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63. St. Paul the Abortion

25th February 2000 by Arthur Eedle

“As one born out of due time”. (1 Cor.15.8) Paul referred to himself in this manner, and the Greek word translated “born out of due time” is EKTROMA, meaning an abortion. We’ll give a little more thought to this shortly, but first of all, a brief biography of this ancient apostle would not be out of place.       Saul was born in Tarsus, a distinguished city in Cilicia. (Acts 22:3, 21:39) He was a Hebrew of Hebrew parents, (an expression which savours of a little pride), of the stock of Israel and of the Tribe of Benjamin. (Phil.3:5) But he also came from a family that had acquired Roman citizenship, a much prized possession, especially in those days. Hence Saul was a Freeman of Rome by birth. (Acts 22:28) According to Jewish law, he was circumcised on the eighth day. (Phil.3:5)He grew up to work with his father in the business of tent making. (Acts 18:3)  Every Jewish boy was taught some handicraft. The Rabbis said, “Whoever does not teach his son a trade is as if he brought him up to be a robber.”  Tent making was a lucrative occupation, and some of the financial profits went to provide Saul with an education not available to many of his peers. He spent much time in Jerusalem “at the feet of Gamaliel”, the senior and most respected of the elders of the Jewish Sanhedrin. (Acts 22:3) It would seem likely that the family moved to Jerusalem during Saul’s educational years, because we read that his sister, and her young son, were resident there. (Acts 23:16) He also spoke of his “manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem.” (Acts 26:4)

So bright and keen was Saul in all his studies that he won the admiration of Gamaliel, and before long was to join the Nobility of the Pharisees. (Phil.3:5)  He said, “After the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” (Acts 26:5) Eventually to become a favoured member of the Sanhedrin, because he spoke about his ability to vote in the assembly. (Acts 26:10) This meteoric rise to fame must have gone to Saul’s head. He was too young to carry the responsibility with dignity and humility. In his own words, “I profited in the Jews’ religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” (Gal.1:14) And so by the age of about 30, he was to watch the strange saga in Israel of a man whom the crowds considered to be the Messiah, a man of about his own age, but with a very different character.

Sheer zeal for the traditions of the elders, and the varied tapestry of Israel’s history, led Saul to grow more and more antagonistic to the tales he heard about this carpenter’s son from Nazareth. Even the mention of the Galilean town was enough for him to spit with contempt. Eventually he sat amongst the full assembly of the Sanhedrin that dreadful night when the man was brought in for trial. The semi-circle of seats for the 71 members were arranged according to seniority, and because he was one of the youngest present, he would have had a back seat, but one can imagine him joining with others in the delights of mockery before the prisoner was led away to Pilate.

It was just a matter of days before a new irruption took place in Jerusalem. Whereas Saul believed the whole sordid affair of this pseudo-messiah had been laid to rest, here it was again in the persons of the man’s disciples, causing disturbances by their preaching in public places. Saul’s anger arose once more, and he made it his business to trounce it, destroy it once and for all. In his own words he became “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Tim.1:13) He “beyond measure persecuted the church of God and wasted it.” (Gal. 1:13) His persecution was so intense that he bound and delivered to prison both men and women, and caused some to be put to death. (Acts 22:4) “Many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the Chief Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them.” (Acts 26:10)

On one occasion a Greek disciple by the name of Stephen preached openly, and caused a riot which inflamed the mob to commit murder by stoning him to death, even though they had no licence for such actions under Roman Law. Saul was there. He took no active part, but was wholly in favour of the action. (Acts 8:1) The witnesses left their cloaks at Saul’s feet while casting the stones. (Acts 7:58)Eventually, “breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he went to the High Priest” and obtained written authority to apprehend disciples, both men and women, at Damascus. (Acts 9:1-2)

Suddenly something happened to arrest the progress of this zealous religious bigot. On his way to Damascus he was struck down by a bright light from heaven, and apprehended by the voice of the One whom he persecuted. Within a matter of minutes he changed from being the worst and most cruel persecutor of Christians to a trembling servant of Jesus. (Acts 9:3-6)  In his own words, he was not “disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19) but recognised God’s mercy to him, who did it all in “ignorance and unbelief.” (1 Tim.1:13)  The change that came over Saul was one of the most dramatic and rapid U-turn experiences of known history.

In later years he spoke of himself as “the chief of sinners”, (1 Tim.1:15) “the less-than-the-least of all saints” (Eph.3:8), and “the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle.” (1 Cor.15:9) At Antioch he changed his name from Saul to Paul. King Saul, who was “head and shoulders above the rest” (1 Sam.10:23) was probably the type-cast for Saul of Tarsus, a tall young man, who thought of himself as mentally, spiritually, and in zeal, “head and shoulders” above the rest, but now wanted to dispense with that image, and so chose to use a Roman name which meant “small.”

But in 1 Cor.15:8 he spoke of himself as “an abortion.” What did he have in mind? The expositors have had a field-day presenting opinions, and we need not repeat them all here. But in basic language an abortion is a baby “born before his due time” as the A.V. neatly puts it. In what sense was Saul of Tarsus “born before his due time”?  He represented the nation ofIsrael who had persecuted and finally crucified their Messiah. Given a second chance by the Master’s words on the cross, Peter preached repentance to the nation, but they stoned Stephen to death and threatened all the disciples with imprisonment and death. But in arresting the progress of Saul, God was showing as by a figure that a day would come when “they [the whole nation] would look upon Him whom they pierced, and would mourn for Him,” which is exactly what happened to Saul ,and it is the guarantee that the same will happen to the nation of Israel in these end days.

And if God has this promise in store for those who once were His chosen people, we can also rejoice in the fact that Jesus was the “firstborn from among the dead”, (Col.1:18) the guarantee that “in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Cor.15:22)  Saul’s conversion was not just a capricious act of a God who takes delight in choosing whomsoever He wants, and rejecting the rest. He caused Paul to enact the part He’d planned for the nation of Israel, in other words to be a light to lighten the Gentiles. And that task is now more or less complete, with the Kingdom of God at the portals.

The preaching of Paul the Abortion, and all those who have followed in his footsteps, has fulfilled the plan of God for the nations of the world. When Israel refused to become the evangelist nation, God caused one man to do the job instead. His ways can never be thwarted. In days to come He will return and set up the tabernacle of David, that the residue of men may seek the Lord, and be saved. (Acts 15: 16-17) Will the church object to that goal, as Israel objected to the enlightenment of the Gentiles? Only time will tell.

 

Filed Under: The Wayside Pulpit

About Arthur Eedle

Arthur was born in 1931, and became a Christian in 1948. At London University he gained a 2nd honours degree in Physics. He went on to get a Teaching Diploma, and throughout his career life taught physics in England, Kenya, and Hong Kong. Coupled with his love of science, he was a keen student of Greek and Hebrew, and gave many lectures on Biblical subjects. Read more

The Wayside Pulpit

1. Introduction

11th May 1999 By Arthur Eedle

2. Rave Music

13th May 1999 By Arthur Eedle

3. “I know you”

13th June 1999 By Arthur Eedle

4. God of all men

15th June 1999 By Arthur Eedle

5. Truth and Error

21st June 1999 By Arthur Eedle

6. Ruth Prince

2nd July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

7. Talking Trees

3rd July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

8. Dangers of rock music

6th July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

9. True Worship

9th July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

10. A wonderful building

11th July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

11. Traits of the self-life

15th July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

12. 100 Pianos

28th July 1999 By Arthur Eedle

13. “Much more” & “No more”

5th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

14. Evangelism and the second advent

8th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

15. Tribute to Ron Wyatt

10th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

16. The opening of the Kansas Senate in the USA

12th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

17. The face of feminism

14th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

18. The second coming of Elijah

19th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

19. Mellowing with age

21st August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

20. The rationality of the Christian faith

24th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

21. The first and the lost

28th August 1999 By Arthur Eedle

22. The coming of the Lord

2nd September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

23. “I am coming tomorrow!”

4th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

24. Living stones for a spiritual temple

7th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

25. Rosh Hashana – the feast of trumpets

10th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

26. A Tribute to the Rock-Badger’s Family

14th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

27. The Cursed Fig Tree

17th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

28. “Tell me the old, old story”

19th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

29. A Sovereign Work

22nd September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

30. Today is the Secret of Tomorrow

24th September 1999 By Arthur Eedle

31. Neatly Packaged Boxes and Illuminated Signposts

1st October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

32. “In danger of hell fire”

3rd October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

33. The Silent Witness

5th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

34. The Lesson of Amos

8th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

35. The Great Tribulation

11th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

36. “Until”

14th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

37. The Unnerving Power of Tradition

18th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

37a. The Explorer

19th October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

38. The Dart Family

22nd October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

39. “Nothing new under the Sun”

31st October 1999 By Arthur Eedle

40. “When the Stars begin to fall”

1st November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

41. The Coming of the Christ

3rd November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

42. “Like unto Moses.”

6th November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

43. “Sweet Revenge!”

7th November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

44. The Second Coming

14th November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

45. Forgiveness & Punishment

23rd November 1999 By Arthur Eedle

47. The Pattern and Purpose of the Cherubim

2nd December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

48. The Unforgivable Sin

4th December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

49. Japhah, the Beautiful One

5th December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

50. Resurrection by Judgement

11th December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

51. “The Saviour of Mankind”

17th December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

52. “Bad Associations corrupt Good Customs”

29th December 1999 By Arthur Eedle

53. Fingerprints and Irises

2nd January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

54. Cats, Dogs and Philodendrons

4th January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

55. The Second Eve

15th January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

56. The Illuminati

22nd January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

57. The Dark Day of May 19th 1780

24th January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

58. Hidden Significances

26th January 2000 By Arthur Eedle

59. “Before”

5th February 2000 By Arthur Eedle

60. When “shall” becomes “will”

10th February 2000 By Arthur Eedle

61. The Death of the Husband

13th February 2000 By Arthur Eedle

63. St. Paul the Abortion

25th February 2000 By Arthur Eedle

64. The Moral Dilemma

27th February 2000 By Arthur Eedle

65. The Moral Dilemma. A Personal Answer

1st March 2000 By Arthur Eedle

66. The Moral Dilemma. A Second Answer

4th March 2000 By Arthur Eedle

67. The Joy of our Salvation

11th March 2000 By Arthur Eedle

68. The love of God

16th March 2000 By Arthur Eedle

69. The Windows of the Soul

28th March 2000 By Arthur Eedle

70. Vision & Prophecy

2nd April 2000 By Arthur Eedle

71. Confusion

12th April 2000 By Arthur Eedle

72. Creation’s Vanity

18th April 2000 By Arthur Eedle

73. “Friend, move up higher!”

2nd May 2000 By Arthur Eedle

74. The Last Generation

25th May 2000 By Arthur Eedle

75. The House of the Soul

29th May 2000 By Arthur Eedle

76. The Opening of the Sheath

1st June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

77. Possession

2nd June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

78. Ancestral Bondage

5th June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

79. The State of the Dead

7th June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

80. Professor William Barclay

10th June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

81. The Unacceptable Face of Universalism

12th June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

82. No Escape from the Fire

21st June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

83. My Help

22nd June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

84. Our Stories

27th June 2000 By Arthur Eedle

85. Filling up that which is lacking

9th July 2000 By Arthur Eedle

86. Road Rage

15th July 2000 By Arthur Eedle

87. Immanuel

19th July 2000 By Arthur Eedle

88. Daughters of Thunder

27th July 2000 By Arthur Eedle

89. Casting off all Restraint

1st August 2000 By Arthur Eedle

90. Food, glorious Food!

3rd August 2000 By Arthur Eedle

91. The Kindly Laws of the Old Testament

7th August 2000 By Arthur Eedle

92. Resurrection

2nd September 2000 By Arthur Eedle

93. More about Resurrection

15th September 2000 By Arthur Eedle

94. “With what body do they come?”

22nd September 2000 By Arthur Eedle

95. One Helluva Hole

9th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

96. A Whale of a Tale

10th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

97. The Hallelujah Chorus

11th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

98. “It never even entered my mind.”

16th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

99. A Passionate Plea for Truth

18th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

100. Warfare in the Heavenlies

20th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

101. “The Lamb and Flag”

27th October 2000 By Arthur Eedle

102. Souls of men

1st November 2000 By Arthur Eedle

103. Sacrifice

4th November 2000 By Arthur Eedle

106. For whom did Christ die?

16th December 2000 By Arthur Eedle

107. “I cannot tell . . . but this I know.”

18th December 2000 By Arthur Eedle

108. The Great Cloud of Witnesses

19th December 2000 By Arthur Eedle

109. The law of circularity

10th January 2001 By Arthur Eedle

110. James Relly & John Murray

13th January 2001 By Arthur Eedle

Article Series

  • All our Yesterdays (30)
  • Before He comes (13)
  • God's Spoken Word (37)
  • Mysteries of Science & Faith (8)
  • New Series (101)
  • Newsletter (2)
  • Original Series (109)
  • Prophecy considerations (5)
  • Recognising the Hand of Judgment (33)
  • Resurrection and Change (16)
  • Seekers Corner (14)
  • Simple Statements on Serious Subjects (6)
  • The City of God (18)
  • The Millennial Octave (23)
  • The Restitution Times (22)
  • The Song of Solomon (6)
  • The Standard (19)
  • The Wayside Pulpit (107)
  • The Wayside Pulpit 2015 (96)
  • The Wellspring (101)
  • The Wellspring 2017 (55)

Index of Topics

Arthur & Rosalind Eedle's Personal Testimonies Discipleship Expository Items Good and Evil Human Pre-Existance Jane Leade. Philadelphian Numerology in the Bible Quotations from other Authors Resurrection and the Change Ron Wyatt. Archaeology Science Topics The Kingdom of God the Millennium and the Return of Christ The Sabbath Day Universal Reconcilliation

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