Section 114
“Thoroughly trained in the law of our Fathers...zealous for God” (Acts 22:3)
Not only was Paul by birth a "Hebrew of Hebrews,” but as he never tired of emphasizing (see also Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:14; Phil. 3:5-6), he was by conviction a serious and zealous follower of Judaism, a member of its "strictest sect” (Acts 26:5), the Pharisees. Although scholars disagree considerably over many aspects of first-century Pharisaism, several things are relatively clear. They paid a great deal of attention to the "oral law,” "the traditions of the elders” (Mark 7:3 par.), a body of regulations designed to interpret and supplement the written, Mosaic law. They had a number of fundamental disagreements with the Sadducees, stemming from the Pharisees’ greater willingness to accept doctrines not clearly stated in the Pentateuch (e.g., the resurrection of the body; see Acts 23:6-8). They exercised great influence over the common people, who respected their zeal for their beliefs and their desire to sanctify all aspects of life. 11Paul was trained under Gamaliel I (see Acts 26:3), a Pharisee of the school of Hillel. Hillel and his followers were generally known for their liberality, an attitude revealed in Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin about the early church (Acts 5:34-39). Paul seems to have differed from his teacher at this point. By his own repeated admission, Paul’s zeal for Judaism led him to persecute the early Christian movement (e.g., Acts 22:4a; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:6). But Paul may not, after all, have differed much from his teacher. Gamaliel’s advice is given before the Stephen incident revealed the extent to which at least some of the Christians were willing to do without the law and the temple. It may very well have been this development that turned Paul, and perhaps other Pharisees, against the fledging Christian movement. 12