Acts 22 – Was Paul Really a Roman Citizen?
Extract from above link- There are a few scholars that deny the historicity of Paul’s citizenship. He does not mention it in his letters, the only source is the Book of Acts. Several questions have been raised. First, would a “tent-maker” be able to obtain citizenship? This question implies a link between social standing and citizenship which may not have existed. Since citizenship could be granted for a number of reasons, there were many “socially undesirable” people who were citizens. A citizen was not equivalent to the “social elite” of Rome. Paul generally visits provincial capitols, places where citizenship would have been more common especially among freed slaves and ex-soldiers. It is possible that Paul targeted this group of “fresh citizens” with the gospel (E. A. Judge, New Documents 2:106-107).
A second objection centers on Paul’s mistreatment as described in 2 Cor. 11:24ff. This type of abuse would not be possible if Paul were a Roman citizen. This argument compares the unlawful arrest in Acts 16 (in Philippi) to the list of abuse Paul suffered prior to writing 2 Cor. It is impossible, it is argued, for a Roman citizen to have been so abused as Paul claims. Stegmenn notes that Paul is either the worst case of torture of a Roman citizen in history, or a masochist.
James Tabor makes this point explicitly: Paul’s letters contain no claim to Roman citizenship, whereas Acts repeatedly emphasizes it; he also notes that Paul’s claim to have been beaten with Roman rods in 2 Corinthians 11:25 creates a problem for taking his citizenship literally, since Roman citizens were legally protected against such treatment.
1 Corinthians 9:20-23 – Paul will misrepresent himself and deceive others.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Note verse 23 where he says he is misrepresenting himself for his own gain. And, his saying “for the sake of the gospel” does not refer to the New Testament as it does not yet exist but rather his “announcement” which is a generally accepted interpretation of the Greek word commonly interpreted as gospel.
His Arrogance
- Galatians 1 – 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
- Colossians 1:24 – I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. NRSV
Galatians 1:8 – Angel from Heaven be Accursed
But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! NRSV
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ESV
1 Corinthians 4:14-21 – NRSV – Guardians in Christ but only one Father, Paul. Plus threats.
14 I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. 21 What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
