Why Did Paul Convert? Did He Convert?

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Paul's apparently overnight change from ruthlessly persecuting Christianity to rigorously promoting it is almost certainly the most significant conversion in history: more significant than Augustine's, and even Constantine's. Without Paul's conversion, Christianity as we know it may well have never even happened. But what actually happened? The New Testament describes Paul's experience on several occasions: but can the accounts be trusted? Are they even consistent with each other? If we want to understand such a world-shattering experience, do we need to invoke the supernatural? Are there other plausible explanations? And is it right to call the event a "conversion" in the sense that Paul turned from one religion (Judaism) to another (Christianity)? These are all key issues for understanding a pivotal point in early Christian history, one that eventually would have enormous ramifications for the history of the west.

Megan asks Bart:

-We’re going to talk about Paul’s conversion to Christianity…but that sentence contains a couple of controversial terms that we should probably talk about before we go any further. What do we usually mean when we talk about “conversion”, and is it an appropriate term to use here?

-How about “Christianity”? Should we even be using that designation this early in Christian history?

-When Christianity was in its infancy, Paul went from being someone who actively persecuted Christians, to a committed missionary. What reason does Paul give for this shift?

-Did other people claim to have similar visions?

-In the ancient world more broadly, were visions of the supernatural relatively common?

-How would people have understood these visions in the ancient world?

-What do you think really happened to prompt Paul’s conversion?

-Did Paul’s sudden belief affect his personal theology in some way?

-Paul’s conversion appears to have been on the more extreme end of the scale. It’s not like he just started attending a different house of worship, he embarked on a mission of conversion. What is it that prompted such a severe change of direction?

-Is this mission to the gentiles something that we see among other Jewish thinkers, or is it Paul’s personal mission?

-What was the general thought around gentiles converting to Judaism?

-How socially significant would this change have been for Paul?

-A cynical person might suggest that this is a power grab by Paul - the resurrection is starting, and he wants to be on the right side of the fight…and as an added bonus, he can be the one foretold to bring the gentiles in to god. Do you think that’s a valid argument?