What does Arabia mean to Apostle Paul?
Hi amigos!
I am studying the events surrounding the conversion of Paul, specifically about his retirement to Arabia. I am consulting The Dictionary of Pauls and His Letters, but I wonder if there are other resources that speak more in detail about these episode.
Why retirement to Arabia? Why Arabia? What was Arabia in the life of Paul, who in the most decisive moments of his life he retired 3 yrs to that region? When he says in Galatians that after his conversion, "I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood (Ga 1:16).", Is referring to his stay in Arabia?
I heard someone say that during this period, obviously consulted with who had been his teacher (Gamaliel), as good talmid. But I have not found evidence on this.
Suggestions, comments, please.
Gracias por sus aportes!
Comments
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What Paul did in Arabia seems speculative at best, since we have so little to go by in Scripture.
However I did find this possible theory in Robert L. Reymond, Jesus, Divine Messiah: The New and Old Testament Witness (Fearn, UK: Christian Focus Publications, 2003), p. 422.
Apostolic Training and Authorization?
Did he obtain the gospel he was preaching after his conversion, if not at the feet of Gamaliel, at the feet of the Apostles? Listen to Paul again:
… when God … was pleased to reveal his Son to me …, I did not consult any man nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus (Gal 1:15–17).
In this connection, there is separate evidence, if Paul intended by this reference to Arabia to refer to the Nabataean Kingdom, that Paul did not simply devote himself to a life of quiet contemplation in Arabia after his conversion but in fact immediately began to missionarize the populace there. Paul informs us in 2 Corinthians 11:32–33 that “the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me,” but one does not stir up the kind of trouble he alludes to in the Corinthians passage merely by meditation. This would suggest that long before he made any contact with the Jerusalem Apostles Paul had already engaged himself in Gentile evangelism.
I also found this in the old edition of the ISBE, in the article on "Paul, The Apostle":
WORK.
1. ADJUSTMENT:
There was evidently a tumult in Paul’s soul. He had undergone a revolution, both intellectual and spiritual. Before he proceeded farther it was wise to think through the most important implications of the new standpoint. Luke gives no account of this personal phase of Paul’s career, but he allows room for it between Acts 9:21 and 22. It is Paul who tells of his retirement to Arabia (Galatians 1:17 f) to prove his independence of the apostles in Jerusalem. He did not go to them for instruction or for ecclesiastical authority. He did not adopt the merely traditional view of Jesus as the Messiah. He knew, of course, the Christian contention well enough, for he had answered it often enough. But now his old arguments were gone and he must work his way round to the other side, and be able to put his new gospel with clearness and force. He was done with calling Jesus anathema (1 Corinthians 12:3). Henceforth to him Jesus is Lord. We know nothing of Paul’s life in Arabia nor in what part of Arabia he was. He may have gone to Mt. Sinai and thought out grace in the atmosphere of law, but that is not necessary. But it is clear that Paul grew in apprehension of the things of Christ during these years, as indeed he grew to the very end. But he did not grow away from the first clear vision of Christ. He claimed that God had revealed His Son in him that he might preach to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). He claimed that from the first and to the very last. The undoubted development in Paul’s Epistles (see Matheson, Spiritual Development of Paul, and Sabatier, The Apostle Paul) is, however, not a changing view of Christ that nullifies Paul’s “original Christian inheritance” (Kohler, Zum Verstandnis des Apostels Paulus, 13). Pfieiderer (Influence of the Apostle Paul on the Development of Christianity, 3rd edition, 1897, 217) rejects Colossians because of the advanced Christology here found. But the Christology of Colossians is implicit in Paul’s first sermon at Damascus. “It is impossible to escape the conclusion that the significance and value of the Cross became clear to him almost simultaneously with the certainty of the resurrection and of the Messiahship of Jesus” (Garvie, Studies, etc., 57). The narrow Jew has surrendered to Christ who died for the sins of the world. The universal gospel has taken hold of his mind and heart, and it will work out its logical consequences in Paul. The time in Arabia is not wasted. When he reappears in Damascus (Acts 9:22) he has “developed faith” (Findlay, HDB) and energy that bear instant fruit. He is now the slave of Christ. For him henceforth to live is Christ. He is crucified with Christ. He is in Christ. The union of Paul with Christ is the real key to his life. It is far more than a doctrine about Christ. It is real fellowship with Christ (Deissmann, Paul, 123). Thus it is that the man who probably never saw Christ in the flesh understands him best (Wernle, Beginnings of Christianity, I, 159).
James Orr, M.A., D.D., The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: 1915 Edition, ed. James Orr (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1999).
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Obviously if you consult your commentaries, you'll get a nice selection of theories.
I personally think the best answer is to ask yourself, if you lived in Galatia at the time (and 'southern' would give you a different answer from 'northern'), what would you have thought? Arabia as a Roman province ... Arabia as equivelent to the Essenes .. a lot of possibles.
Obviously the answer was sufficiently clear that Paul didn't see any reason to expand on it ... and so, complicated answers don't appear appropriate.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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ROGER JIMENEZ said:
Why retirement to Arabia? Why Arabia? What was Arabia in the life of Paul, who in the most decisive moments of his life he retired 3 yrs to that region? When he says in Galatians that after his conversion, "I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood (Ga 1:16).", Is referring to his stay in Arabia?
Why Arabia? Arabia is the desert. It was in the desert that Moses met God. It was in the desert (Sinai) that Elijah retired to receive his final commission and then be decommissioned as prophet. It was into the desert that Jesus was driven following his baptism. The desert is a place of contemplation and communion with God.
Where? From Damascus it is little more than stepping out the door to be in Arabia. Look at Arabia in "Biblical Places."
george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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George Somsel said:
Why Arabia? Arabia is the desert. It was in the desert that Moses met God. It was in the desert (Sinai) that Elijah retired to receive his final commission and then be decommissioned as prophet. It was into the desert that Jesus was driven following his baptism. The desert is a place of contemplation and communion with God.
Where? From Damascus it is little more than stepping out the door to be in Arabia. Look at Arabia in "Biblical Places."
Very sensible! Seems like the most obvious explanation is often the best. Search for "Occam's Razor."
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George Somsel said:
Why Arabia? Arabia is the desert. It was in the desert that Moses met God. It was in the desert (Sinai) that Elijah retired to receive his final commission and then be decommissioned as prophet. It was into the desert that Jesus was driven following his baptism. The desert is a place of contemplation and communion with God.
Jesus! Are you pentecostal! Glory! This was my secret! [:D]
Thanks to all. Yes, I consulted Biblical Places and G maps, and discovered a desert. And read in AYBD others stuff arround this. Where Abrham sent his others sons, etc. But coming, actually, from a pentecostal background, wanted to have others views.
So, preaching under the Power of The Lord, we have that every man has to have his own desert? [B] (Iced tea)
Praise Him brother!
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ROGER JIMENEZ said:
(Iced tea)If you say so.
ROGER JIMENEZ said:So, preaching under the Power of The Lord, we have that every man has to have his own desert?
It must be understood that "desert" today is not quite the same as in the gospels and the rest of the NT. It does not necessarily indicate a dry, sandy and barren region. In the gospels Jesus is said to have preached in the desert, but it doesn't seem to have been that dry and barren. Rather, it signifies a place devoid of humans. In the desert one can be alone with one's own thoughts and God without being concerned with the daily events of life every moment. [Non-Pentecostal—Episcopalian [:)]]
george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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Rosie Perera said:
This would suggest that long before he made any contact with the Jerusalem Apostles Paul had already engaged himself in Gentile evangelism.
Thanks Rosie, always so kind.
Arabia as the Paul's first missionary destination? Hmmm.
Rosie Perera said:The undoubted development in Paul’s Epistles (see Matheson, Spiritual Development of Paul, and Sabatier, The Apostle Paul) is, however, not a changing view of Christ that nullifies Paul’s “original Christian inheritance”
Rosie Perera said:(see Matheson, Spiritual Development of Paul, and Sabatier, The Apostle Paul)
Sounds interesting, is in Logos? Didn't find it.
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George Somsel said:
In the gospels Jesus is said to have preached in the desert, but it doesn't seem to have been that dry and barren. Rather, it signifies a place devoid of humans.
Who was he preaching to, then? The birds? Maybe he was the inspiration for Saint Francis of Assisi. [:)]
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ROGER JIMENEZ said:Rosie Perera said:
(see Matheson, Spiritual Development of Paul, and Sabatier, The Apostle Paul)
Sounds interesting, is in Logos? Didn't find it.
No, but you can get it as a print-on-demand book via Amazon.com for about $20: http://amzn.com/1290126151
Another classic work that looks interesting and is available free online is A.T. Robertson's Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Career. He covers the sojourn in Arabia on pp. 76-78.
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Rosie Perera said:
Who was he preaching to, then? The birds? Maybe he was the inspiration for Saint Francis of Assisi.
Remember that the people followed him.
george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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George Somsel said:ROGER JIMENEZ said:
Why retirement to Arabia? Why Arabia? What was Arabia in the life of Paul, who in the most decisive moments of his life he retired 3 yrs to that region? When he says in Galatians that after his conversion, "I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood (Ga 1:16).", Is referring to his stay in Arabia?
Why Arabia? Arabia is the desert. It was in the desert that Moses met God. It was in the desert (Sinai) that Elijah retired to receive his final commission and then be decommissioned as prophet. It was into the desert that Jesus was driven following his baptism. The desert is a place of contemplation and communion with God.
Where? From Damascus it is little more than stepping out the door to be in Arabia. Look at Arabia in "Biblical Places."
I will agree with George here. But I think that the key to the 3yrs spent in Arabia[desert] are found in v 11-12. The Damascus road intervention was a Revelation to Saul who thus Became Paul. Then the time spent with the Blindness, then the transformation from Saul to Paul. He already had the knowledge, just not in the right perspective or 'spiritual' guidance.
This would be adequatly applied, looking at those that were also sequestered to a 'desolate place'.
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In the referral to Jesus in the desert 'preaching' - they followed him....agreed.
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Today's desert could be a multitude of occurrences and in different applications. We, as individuals, will receive what we need just when we need it..........
But getting back to Paul:
v11-12, leading into v13-17, explain his above average ability, God given and God directed, by which Paul accredits properly. And....according to Paul's own witness there were only two that seen or discoursed with him after this - Peter and James v18-19. Then Paul departs - interestingly enough to note that there is no deacon/elder/pastoral recognition of the laying on of hands to be sent forth, or any tribunal inquisition to attest to his knowledgable ability to speak Scripturally. BUT- later they did send for Paul and found him - where?
Hope this helps.
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Room4more said:
I will agree with George here. But I think that the key to the 3yrs spent in Arabia[desert] are found in v 11-12. The Damascus road intervention was a Revelation to Saul who thus Became Paul. Then the time spent with the Blindness, then the transformation from Saul to Paul. He already had the knowledge, just not in the right perspective or 'spiritual' guidance.
Yes, I would say that Paul went into a desolate place to be alone and "get his head screwed on straight."
george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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OOPS! George, I made a slight edit, you will see it in the re-read. But thanks...
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George Somsel said:
Remember that the people followed him.
That's right. Remember a preach from TD Jakes, with his powerful voice syaing: "Who follow you 'till the desert, 'till the hungry? People even forget to eat just to follow Him, to ear his words!!! Aleluya!!!" Do you wanna a revolution!!!!!????? Come'on, preach it!!!!
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Ok, now let's add some flavor to the discourse:
What is the significance, if any, with just the meet and greet with Peter[Paul calls him "Cephas"] and James, why not all of them? For this you would have to study up on all of Peter and all of James.
Later Paul states that he went face-to-face with Peter over something that Peter did/?
Also, Jesus told Peter that upon him He would build His Church, but Paul is the notable one who, Scripturally, started the churches....where is Peter's...../?
Thanks.
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Room4more said:
Ok, now let's add some flavor to the discourse:
What is the significance, if any, with just the meet and greet with Peter[Paul calls him "Cephas"] and James, why not all of them? For this you would have to study up on all of Peter and all of James.
Later Paul states that he went face-to-face with Peter over something that Peter did/?
Also, Jesus told Peter that upon him He would build His Church, but Paul is the notable one who, Scripturally, started the churches....where is Peter's...../?
Thanks.
If you take Acts as being in any sense historically accurate (which it cannot be since James is killed in cap 6 while he is instrumental in the decree of the Council of Jerusalem), it must not be the same event as the Council of Jerusalem.
There is also some inconsistency with regard to Peter's attitude toward the Galatians when representatives from Jerusalem were present compared with the report that it was Peter who determined that the gentiles were to be included (Cornelius).
At the risk of raising the hackles of my Catholic friends, Jesus DID NOT say he would build his church on Peter. He renamed Cephas Peter (Πέτρος) and stated that on this rock (ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ) he would build his church. Peter was not the πέτρα. The πέτρα was his confession that Jesus was the Messiah.
george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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AMEN ! Ephesians 5:11George Somsel said:At the risk of raising the hackles of my Catholic friends, Jesus DID NOT say he would build his church on Peter.
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We should probably add Gal 4:25 to the discussion.
"Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. "
I know Paul is building an analogy here, but he still is day that Mount Sinai is in Arabia.
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NT Wright has a typically NT Wright slant on this issue. It's quite readable. Check it out if you have JBL on Logos in the Journal of Biblical Literature Vol 115 No.4 or alternatively if you don't have JBL there's a link to a PDF of the article courtesy of the NT Wright page: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Paul_Arabia_Elijah.pdf
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Frank Fenby said:
We should probably add Gal 4:25 to the discussion.
Thanks Mr Frank for leading us back to the way.[;)]
So we have, first, a geographic emphasis, and a spiritual one. Thanks for your help!
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Sam Henderson said:
NT Wright has a typically NT Wright slant on this issue. It's quite readable. Check it out if you have JBL on Logos in the Journal of Biblical Literature Vol 115 No.4 or alternatively if you don't have JBL there's a link to a PDF of the article courtesy of the NT Wright page: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Paul_Arabia_Elijah.pdf
Very very interasting, Sir. "We don’t know, say most of the commentators, why Paul went to Arabia or what he
did there. We aren’t even sure which bit of “Arabia” he visited." Very suggestive to begin. [:P]0 -
I would have to agree with you as so many times people try and expound when it is totally unnecessary. If God wanted us to know the exact details of certain things, He'd make them clear. I guess that is why we have over 30,000 denominations throughout the faith! Man needing to be right! :-/ As 1 Corinthians clearly states in Chapter 14:33 "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." Amen? :-)
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No amen ... the divine writings beg for discussion. Maybe that was God's goal? Anything obviously clear gets parked.
And welcome to the forums! As the word suggests, your thoughts are of value.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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I must have been on vacation in Monte Carlo when this thread first hit the forum... [H] ...this is the first time I've seen it.
George Somsel said:If you take Acts as being in any sense historically accurate (which it cannot be since James is killed in cap 6 while he is instrumental in the decree of the Council of Jerusalem), it must not be the same event as the Council of Jerusalem.
So, anyway...no, George. You are conflating two completely different Jacobs (the name "James" isn't found in the Bible...it is inserted to appease and appeal to a king who's been too long dead to care much anymore). The Jacob who was killed by the Herod of that day (Agrippa) was the disciple, the older son of Zebedee and brother of John, the other "son of thunder" and the author of the gospel, epistles, and apocalypse. The crime is mentioned in Acts 12:1, 2 (not chapter 6). The Jacob who made a pronouncement regarding what Gentiles had to do to "clean up" in order to come into the synagogue for fellowship on Sabbath with Jews where they would learn about the other expectations YHWH places upon those who enter into covenant with Him was Yeishuu`a's younger brother, referred to historically as "James the Just".
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george
gfsomselיְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן
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Dean M Knudsen said:
If God wanted us to know the exact details of certain things, He'd make them clear. I guess that is why we have over 30,000 denominations throughout the faith! Man needing to be right! :-/ As 1 Corinthians clearly states in Chapter 14:33 "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." Amen? :-)
Actually, that isn't what 1 Cor. 14:33 says...check your Bible again.
In fact, YHWH is a God of confusion.
ASUS ProArt x570s Creator, AMD R9 5950x, HyperX 64gb 3600 RAM, ASUS Strix RTX 2080 ti
"The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not." Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.
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ASUS ProArt x570s Creator, AMD R9 5950x, HyperX 64gb 3600 RAM, ASUS Strix RTX 2080 ti
"The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not." Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.
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