The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-09-30

I looked by the snow-capped Taur-
us mountains. It was a great
commercial region, being ira
versed by the Roman highway
connecting Syria with the cities
of Southern Europe. 1t was one
of the three great educational
centers of the time, Tarsus sur
passing in some respects the riv-
al centers of Athens and Alex
andria.
HEBREW EDUCATION
(Acts 22)
The educational heritage of
Saul gave him the advantages of
the best theological training of
the time. AS he entered his
teens he was sent from Tarsus
to Jerusalem, where he entered
the best-equipped and most fam
Gus Hebrew college of the pc
riod. The head of the institu-
ton was Gamaliel, who to this
day is regarded as one of the
greatest teachers in all the his
tory of the Jews. Many of the
brightest minds of that era were
trained under his direction. He
specialized exclusively in Old
Testament learning. His students
caught his great spirit and be-
came likewise jealous for the
law.
ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
(Acts 22)
The national heritage of Saul
enabled him to claim the high
est civic privileges of his day.
Citizenship in the Roman empire
was ordinarily secured by pur-
chase, as in the case of the chief
captain on duty in Jerusalem,
but often as a reward for mill
tary service and not infrequently |
as a token Of imperial favor. A
Roman citizen could not be i'm
prisoned or subjected to the or
deal of the scourge without trial,
and he also had the right of ap-
peal from any provincial court !
to the court of the great service
to him in each Of these respects.
PHARISAISM
(Acts 26)
The racial heritage of Saul en-
abled him to become an advocate |
and exponent of Pharisaism of |
the strictest type. Following his !
student days at Jerusalem, he !
seems to have returned to Tar !
sus. But soon after the death of !
Jesus we find him again in Jeru-
salem, where his life was an open /
book before leaders and people. |
What he did during this period |
is not definitely known, but he |
must have held some high eccles-
iastical position which gave him
leadership in the persecution of
Christians and soon won him a
place in the supreme court of the
Jews.
CHRISTIANITY |
philippians 81
The religious heritage of Saul
enabled him near the close of his
great life to claim greater rea-
son than others for confidence in
the flesh. He was of the stock
of Israel, not branch or graft
or proselyte shrub. He was of
the tribe Of Benjamin which gave
Israel its first king and always
stood close to the line of Judah.
He had been dedicated to God in
he initiatory Jewish rite and had
proven himself a Hebrew of the
Hebrews. In faith, formality,
and fidelity to the law, he was
strict Pharisee, ceremonially and
far outstripping the
Sadducees. He had
shown his zeal for Judaism by
prosecuting the church at Jeru-
salem which he felt was under
mining and overthrowing the
Mosaic system. Nor did he at
;empt to force upon others what
lie was unwilling to do himself,
or, measured by every standard
If Righteousness given in the
aw, he was blameless.
HELPS IN BUILDING A
LIFE |
(1) The Help of a Good An {
estry. "Of the stock of Israel |
of the tribe of Benjamin" t
Blood counts. Good blood is
,etter than mere "blue" blood. 6
promotes goodness.
(2) The Help f a Good Coun-
ry. "I am a Roman born
Happy are the people who live t
nder a good government. And \
Apply are they whose prosperity t
dvances the common welfare.
60 The Help of Good Birth t
lace. "Tarsus in Cilicia no c
mean city," Our surroundings
ave much to do with our de- |
Children need to grow
A. a wholesome atmosphere.
(4) The Help of a Good t
Joyoo GA Ta1u horn hrou oht L