Conversion - Galatians 1:11-24

1:11-12 - One thought I had earlier today was that because Paul was a Jewish convert to Christianity, I wonder if the gentile converts gave greater heed to the usurpers because they too were Jewish-Christian converts. Maybe that’s why Paul tells them his conversion story. I’m sure that he had told this story before, but it would be a nice refresher for those who had heard it and be important to hear for those who hadn’t. Previously, Paul had said that the saints could determine whether or not a preacher was teaching truth or not, and that was who they sought to please. Paul asked them if they thought that he served God or man? He answers his question by saying, basically, “because I’ll tell you right now that the gospel I teach is not from man. No man taught me this gospel, but I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” This is just my own summation of what Paul says. Interestingly, the article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com quotes Bruce R. McConkie as teaching, “that, of course, is the grand secret, the great key; no man ever receives true religion and the pure gospel except by revelation. He must gain a personal testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost.” 1:13-24 - Before we get into Paul’s conversion story, the IM reminds us that “some of what is recorded in Galatians 1:11-2:10 is found only in Galatians (Paul’s sojourn in Arabia, his return to Damascus, his journey to Jerusalem after three years, and the Apostles he met there).” Paul reminds his audience that he had originally been part of “the Jew’s religion.” The word “religion” here might seem to us to refer to Judaism in general, but the article quotes Howard W. Hunter who suggests that Paul might be referring to his adherence as a Pharisee. The quote says, “the first used of the word religion is by Paul as he presented his defense before King Agrippa. He said to Agrippa: ‘After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.’ He was referring to the three sects of the Jews: the Pharisees, Sadducees, And Essenes. He said he lived a Pharisee- the sect of the three that was the strictest in religious practices. Paul was not talked about a religious creed or a belief, but rather the form of worship, because Jews placed great stress on practice rather than doctrine- on ritualistic worship rather than a creed of belief.” He further suggests that Paul’s use of the word “religion” in Galatians is referencing Paul’s time as a Pharisee instead of just his time as a Jew. A summary of Paul’s conversion story: 1. Paul “persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” 2. He advanced in his priesthood office faster than other men his age because of his zeal for obedience to his beliefs. 3. When it was God’s will, He called me to teach his gospel “among the heathen.” 4. Paul left for Arabia and spent three years between there and Damascus. 5. After three years Paul went to Jerusalem and stayed with Peter for 15 days. 6. He also met with “James the Lord’s brother” while in Jerusalem, but no other apostles. 7. After leaving Jerusalem, he went to “Syria and Cilicia,” to preach to those outside of Judea. 8. The Christians in Judaea never heard Paul teach, but they “glorified God” when they learned that the man who persecuted them relentlessly “now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.” There are a few points here that are worth mentioning, first is in verse 15 when Paul said that God “who separated me from my mother’s womb,” called him to preach His gospel. I had no idea what Paul was talking about when this first came up, but the article references this with Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Paul’s use of this word made reference to this being his life’s work, he was ordained to be an Apostle before the world was even formed. The article quotes Joseph Smith as teaching, “every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was.” The next noteworthy part is in verse 16 and 17 when Paul says that after being called to the ministry, he didn’t go to talk to other people about it, but instead went to Arabia. There is some speculation as to where exactly Paul went, whether it be just outside of Damascus or all the way to the Sinai, but regardless, the article notes, “we can be sure that through prayer and meditation Saul came to peace with himself and his God in the desert place. Like Moses and the Christ before him, in such solitary places was he prepared for his ministry; doubtless, during this desert sojourn, he became the recipient of divine revelations instructing him in the truths of his new faith.” I remember when I first got to Paul while studying Acts and at the part when he went to Arabia for three years, or at least dropped off the map during that time, I remember reading that just like Peter and the other apostles spent three years with the Savior, learning from Him, likewise, Paul spent three years learning from the Savior as well, just in a different way. I thought that this meant a literal learning from him, like in the flesh, but maybe not. I don’t think that our apostles now spend three years face to face with Jesus in order to become an apostle. It can be done through the Spirit as well. And we know of several people who spent at least three years with Jesus who weren’t convinced on His divinity either, so the face to face time isn’t as important as I seem to have previously thought. The next noteworthy part is when Paul goes to Jerusalem and meets with Peter and James. We know that when Paul shows up to Jerusalem claiming to be a disciple of Christ, the church members along with the leadership where still afraid of him, and rightly so. But because Barnabas vouched for Paul’s new life, they eventually warmed up to him. The article speculates on what Paul might have asked Peter, such as specific parts of Jesus’ mortal ministry, as well as what he might have asked Jesus’ brother James who knew the Savior’s early life. The article says, “surely the diligent and intelligent Saul would, with propriety, ask these and other questions of two men who would be able to answer so well from personal experience.” I also imagine that this is when Paul received his official ordination as an Apostle and given the area he ministered in as his stewardship. Finally, the last point that is noteworthy about the time line, and honestly, I just love this one, is the significance of Paul meeting with James, the Lord’s brother. When I first read that he met with James, I thought James the brother of John, but by this time that James had been executed, and it has been suggested that James, the brother of Jesus was called to take his place as an apostle. The significance of this is that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe he was the Savior while he was living among them. If we remember, there were several times when Jesus’ brothers had demanded the Savior’s personal attention, to the detriment of those Jesus was ministering to, and He declined them. Jesus’ brothers were not there when He was tried or crucified, he was not with them during most of his ministry, meaning that they were not his followers, and I remember reading somewhere that they actively didn’t believe His claim to Godhood. But it’s so nice to learn that later, James the brother of Jesus, came around, repented and became a disciple. I love this because I’ve been there, I’ve rejected what I should have embraced and I love seeing with other people do too. And I can only imagine that joy that James’ acceptance of the gospel brought the Savior, as His family’s personal rejection of him must have stung especially bad.