

Cor. 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

He continued to follow the Levitical feast day of Shavuot (Pentecost):

Acts 20:16 - For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

1 Corinthians 16:8 - But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

He kept Yom Kippur (this is the fast mentioned in the following verse):

Acts 27:9 - Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

He proved he did not teach against Torah by taking a vow:

Acts 21:21-26 -And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

He cited his continued Torah observance in his defense before a Roman governor:

Acts 24:14-17 - But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

And again to another Roman governor:

Acts 24:14-17 - While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

And to a Jewish audience:

Acts 28:17 - And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

 

[psalms 91]

Excellent verses and proof that following the feasts and sabbeth are good things not to be despised. Yes, Jesus fulfilled the Law but He did not do away with it, it is now written on our hearts

 

[visionary]

It goes to the fact that the faith didn't start outside of Judaism.

 

[NewCreation435]

I have always wondered what happened to Paul's wife. As a member of the Sanhedrin he would of been married but as an apostle it sounds very much like he was not

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[Lamb]

It goes to the fact that the faith didn't start outside of Judaism.

You're right and that's what forces Paul to be humbled and go outside the Jews to share the Good News.

 

[Alithis]

It goes to the fact that the faith didn't start outside of Judaism.

ouuh whooa up the horses ..
first i do not disagree that paul identified as a pharisee , no worries theiere its kind of clear .. but he then spent vast amounts of his preaching of what the lord revealed to him establishing the truth that faith came before the law ...

spiritual faith by which we are saved ..faith in "the word of god" (who later became flesh ) is first listed with Abraham before any law was ever given it most certainly did not begin with judaism. im not pointing that out to oppose anything israel (i love israel and pray for the peace of jerusalem ) just clarify ..this is scripture .

 

[psalms 91]

Do you not think this is all progessive? Did not Cain and Abel sacrifice before the Law? Yes, Abraham saw the promise and believed and was saved by faith, and so on right down to when God seperated the Israelites out and gave them the Law. It is all progressive fitting into Gods perfect plan but it is clear that before the Law was given that people were aware. Why did Abraham tithe if this was not true?

 

[charis en excelcis]

I think that God called Paul, as he called me, to a greater law. The problem with the law wasn't that it is too hard, but rather that it was not sufficient. The law reflects both the nature of God and the weakness of man (thus Jesus teaching about divorce). The law that directs me is both fierce and shot through with grace. It works in my heart and mind to transform me. Paul was a Jew and thus followed the regulation of the law, but he followed something far greater. In the law he was always inadequate. In Christ, he was a conqueror.

 

[Hebrews 11]

Did Rahab the Harlot have faith?

Was Her faith before or after her conversion to Judaism?

 

[Hebrews 11]

Judaism, is a religion that is practiced by the Hebrew people.

Faith is not conditional upon Judaism, it is Judaism that can not exist with out faith.

 

[visionary]

I have always wondered what happened to Paul's wife. As a member of the Sanhedrin he would of been married but as an apostle it sounds very much like he was not

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Good point, and good question... If he was under the age of 30, he didn't have to get married. If he is a student working his way up to being a member of the Sanhedrin, he would have a long way to go, because there is only 70 members and someone has to either die or commit a great wrong to be cast out.

 

[Brighten04]

Good point, and good question... If he was under the age of 30, he didn't have to get married. If he is a student working his way up to being a member of the Sanhedrin, he would have a long way to go, because there is only 70 members and someone has to either die or commit a great wrong to be cast out.

Meaning that it is possible that Paul may not have been married. I often wondered about this statement, but it makes better sense now.
1Cor. 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

 

[visionary]

No one talks about Peter's wife. I often wondered if she died or something as Peter also traveled and it was never an easy trip.

 

[Brighten04]

No one talks about Peter's wife. I often wondered if she died or something as Peter also traveled and it was never an easy trip.

No, but Paul's statement suggests that Peter's wife traveled with him.

 

[TurtleHare]

I was under the impression that in 1 Corinthians 7:1-8 Paul was saying he wasn't married.

Peter's wife really did not get a lot of PR did she? Then again,take a look at some of Peter's epistles and how he describes a good wife. Can one not wonder if he's considering his own when writing those things? Scripture does not state what happened to the couple as Peter traveled and the reason is that the focus is on the Lord and preaching Him.