Apostle Paul's Christian and Jewish Identity
It is quite common for people to think of Paul as a Christian. After all, so much of what is called Christian is based on his teachings, which are a part of the Scriptures all Christians recognize. But surprisingly, though he had many opportunities to do so, Paul did not actually refer to himself as a Christian. Thus, calling Paul a Christian could be a bit of a misnomer. Defending himself before procurator Felix Paul, he said the following:
“I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Torah and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14 NASB).
“The Way” was the name of the faith movement that the Jewish Apostle mentioned. Standing before another council, Paul identified himself as “a Pharisee, son of Pharisees.” Surprisingly, in this passage, he does not say he was a Christian who used to be a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Paul implied that he was still very much a Pharisee, someone who maintained unique Pharisaic beliefs, which is why he was actually being persecuted and brought before the council.
Defending himself before King Agrippa, Paul insisted that he always “lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect” (Acts 26:5). Once again, Paul says he was a Pharisee when he could identify himself as a Christian. Surprised? Was he dishonest or duplicitous? Was he trying to mislead the king? Did he lie to the council in Acts 23:6, too? The problem for many modern Bible readers is that the apostle spoke these words long after his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul was not a deceiver; he was never shy or ashamed of Christ, yet he did not call himself a Christian on the pages of the New Testament.
Pinchas Shir
