Introduction: This is a second segue into Galatians, Paul’s letter defending his apostleship, and the absolute imperative of heralding the true gospel and not some false gospel (which is no gospel at all). 

In verses 11-17 of chapter 1 of Galatians, Paul spells out just a bit of his intellectual pedigree prior to God’s converting him. Paul writes that he “was advancing in Judaism beyond many of [his] own age among [his] people, so extremely zealous was [he] . . .” (Gal 1:14). 

In 2 Corinthians, Paul revealed a little more of his background:

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? (2 Cor 11:22-29)

Paul’s point was not to exalt himself but to make much of Jesus. “[F]or the sake of his (Jesus’) name,” is the way Paul phrased it in Romans 1:5. Paul was not impressed with Paul. He knew his own sin. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom 7:24). 

Paul was by all historical accounts an intellectual giant among men. He wrote and spoke multiple languages; he studied philosophy, religion, and poetry; he knew literature and the history of thought, etc. But after God saved him, his boast was only  in the gospel of Christ: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14). 

The Issue: Why did Paul have to defend his apostleship so vehemently? Because it defies human explanation how such a zealous persecutor of Christians was transformed from a murderous Pharisee into an evangelist, pastor, church planter, and unparalleled defender of Christianity, that’s why. 

He writes in Galatians, “And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me” (Gal 1:22-24). 

From persecutor to pastor; from murderer to missionary; from hater to herald . . . that’s the apostle Paul. 

Encouragement/takeaway: I have no idea who reads these, but I bet that if you’re a believer, you have at least one person on your heart and mind often, a person you long to reach with the saving gospel. Don’t give up. Press on in the faith and labor to be faithful. Why? Because if we were wagering, I bet we would not have put our money on Paul ever being converted. We would likely have said, “Not that guy. He’s beyond saving.” 

But God, dear ones. But God. Don’t underestimate God. He takes our rags and turns them into riches, out of his sheer grace. Our duty is just to be faithful with the message.