Murphy-O’Connor-Tarsus

Posted on August 26, 2017 by jamesbradfordpate

theoutwardquest

Murphy-O’Connor has a detailed chapter in Paul, a Critical Life about Paul’s youth in Tarsus.

It is true that it is Acts, not the letters, that speak of Tarsus.  However, Paul is clearly a diaspora Jew and his statement in Galatians 1:21 that he began is ministry in the “regions of Syria and Cilicia” is most easily explained if he traveled to Cilicia, of which Tarsus was capital, because he was already familiar with it.  Syria was an important place where churches may have already existed.  But his journey to Cilicia must have another motive.  So  we should believe Luke in this case.

The chapter attempts to answer a number of questions about Paul.

What do we know about Paul’s family?  Philippians 3:5 is where Paul gives us the most information:

I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee (NET…

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About jamesbradfordpate

My name is James Pate. This blog is about my journey. I read books. I watch movies and TV shows. I go to church. I try to find meaning. And, when I can’t do that, I just talk about stuff that I find interesting. I have degrees in fields of religious studies. I have an M.Phil. in the History of Biblical Interpretation from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. I also have an M.A. in Hebrew Bible from Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. from DePauw University.
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