MEANING OF PAUL’S CONVERSION
Write short note on conversion of Paul (2000)
Explain the impact of Paul’s experience on the
Damascus road upon his life and theology.
How much did this experience influence Paul’s Gentile mission? Explain.
(2004)
There are
two sources that speak of Paul’s
conversion: the Letters (Gal. 1: 11-24; 1 Cor. 9: 1; 15: 8, 10; 2 Cor. 4: 4-6;
Phil. 3: 7-8, 12) and the Acts (9: 1-19; 22: 1-21; 26: 1-32). The former must
be treated as the primary and the latter as the secondary source. Acts 9 is Luke’s own narrative, while
chapters 22 and 26 the event is described in the context of Paul’s speeches;
the first before a hostile Jewish crowd at the Temple in Jerusalem and the
second before the Roman governor Festus and the royal couple Agrippa and
Bernice. How much of historical value is
to be attributed to the texts in Acts is a hotly debated issue. While we admit that Luke has employed the
historical data in function of his own particular theology, we cannot certainly
deny them all historical value. At the
same time, primary importance needs to be given to Paul’s own statements in his
letters.