4“So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.”
Many have seen in Paul’s speech here a useful pattern to follow when giving a Christian testimony. Put simply, we should include three parts: 1) our life before encountering Christ, 2) our encounter with Christ and how it happened, 3) our life after encountering Christ. In our reading today, Paul describes his pre-conversion days. Of course, there are many things he could have said, but he focuses on his religious efforts because of the nature of his situation. His point is that he is not a rebel against true Judaism (what we call the religion of the Jews). Rather, he comes from within orthodoxy, claiming upstanding adherence to all that the Jews believe, and was even a member of one of the most rigorous groups (what he calls here a “sect”) among the Jews.
Because of his wide reputation, Paul’s life change attracted much attention. He had previously made quite a name for himself as a very strict Pharisee. There is no secret here—and that is what incensed the spiritual leaders of Israel, among whom were many Pharisees. One of their own was now teaching what seemed at complete odds with their own teachings. This infuriated them.
No one can accuse Paul of infiltrating the Jews from the outside. He was raised in their traditions from his birth. He even challenges them in his speech to publicly affirm or deny this reality. He came from within the Jewish system, and no one can say he is ignorant or uninitiated in the truth as they see it. He is fully aware of what they teach, having taught it himself at one point. In fact, he knows the Jewish ways and laws better than any of his contemporaries. In his letter to the Galatians, he spells this out in more detail:
For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism . . . and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. (Gal. 1:13–14)
When giving our testimony, we may emphasize different aspects of our pre-conversion life, depending on our audience. But the point is to lead into the change of life that took place when we came to saving faith in God and the knowledge of grace through Jesus Christ. And we must not forget to tell of how our life now is different than it was before. We are not just sharing a change of belief system, but a change of life because of the reality of Christ in our life
Lord, when I remember what I used to be, I appreciate what I am now in Christ.
0 Comments