-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Apostle Paul's Conversion
- Thread starter Rolfe
- Start date
Tom Butler
New Member
Alt? Do you mean, how old?
Deutscher?
Svenska. Swedish, English, German, and Russian: sometimes they get mixed...
Last edited by a moderator:
Maybe mid-20s perhaps late. Seems too old to be following a rabbi but not old enough to be part of the ruling class in the Sanhedrin. I've got some good Second Temple documentation but it takes too long to work out here. That's where I am and, it seems, major scholars too. 
Maybe mid-20s perhaps late. Seems too old to be following a rabbi but not old enough to be part of the ruling class in the Sanhedrin. I've got some good Second Temple documentation but it takes too long to work out here. That's where I am and, it seems, major scholars too.
Thanks. Curiosity satisfied.
Tom Butler
New Member
One thing to note is that Jesus did not begin his public ministry until he was 30 years old. Would this also apply in Paul's case? What about the twelve that Jesus called? Would they have had to be 30 as well? Was there some sort of cultural norm in this area?
That is interesting ....
Personally, I didn't get out of college and start pastoring until I was 29, one year shy of 30! Maybe there is something to consider?
Personally, I didn't get out of college and start pastoring until I was 29, one year shy of 30! Maybe there is something to consider?
thisnumbersdisconnected
New Member
It's the biblical norm. Jacob's Joseph became prime minister of Egypt at 30. The Levites' temple service began at age 30. Saul began his reign over Israel at age 30. David became King at 30. Daniel became prime minister of Babylon at 30. Jesus began his ministry at 30. It was a cultural norm because it is a biblical norm.
The interesting aspect of that age is that recent completion of research covering two generations points to full maturity intellectually and emotionally not being at age 18 or age 21 as everyone in western society has always believed. It is, for women, between the ages of 26-28, and for men between the ages of 27-30. God knew that long before we did.
I think it is fair to say the bible does not tell us exactly when the events of Paul's life occurred, but we can build a timeline of approximate times, for some of the events in his life.
If we assume Christ died around AD 30, and Stephen was stoned a year or two later (AD31-2) then Paul was probably about 18-9 years old. Not yet at the age of maturity for Jews (20 years old) but close. If we go for the minimum, then 18 years before AD32 works out to a birth date of AD14. More likely closer to AD 12. In any event, he would not have been above the age of maturity when Christ died, thus the meaning of as one untimely born.
If we look later, we have his conversion around AD32-34, when Paul would be about 20-22 years old. 14 years later Paul went on his famine mission, circa AD46. And three years after that he wrote Galatians.
If we assume Christ died around AD 30, and Stephen was stoned a year or two later (AD31-2) then Paul was probably about 18-9 years old. Not yet at the age of maturity for Jews (20 years old) but close. If we go for the minimum, then 18 years before AD32 works out to a birth date of AD14. More likely closer to AD 12. In any event, he would not have been above the age of maturity when Christ died, thus the meaning of as one untimely born.
If we look later, we have his conversion around AD32-34, when Paul would be about 20-22 years old. 14 years later Paul went on his famine mission, circa AD46. And three years after that he wrote Galatians.
Nun, es scheint dumm zu einigen, aber ich denke, es ist eine interessante Frage. Schließlich kann das Alter der Paul etwas Licht auf seine Fähigkeit, mit so eindrucks Reife schreiben zu vergießen. Ich hoffe, dass jemand auf dem Board eine Idee zu schweben hat, denn jetzt will ich wissen, wie alt war Paul auch! :smilewinkgrin:
What....no Latin? :tear:
Ubi est secretum? :laugh:
OldRegular
Well-Known Member
My guess is that Paul was in the neighborhood of 40. Recall that when Stephen was stoned Paul, then Saul, stood by, not participating apparently instigating. Later Scripture tells us that Saul wrecked havoc in the Church [Acts 8:3]. These are not the activities of a youth at that time but a mature man. Saul also received the letters from the high priest tp persecute and prosecute this believers in Damascus, again not something to be entrusted to other than a mature man.
I have said it before and will say it again; most baptist Churches are dunking youngsters who have no idea what sin against God really is. They may understand that certain acts are rewarded by the displeasure of the parent but that really has nothing to do with the knowledge of sin against God, in my humble opinion of course.
I have said it before and will say it again; most baptist Churches are dunking youngsters who have no idea what sin against God really is. They may understand that certain acts are rewarded by the displeasure of the parent but that really has nothing to do with the knowledge of sin against God, in my humble opinion of course.
convicted1
Guest
You beat me to this. I was gonna say he was probably around 30....if you go by the records...