NT Wright explains what really happened to St Paul on the road to Damascus

Justin Brierley is joined by leading New Testament scholar NT (Tom) Wright and popular historical writer Tom Holland to discuss how Paul the apostle changed the world as described in Wright’s recent book Paul: A Biography.



In this excerpt NT Wright gives his view on what Paul was meditating on the moment of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and why it changed the apostle’s life.

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[AJTramberg]

NT Wrights recipe for boiling water would fill a 500 page book.

[brett]

Completely disagree. This places Pauls works as the cause of his regeneration. It places Paul’s ability as the desire source. Paul does not state this in any of his later passages, especially not Romans 1-9 or Ephesians 2. Regeneration proceeds faith. The Apostle John states this clearly in almost every passage in the Gospel of John, especially John 3 and 6. NT Wright is not correct here and clearly, he even states, this is speculation. The huge problem is this speculation creates a trajectory of thought leading to other misunderstandings.

[loganross]

Do you think these guys are making it more complicated than it needs to be?

[christianlaraque]

Paul never mentioned anything in his letters about the demascus road experience. This is written by acts. Second century is now starting to be the scholarly consensus. It seems based on the conversion of heliodorus. And the 1st samual passage where king SAUL is after David “Saul Saul why do you pursue me??”

[loganross]

What REALLY happened? It wasn’t all that complicated....I don’t understand the premise here...or the purpose of this lesson...

[rebeccatexaschick]

I feel very uneasy accepting some guys version of what "really happened" in the mind of a man he NEVER KNEW at a time when he was alone on a road when the scriptures already recorded said event. Test every thought brothers and sisters in Christ. This not right. Why are we questioning the apostles themselves and therefore actually questioning the written scripture about this event?

[protochris]

What Paul beheld was not a vision, he had seen something with this natural eyes. The Greek word for vision is "orama" which does not imply a vision of sight; Luke uses the word "Optasia" meaning Paul saw something without meditation.

[anselman]

One wonders how much St Paul had actually learned of the beliefs of the Christians before his encounter with the risen Lord. He had certainly been present at the stoning of St Stephen, who had preached the Gospel. How much had he taken in, and how much was he stubbornly refusing to consider for even a moment, perhaps almost covering his ears so as not to hear "blasphemy"? He said he had received forgiveness for having ignorantly opposed the truth. How much might he have actually studied it?

[blairmalfara]

I am not sure what you guys are talking about? This is was incredibly insightful from one of the best scholars today. Might not be what we are used to, but why wouldn't Paul be reading these standard jewish prayer, and meditating, and finds out that God has fully revealed himself in Christ. Amazing!

[tyrander]

If greatness did not rub off on the men who walked and talked with Jesus, why should we think that Saul/Paul is any different than Joseph Smith or L Ron Hubbard?

[danielstevens]

Whatever way you spin it, fundamentally Paul was a persecuter of those who followed 'the way' and after this Damascus road experience was convinced 'the way' was the correct understanding of true religion. (Acts 24:14)

[David-bbeu]

"I think..." is not Scripture. 2:45he says 'Saul was meditating on the throne chariot ' while Acts 9:1 says "Saul was still breathing out murderous threats...". Jesus said to Saul "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting". Disproving the claim of meditation! 2Corinthians 5:17 is about conversion not meditation. In Galatians 1:11 "Paul says that he "did not make this ip". If someone preaches another gospel...beware! Look into their background and stay in the Bible! And get into a sound doctrine denomination.

[hargisP]

I can't stand people who speculate on what someone maybe thinking, when the person of interest has not said. It's very much like adding to scripture which is forbidden.

[TorianTammas]

Can we next have a Harry Potter or a Spiderman scene. It is nice to find a place that takes fan fiction so serious.

[ronclass]

Dude Paul was certainly converted. How many hardcore Jews like Paul convert to Christianity?

[Miatpi]

Cool idea, though it is just speculation oj his part.

[jonpool]

No he wasn't meditating on anything like that. Come on man read the account in Acts. He was only intent on destroying THE WAY. Paul was like any other pharisee of the day. If you think that they worshipped God just take a look at the conversations between Jesus and the Pharisees. This guy spews nonsense and his not biblical ideas and passes it off as Christian scholarship.

[rodneyblackwell]

Why doesn't god blind everyone until they believe in him.. if this didnt violate Paul's free will.

[YohananBenYosef]

Here is the issue we see again and again, currently in Canada, the Christian focus on the faith at the expense of the universal noahide laws of the Torah. This can be regarded as a major significant deviation from the main path to salvation as outlined on Sinai by God.