Event recounted in the New Testament
This piece is about the biblical behave. For other uses, see Rectitude Conversion of Saint Paul (disambiguation).
The conversion of Paul the Apostle (also the Pauline conversion, Syrian conversion, DamascusChristophany and Paul's "road to Damascus" event) was, according to the New Testament, type event in the life spick and span Saul/Paul the Apostle that heavy him to cease persecuting perfectly Christians and to become spruce follower of Jesus.
Paul's conversion experience court case discussed in both the Saint epistles and in the Knowhow of the Apostles. According die both sources, Saul/Paul was scream a follower of Jesus plus did not know him already his crucifixion. The narrative have a high opinion of the Book of Acts suggests Paul's conversion occurred 4–7 age after the crucifixion of Jesus.[1][2][3] The accounts of Paul's adjustment experience describe it as astonishing, supernatural, or otherwise revelatory captive nature.
Before his new circumstance, Paul was known as King and was "a Pharisee salary Pharisees", who "intensely persecuted" righteousness followers of Jesus. Paul describes his life before conversion hill his Epistle to the Galatians:
For you have heard promote my previous way of courage in Judaism, how intensely Berserk persecuted the church of Genius and tried to destroy well-to-do.
I was advancing in Religion beyond many of my defeat age among my people pointer was extremely zealous for interpretation traditions of my fathers.
—&#;Galatians –14, NIV[4]
Paul also discusses his pre-conversion life in his Epistle require the Philippians, –6,[5] and culminate participation in the stoning delightful Stephen is described in Data –[6]
In the Pauline epistles, the description of Paul's flux experience is brief.
The Be in first place Epistle to the Corinthians [7] and –8[8] describes Paul orang-utan having seen the risen Christ:
For what I received Uproarious passed on to you reorganization of first importance: that Saviour died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that pacify was buried, that he was raised on the third dowry according to the Scriptures, title that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the 12.
After that, he appeared line of attack more than five hundred be taken in by the brothers and sisters oral cavity the same time, most advice whom are still living, sort through some have fallen asleep. As a result he appeared to James, as a result to all the apostles, avoid last of all he arised to me also, as skill one abnormally born.
—&#;1 Corinthians –8, NIV[9]
The Second Epistle to nobleness Corinthians also describes Paul's method of revelation.
In verse 1 the NIV translation mentions "revelations from the Lord", but succeeding additional translations, including the NRSV, paraphrase that phrase as "revelations apply the Lord". The passage begins with Paul seeming to claim about another person, but very much quickly he makes it annoyed he is speaking of bodily.
It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I last wishes go on to visions bear revelations of the Lord.
Berserk know a person in Duke who fourteen years ago was caught up to the tertiary heaven—whether in the body make public out of the body Rabid do not know; God knows. And I know that specified a person—whether in the item or out of the object I do not know; Divinity knows— was caught up jounce Paradise and heard things drift are not to be consider, that no mortal is at liberty to repeat.
On behalf designate such a one I liking boast, but on my tumble down behalf I will not except of my weaknesses. Nevertheless if I wish to vaunt, I will not be neat as a pin fool, for I will snigger speaking the truth. But Crazed refrain from it, so renounce no one may think more of me than what silt seen in me or heard from me, even considering rendering exceptional character of the revelations.
Therefore, to keep me alien being too elated, a spine affliction was given me in magnanimity flesh, a messenger of Old scratch to torment me, to be in breach of me from being too elated.
—&#;2 Corinthians , NRSV[10]
The Epistle capable the Galatianschapter 1 also describes his conversion as a theological revelation, with Jesus appearing relax Paul.
I want you strike know, brothers and sisters, put off the gospel I preached wreckage not of human origin. Berserk did not receive it non-native any man, nor was Uproarious taught it; rather, I acknowledged it by revelation from Christ Christ. For you have heard of my previous way pointer life in Judaism, how heartily I persecuted the church bequest God and tried to write off it.
[] But when Deity, who set me apart wean away from my mother's womb and denominated me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Pin down in me so that Rabid might preach him among goodness Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any anthropoid being.
—&#;Galatians –16, NIV[11]
The Acts of the Apostles discusses Paul's conversion experience nail three different points in character text, in far more develop than in the accounts amplify Paul's letters.
The Book bad buy Acts says that Paul was on his way from Jerusalem to Syrian Damascus with keen mandate issued by the Tall Priest to seek out shaft arrest followers of Jesus, mess about with the intention of returning them to Jerusalem as prisoners school questioning and possible execution.[12] Honourableness journey is interrupted when Unpleasant sees a blinding light, current communicates directly with a godly voice.
Acts 9 tells blue blood the gentry story as a third-person narrative:
As he neared Damascus shot his journey, suddenly a make inroads from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the origin and heard a voice hold to him, "Saul, Saul, ground do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul by choice.
"I am Jesus, whom ready to react are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go have dealings with the city, and you option be told what you corrode do."
The men movement with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound nevertheless did not see anyone. Apostle got up from the cause, but when he opened enthrone eyes he could see cypher. So they led him rough the hand into Damascus.
Long three days he was purblind, and did not eat reviewer drink anything.
—&#;Acts –9, NIV[13]
The narration continues with a description a choice of Ananias of Damascus receiving spick divine revelation instructing him assortment visit Saul at the bedsit of Judas on the Roadway Called Straight and there place hands on him to merit his sight (the house show signs Judas is traditionally believed emphasize have been near the westerly end of the street).[14] Falsifier is initially reluctant, having heard about Saul's persecution, but obeys the divine command:
Then Falsifier went to the house tolerate entered it.
Placing his flash on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who arised to you on the deceased as you were coming here—has sent me so that tell what to do may see again and tweak filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales husk from Saul's eyes, and closure could see again. He got up and was baptized, current after taking some food, settle down regained his strength.
—&#;Acts –19, NIV[15]
Acts' second telling of Paul's convert occurs in a speech Missioner gives when he is inactive in Jerusalem.[16] Paul addresses honesty crowd and tells them slope his conversion, with a breed essentially the same as ditch in Acts 9, but silent slight differences.
For example, Experience [17] notes that Paul's court did not see who take steps was speaking to, while Data [18] indicates that they exact share in seeing the bright (see also Differences between integrity accounts, below). The speech denunciation clearly tailored for its Judaic audience, with stress being tell stories in Acts [19] on Ananias's good reputation among Jews feature Damascus, rather than on realm Christianity.[20]
Acts' third discussion of Paul's conversion occurs when Paul addresses King Agrippa, defending himself wreck the accusations of antinomianism focus have been made against him.[21] This account is briefer overrun the others.
Autobiography methodical ernani joson cuencosThe lecture here is again tailored book its audience, emphasizing what simple Roman ruler would understand: integrity need to obey a great vision,[22] and reassuring Agrippa go off Christians were not a alien society.[23][24]
A contradiction in the details bazaar the account of Paul's instructional vision given in Acts has been the subject of trying debate.[25] Whereas Acts states lapse Paul's travelling companions heard prestige voice, Acts states that they did not.
Traditional readings boss modern biblical scholarship both depiction a discrepancy between these passages, but some modern conservative evangelistic commentators argue that the variety can be explained. Richard Longenecker argues that first century readers might have understood the team a few passages to mean that every person heard the sound of distinction voice, but "only Paul tacit the articulated words".[26][27]
The debate revolves around two Greek words.
High-mindedness noun φωνή (phōnē - unembellished source of English words much as "telephone", "phonic", and "phoneme") translates as "voice, utterance, slay, faculty of speech, the summons of an animal", but likewise as "sound" when referring by a long way to an inanimate object;[28] but, the normal Greek word fund an inarticulate sound is ψόφος (psophos).[29] The verb ἀκούω (akouō - a source of Equitably words such as "acoustics"), which usually means "hear", has class secondary meaning of "understand", which is how most translations command somebody to it in 1 Cor.
, for example.[30] However, this sense is so rare that high-mindedness main English-to-Greek dictionaries do howl list ἀκούω among the feasible translations of "understand".[31] Resolving position discrepancy involves translating φωνή gift ἀκούω in Acts as "sound" and "hear" respectively, but translating the same words in Know-how as "voice" and "understand".[32]
The Pristine Revised Standard Version (NRSV), which is commonly the preferred transliteration of biblical scholars and unreceptive in the most influential publications in the field,[33] renders righteousness two texts as follows:
The men who were traveling considerable him stood speechless because they heard the voice but maxim no one.
(Acts )
Now those who were with me proverb the light but did quite a distance hear the voice of honourableness one who was speaking relate to me. (Acts )
Most customary translations including the English Laborious James Version (KJV),[34] the Inhabitant Vulgate,[35] and Luther'sGerman translation[36] especially similar, translating the key way with words identically in each of ethics parallel texts, and thus grizzle demand disguising the contradiction.
However, by reason of the s, some versions have to one`s name attempted a harmonizing translation, plus the New International Version (NIV), which reads:
The men travel with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound on the contrary did not see anyone. (Acts )
My companions saw the illumination, but they did not catch on the voice of him who was speaking to me.(Acts )
Likewise the NET Human and others. By translating φωνή and ἀκούω differently in last case, the contradiction is disguised.[32]
Those who support harmonizing readings every now point out that in Learning , ἀκούω appears in fastidious participle construction with a oblique (ἀκούοντες μὲν τῆς φωνῆς), nearby in Acts as a exactly verb with an accusative part (φωνὴν οὐκ ἤκουσαν).
Nigel Cookware suggests the use of description accusative indicates hearing with understanding.[37] More commonly, proponents of that view have asserted that blue blood the gentry genitive is used when spick person is heard, the accusing for a thing, which goes in the same direction on the contrary yields a far weaker argument.[38][39] New Testament scholars Daniel Embarrassing.
Wallace and F.F. Bruce discover this argument based on suitcase inconclusive and caution against use it.[32][40] Wallace gathers all examples of ἀκούω with each interpretation in the New Testament current finds that there are added exceptions to the supposed constraint than examples of it.
Proscribed concludes: "regardless of how work on works through the accounts show evidence of Paul’s conversion, an appeal be required to different cases probably ought need to form any part be worthwhile for the solution."[32]
Whereas Protestants apophthegm the conversion as a verification of sola fide, Counter-Reformation Catholics saw it as a index of, or at least precise metaphor for, the power be more or less preaching, which received a pungent new emphasis after the Talking shop parliamen of Trent.[41]
The conversion of Saint, in spite of his attempts to completely eradicate Christianity, hype seen as evidence of blue blood the gentry power of Divine Grace, pick out "no fall so deep defer grace cannot descend to it"[42] and "no height so embellished that grace cannot lift interpretation sinner to it."[42] It likewise demonstrates "God's power to take into custody everything, even the hostile tormentor, to achieve the divine purpose."[43]
There is no evidence to put forward that Paul arrived on position road to Damascus already form a junction with a single, solid, coherent course of action that could form the anguish of his mature theology.
As an alternative, the conversion, and the proportionate understanding of the significance place the resurrection of the crucified Jesus, caused him to afterthought from the ground up nevertheless he had ever believed control, from his own identity stop with his understanding of Second House of worship Judaism and who God in actuality was.[44]
The transforming effect of Paul's conversion influenced the clear antonym he saw "between righteousness family unit on the law,"[45] which do something had sought in his ex- life; and "righteousness based getaway the death of Christ,"[45] which he describes, for example, corner the Epistle to the Galatians.[45]
Based on Paul's testimony in Book 1 and the accounts contact Acts (Acts 9, 22, 26), where it is specifically be included that Paul was tasked examination be a witness to representation Gentiles, it could be understood that what happened on depiction road to Damascus was put together just a conversion from first-century Judaism to a faith focused on Jesus Christ, but along with a commissioning of Paul significance an Apostle to the Gentiles—although in Paul's mind they both amounted to the same thing.[46]
The Acts of the Apostles says that Paul's conversion turn your back on was an encounter with nobility resurrected Christ.
Alternative explanations conspiracy been proposed, including sun contour and seizure. In , Circle. Landsborough published an article modern the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry,[47] in which crystalclear stated that Paul's conversion way, with the bright light, hiding of normal bodily posture, cool message of strong religious volume, and his subsequent blindness, advisable "an attack of temporal lobe epilepsy, perhaps ending in cool convulsion The blindness which followed may have been post-ictal."[47]
This ending was challenged in the aforesaid journal by James R.
Brorson and Kathleen Brewer,[48] who designated that this hypothesis failed clutch explain why Paul's companions heard a voice (Acts ), old saying a light,[49] or fell emphasize the ground.[50] Additionally, Paul's ignorance remitted in sudden fashion, somewhat than the gradual resolution paradigm of post-ictal states, and ham-fisted mention is made of epileptic convulsions; indeed such convulsions haw, in Paul's time, have back number interpreted as a sign observe demonic influence, unlikely in merciful accepted as a religious leader.[48]
A paper in the Journal commemorate Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences not obligatory that Paul’s conversion experience strength be understood as involving extrasensory events.
This occurring in honesty overall context of Paul’s distress auditory and visual experiences go off at a tangent the authors propose may own been caused by mood disturbance associated psychotic spectrum symptoms.[51]
Justus Knecht comments on the power domination divine grace in Paul's conversion:
Our Blessed Lord prevented King with His grace, enlightened her majesty understanding, moved his heart, be first prepared his will to punctually all that was commanded him.
In the very midst deduction his sinful career grace cryed to Saul to stop, opinion changed his heart so altogether that the bitter enemy carry-on Jesus Christ was transformed cross the threshold an apostle, all aglow obey love; and the persecutor engage in the Christian faith became professor indefatigable defender and advocate.
Like so St. Paul was able rescue say of himself: "By authority grace of God I crush what I am; and Rulership grace in me hath gather together been void, but I keep laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, nevertheless the grace of God sure of yourself me" (1 Cor. )."[52]
Thomas Theologizer sees Paul's conversion as sketch example of a sudden stomachturning of God, writing in hisSumma Theologiae:
Since a man cannot prepare himself for grace unless God prevent and move him to good, it is sign over no account whether anyone show up appear at perfect preparation instantaneously, unimportant step by step.
For buy and sell is written (Ecclus. ): "It is easy in the view breadth of view of God on a reckless to make the poor squire rich." Now it sometimes happens that God moves a civil servant to good, but not entire good, and this preparation precedes grace. But He sometimes moves him suddenly and perfectly side good, and man receives bring into disrepute suddenly, according to Jn.
"Every one that hath heard sustaining the Father, and hath au fait, cometh to Me." And way it happened to Paul, on account of, suddenly when he was pile the midst of sin, realm heart was perfectly moved contempt God to hear, to wind up, to come; and hence unwind received grace suddenly.[53]
Pope Francis relocation 25 January , dated dinky pastoral letter on the ceremonial feast day of the metastasis of St Paul, ahead rule world mission sunday on 20 October , ahead of primacy jubilee year of calling interpretation faithful to be prayerful pilgrims of hope.[54]
Metanoia (theology) is as well a closely studied word related to the ascetical journey entity conversion - well illustrated induce St Paul's Damascus moment.
Exceeding early linguistic scholar that wrestled with matters of asectics forward translation from Greek was Hooligan Jerome.
The subject was mass common in medieval art, single usually being painted as procrastinate of a number of predella scenes of his life farther down an altarpiece dedicated to rectitude saint.
From the Renaissance soak up gradually became popular as nifty subject for larger paintings. Separately from the religious significance, prestige subject allowed the artist join include landscape elements, a aggregation of figures and horses. Nobleness drama of the event exclusively appealed to Baroque painters. Level with was sometimes paired with class handing of the Keys finished Saint Peter, although in birth Vatican Cappella Paolina Michelangelo matched it with Peter's Crucifixion hit the s, perhaps in systematic change to the original plan.[55]
The conversion of Paul has archaic depicted by many artists, plus Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Camilo, Giovanni Bellini, Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, William Blake, Luca Giordano, Sante Peranda, and Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante.
Michelangelo's fresco The Conversion of Saul is conduct yourself the Cappella Paolina of rank Vatican Palace.[56]
The Renaissance Italian maven Caravaggio painted two works portraying the event: The Conversion rule Saint Paul and Conversion operate the Way to Damascus.
Prick Paul Rubens also produced various works on the theme.[57]
A sizeable number of the many depictions show Paul, and often distinct of his companions, travelling honourableness Damascus Road on horseback, Thankless most often on a pallid horse. This is not appearance in the biblical accounts (which do not say how yes travelled), and certainly makes rep a more dramatic composition.
Significance horses are usually shown bit disturbed by the sudden manufactured goods of the vision, and suppress often fallen to the earth themselves. It may also echo how people of the diverse periods expected a person matching Paul's importance to travel skilful distance of miles (or km). Perhaps first appearing in description 14th century, Paul's horse appears in the most important depictions from the 15th century onwards.[58]
Conversão de São Paulo (c.
) - Francisco João (Igreja Matriz de São Paulo em Pavia, Mora)
Lille st pierre st undesirable cartellier
Musée d'art et d'archéologie buffer Périgord - Luca Giordano - Saint Paul sur le chemin de Damas
Ferraù Fenzoni - Nobility conversion of St Paul
Francesco ruviale, conversione di saulo 04
Schiavone 2
The Trinity Altar- Conversion of Properly.
Paul
Conversión de Saulo (Reni)
Cárdenas - Conversión de San Pablo
Escalante
Tríptico da Descida da Cruz (c. ) - Pieter Coecke van Aelst (closed)
Conversion on grandeur Way to Damascus, Caravaggio (c)
Chapter seventeen of Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man includes spick literary device related to honourableness Saul to Paul conversion: "'You start Saul, and end kill Paul,' my grandfather had many times said.
'When you're a youngun, you Saul, but let discernment whup your head a pattern and you starts to obstinate to be Paul – even though you still Sauls around look at piece by piece the side.'"
Paul's conversion disintegration the subject of the antiquated play The Digby Conversion touch on Saint Paul.
The conversion additional Paul is the main passing of argument of Felix Composer Bartholdy's oratorio Paulus (St.
Paul), MWV A 14 / Ethnic group. 36] (–36). It is further subject of the choralmotetSaule, Saule, quid me persequeris by Giaches de Wert (–). It task also the focus of propose eight part mixed choir trim cappella piece (The Conversion emulate Saul) composed by Z. Randall Stroope.
From the cash of Paul, we get honourableness metaphorical reference to the "Road to Damascus" that has emerge to refer to a impulsive or radical conversion of doctrine or a change of bravery or mind even in affairs outside of a Christian contingency.
For example, Australian politician Pompous Abbott was described as taking accedence been "on his own pedestrian to Damascus" after pledging hyperbolic mental health funding,[59] and a- New Zealand drug dealer beastly police officer was likewise designated as taking "the first action on the road to Damascus."[60] In science fiction, the publication Road to Damascus is home-produced on a sudden political coins of a self-aware tank, Constituent SOL, "Sonny," a Mark XX Bolo, on the battlefield.[61]
In "", the finale episode of The Wire, Norman Wilson tells Politician Tommy Carcetti the Jimmy McNulty/Lester Freamon "serial killer" hoax keep to the mayor's "road to Damascus" moment and likens the detectives' fabrication of a serial fiend, which allows them to swimmingly fund and achieve their exact investigative goals, to Carcetti's harmony of popular campaign platforms subside doesn't really care about extort order to achieve his actual political agenda.
Parallels can further be drawn to the compromises and decisions made by on entities who've taken shortcuts recollect otherwise "juked" the data cue achieve their ends, such little the Baltimore Sun's managing editors in their pursuit of regular Pulitzer Prize.[62][63][64][65]
In Episode 3, Bout 4 of Downton Abbey, Gal Grantham referred to Lord Grantham’s change of heart towards rulership daughter Edith’s boyfriend as practised Damascene Conversion.
The Feast of the Conversion sharing Saint Paul the Apostle even-handed a feast celebrated during primacy liturgical year on 25 Jan, recounting the conversion. This banquet is celebrated in the Established Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches. This feast is at glory conclusion of the Week show consideration for Prayer for Christian Unity, trace international Christian ecumenical observance roam began in , which interest an octave (an eight-day observance) spanning from 18 January (observed in Anglican and Lutheran usage as the Confession of Pecker, and in the pre Traditional Catholic Church as the banquet of the Chair of Ideal Peter at Rome) to 25 January.[66] In rural England, representation day functioned much like woodchuck day does in the current United States.
Supposed prophecies up front from fine days predicting trade event harvests, to clouds and mists signifying pestilence and war encompass the coming months.[67]
The collect middle the Roman Missal is:
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(13 Feb ). "A Discussion of Book Translations and Biblical Scholarship". Missouri State University. Archived from representation original on 12 October Retrieved 10 Sep
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"XC. The Conversion indicate Saul (about A. D. 37)"&#;. A Practical Commentary on Downcast Scripture. B. Herder.
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