The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 97

with the contents of the gospel. Historical proof to show that he was no pupi1 of the apostles. • I. 'l'HE JUDAIBTIC PERIOD OF BIB LIFE. "For ye have beard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion." He recalls the fact that they bad heard, viz. from his own mouth, when he was with them, of his manner of life in Judaism. This Judaism was a good thing in its right conception and time. There were human adjuncts of it which were not good. It was intended that J adaism should be carried up into Christi- anity. To adhere to it, then, after Christianity had come, was to go against the Divine intention. This was what Paul did. 1. Outstanding feature of his Judaism. "How that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and made havoc of it." The Church of Christ is named, from his later point of view, the Church of God. He now realizes it as the painful element in his guilt, that he persecuted the Church of God. He was beyond measure a persecutor. It would appear, from the language which is used in one place, that at his instance Christians were put to death: "He persecuted this Way unto the death." As a consequence, he made havoc of the Church. He had put the Church at J erusalern into confusion, and he was on his way to exterminate, if he could, the Church at Damascus. 2. Spirit by which he was animated in Judaism. "And I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." He was brought up in a. Hebrew home in Tarsus. Amid Gentile influences he would feel free in the world of Hebrew memories and hopes. We can think of him as showing forwardness beyond many of his own age while yet at the Hebrew schooL The strong impression of his for- wardness may have led to his being sent on to Jerusalem for wider opportunity. In the city of his fathers there was everything that was fitted to excite bis youthful imagination, to fire his youthful enthusiasm. At the feet of Gamaliel he would come to a more intelligent appreciation of the traditions of hisfathers, i.e. of the Law, with its historical accompaniments, and especially with its traditional interpretations. Here, too, we can think of him as showing forwardness beyond many of those who were receiving instruction a.long with him. While yet a. young man he seems to have become a member of the Sanhedrim, or assembly of elders. For it is recorded of him that he gave his vote for the death of Stephen. Where he was during our Lord's ministry we have not the means of knowing. But in the subsequent development of events be very soon appears as a chief actor. It was here that he showed forwardness in Judaism beyond many of his own age among his countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. He was zealous beyond bis own master, Gamaliel, who, against manifestations of zeal, advised that, if Christianity were not of God, it would come to nought. There was this to be said for Paul, that he had a keen perception of the situation. He saw that Judaism, which he mistakenly but fondly cherished, was threatened at vital points by the forces which were at work in Christi- anity. He saw that, with its doctrine of a Messiah in heaven and the Holy Spirit from heaven, with the patient bearing of its adherents, and with the progress it was making, it was formidable. Either Judaism must destroy it or it would destroy Judaism. Therefore he was e:x.ceedingly zealous beyond many for Judaism. II. 'l'HE ORISIS OF' HIS LIFE. 1. His predestinat-ion lo apostleship. " But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb." This is the only mention that Paul makes of his mother. We can believe that the kind of mother he had was connected with bis separation to apostleship. He was separated from his birth. Being separated so early, there is precluded the supposition of human agency, his own or that of others. The separation was the act of God. 2. His call to apostleship. "A.nd called me through his grace." This was on the road to Damascus. It was through no meritorious doing of his own, but evidently through Divine grace. He was engaged a.t the time in the persecution of Jesus. He bad a vi~id impression of a Jesus who was dead and buried, whom his disciples spoke of as alive, who was so strongly moving their hearts as to make him fear for Judaism. Bu~ now, by a super- natural intervention, he got a vivid impression of Jesus as the Messiah. In the actual appearance of Je~us the/act was given him in a. way which, notwithstanding all his prejudices against it, he could not deny that ho was rise1;1 and livi~g. An~ making a total surrender, from that moment the authority of Chnst was laid on him. 3. H,s qnalification for apostleship. "To reveal his Son in mo, that I might preach him among  62 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIA:NS. [ell, I, 1~24,