(July 18, 2015 at 4:10 am)lkingpinl Wrote: Cato,
The interesting thing about Paul was that he was a known Christian persecutor (when he was Saul) and the churches who he wrote to and the people he preached knew this of him and could quite obviously see a very drastic change in his viewpoint. It was easier for them to believe what he was saying because there was a drastic change in his character.
Think of it in terms of an alcoholic. Someone you know, all of their life was an alcoholic. Suddenly one day they come to you and their life is in order and he is now the staunchest critic of alcohol and drunkenness. Diametrically opposed to what you know of him. You see a drastic change. So you ask what has changed. Are you not more likely to listen to what he has to say because you can see for yourself a drastic change? You are interested to know what has had this dramatic effect that worked for him.
Do you have any evidence of Saul the prosecutor outside the bible?
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
