This post points out an issue with Paul’s statement in Philippians 3, where Paul admits to having once dioko (Greek for persecuted or pursued) the church. In addition, Acts (especially Acts 8) presents Paul (then Saul) as a fierce persecutor of early Christians, aligned with the martyrdom of Stephen.
Paul makes this statement in Galatians 1:11–12 the gospel that was proclaimed by him is not of human origin.
Galatians 1:11–12 (NRSV)
“For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:15–17 – Paul emphasizes that after his calling, he did not immediately consult with the apostles in Jerusalem but went to Arabia first.
The Issue
To have dioko (persecuted or pursued) the church, Paul surely knew the teachings of the Jesus Movement to understand what he was opposing. So, he did learn things from human origins.
Others learned their good news directly from Jesus during his life (see Mark 3:14, Luke 6:13–16), but Paul appears to be making the point that he has the latest good news, and that is why his version is different than theirs.
