Anyone ever heard of this before?

Tarsus was the town where "Saul of Tarsus" grew up after being deported as a child, probably as a slave with his parents from Gishala (modern Jish) in the mountain of Upper Galilee.(See Jerome and his "Commentaria in Epistolum ad Philemon" and "Paul, his story", by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, page 2)

I took this quote from the Wikipedia article on "Tarsus". This is news to me. Has anyone else ever heard of this background info before, and does anyone have knowledge of this supposed document by Jerome? I was unsuccessful in finding anything about it online.

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Bruce Dunning

I've never heard of it before but here is a link to Jerome's book on google books http://books.google.ca/books?id=pbePRvOCPaAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Jerome+Murphy-O%27Connor%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9o5TUY2OJdG14APAkYGoCg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Christian Vazquez

I as well have never hear of that before. I'm interested in where Jerome or who else got that info. Let's reason from Scripture. In Acts, Paul, for his faith, constantly is being imprisoned. Later, he APPEALS to Felix and later even to Caesar. He could not have done these things, have a trial, unless he was a Roman citizen.

Milford Charles Murray

Peace to all! David and Bruce! Thanks for your sharing! All new to me, my friends! Getting late today, but would like to take a look at this info tomorrow! Bruce, thanks so much for the link. Quite interesting indeed, eh?

Bruce Dunning

This is interesting and I'm intrigued to know more. Here is an extended quote from the passage you mentioned.

“Paul was a Galilean by birth. His parents lived in Gischala (modern Jish), a village in the mountains of Upper Galilee that was famed for the quality of its olive oil. Paul would have been about two years old in 4 BC when the tranquil life of his parents was brutally disrupted.

King Herod the Great died that year, and the country exploded. His people had hated him, and when he passed beyond their reach, they turned against his sons. These, however, had the backing of Rom, and to impose peace, Varus, the governor of Syria, twice brought his legions into Palestine. On his second expedition he destroyed Seppohoris, the capital of Galilee.

It was standard Roman practice to make the vanquished pay for their defeat. This could have been done in various ways, but they opted for the simplest and most efficient one. They took prisoners, not just combatants, but also from the general population and sold them abroad as slaves. Paul’s parents were unlucky, and were taken by one of the Roman search parties that fanned out across Galilee when the uprising has been crushed.”

Tes

Tarsus was the town where "Saul of Tarsus" grew up after being deported as a child, probably as a slave with his parents from Gishala (modern Jish) in the mountain of Upper Galilee.(See Jerome and his "Commentaria in Epistolum ad Philemon" and "Paul, his story", by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, page 2)

I took this quote from the Wikipedia article on "Tarsus". This is news to me. Has anyone else ever heard of this background info before, and does anyone have knowledge of this supposed document by Jerome? I was unsuccessful in finding anything about it online.

Completely false. Paul mentioned that he was born in Tarsus on Acts 22:3.

Room4more

Tarsus was the capital city of the Roman province of Cilicia from 72 A.D. (see Ancient Empires - Rome). Before then it was a major linen and lumbering center during the time of the Greeks (see Ancient Empires - Greece and The Seleucids), and before that it was the seat of the provincial governor during the time of the Persians (Ancient Empires - Persia). Tarsus was known for its wealth and for its great schools which are said to have rivalled Athens and Alexandria. Located in what is today southern Turkey, it was situated adjacent to the Cydnus River, about 10 miles north of The Mediterranean Sea.

Tarsus Tarsus is mentioned by name only 5 times in The Bible, all in relation to the apostle Paul who was born there.

David Paul

I've never heard of it before but here is a link to Jerome's book on google books http://books.google.ca/books?id=pbePRvOCPaAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Jerome+Murphy-O%27Connor%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9o5TUY2OJdG14APAkYGoCg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Just to be clear...though it should be obvious...the link is to Jerome Murphy O'Connor's book, not to Jerome the church father's work.

I'm recommending Logos NOT add this book to its stable. You could learn more about Paul from a bowl of alphabet soup. [8-)]

Would still appreciate it if someone could dig up a link, etc. to Jerome's book.

Bruce Dunning

Edit: Perhaps spoke too soon...

Dean J

Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's book is a very important contribution to scholarship and is a great book. I would suggest that he be read before dismissing it.

DMB

OK. For the no-Murphy voters, try the Catholic Encyclopedia: