The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-10-03

omission
PAUL'S BACKGROUND
AND EARLY LIFE
LESSON TEXT: Acts 2l:39: 22:3. o.. %;
T. .; Philippians 3:5. 6.
MEMORY SELECTION: Remember row
y Creator in the days of thy youth.-Ec-
esiastes 1911.
God works through men. When
study his work we study the
yes of men-all types of men
At all yielded to him, and used by
m.
Paul stands out as one of the most
tiuential characters in all history
Is life and letters, which we are
study the next three months,
we had tremendous effect on
e human race. Especially is this
lie of his position and influence in
Christian church.
Under God he was the one who
rrled the gospel to the Gentle
orld, and then began the great
isslonary program of the church,
llch goes on to this very day. His
fittings are the steady and ex-
nslve foundation of much Of our
2dy and teaching of Christian doc
ne.
!. Birthplace (Acts 21:39).
The place Of mans birth has a
finite influence on his personality
i'd usefulness. Tarsus. where Paul
as born, was one of the most cos
opoIltan cities in the world of that
". 1t was a Roman province,
here men proudly held their cit
enship in the great empire. Greek,
e language of world culture, was
oxen there.
Tarsus was a great educational
Id university center. 1t was in
CHI and fertile area. 1t was at the
.ad of navigation on the river
ydnus and on a great Roman high
ay 1t was the capital of the
.OVinCe.
II, Education (Acts 22:3).
After his early training in the
pine and under rabbis in Tarsus.
went to Jerusalem to study in
hat was. probably the best
quipped Hebrew college Of that
ay, under one of the greatest
eachers, Gamaliel.
Somewhere in his rearing he was
aught trade, for every Jewish boy
earned to support himself with his
Wn hands (see Acts 1879.
He was instructed in the Word of
God, and had a consuming zeal for
'eliG!Ous things. Until he was con-
it counted against Christian
ty, but afterWard it became a
tanning fire to spread the truth in
all the world.
His combined zeal and knowledge
made him a man Of truly broad
mind and tolerant spirit (Acts 5.35-
}9).
III. Citizenship (Acts 22:27, 28).
The mighty power and prestige of
Rome stood behind every Roman
citizen. Paul used his citizenship
or protection. 1t helped him in his
service for the Lord Its prestige
vas used for Gods glory.
It is a good sign when a man is
proud of his national background,
md it speaks we'll for the nation to
which he belongs, But Paul came
every Christian does) to know
appreciate a higher citizenship.
v. Religion (Acts 1854, s..
Though a free-born Roman citi-
en-, Paul was Jew, and loyal to
he religion of his people. He was
a member of the strictest sect, the
in which his family had
leld membership for generations.
He lived consistently in the OBJ
5ervance of the laws and customs of
lis religious faith, and none could
point to any flaw in his doctrine or
allure in his life
When he became a follower of
Christ, there was no ground on
which anyone could dismiss his con-
lersion and his witness as the out
break of a new viewpoint on the
Dart of renegade Jew.
1t is to a mans credit that he
faithfully lives up to the beliefs of
he religion he processes. The re-
suit of such sincerity will be con-
version, if he, like Paul, meets
Christ and honestly faces the CUES
ion of loyalty to him.
V. Race phil. 3:5, g..
Paul counted it to be an honor to
De known as a Hebrew and gloried
n the fact that he was born, trained
and lived within that racial as well
IS religious circle.
No one need ever be ashamed of
lis race, although he may be
ashamed of things which members
If his race have done. But there
are even more things of which to
De proud, and a man may add to
he standing of his race ev living
lis own life in cleanness of char
acter and nobility of purpose 1t is
lever a commemorate thing to be
ashamed of the race of ones ia
hers.
We must remember, however,
hat all the things in which Paul
gloried, he found to be but refuse
when he compared them with Christ
see Phil. 81, -.
Everything worthwhile in a mans
ife God can plnrifv and use BIT