ForgottenWoman

Saul to Paul

On this Monday I hope to share a little story that makes a few points but will also make you smile. In order for it to make sense, I’ll need to give you a little bit of background.

One of the things that my children and I enjoy doing is discussing, debating, researching, sharing… however you want to say it; theology and yes, politics. The two things that everyone says you aren’t supposed to talk about. Join us at any dinner event, sitting on the sidelines of a ballgame, sitting around the house or riding in a vehicle and you’ll either enjoy lots of music (singing at the top of our lungs) or a discussion about one or both of these topics.

One of the great blessings of my life is that I’ve had the privilege of teaching my own children and all of my grands in church settings. I’ve always taken this very seriously – and worked hard to teach only the truth while making the classes enjoyable for them. In fact, one of my granddaughters said to me last year while we were going from car to car at an event where each car was telling a different Bible story, “I know all of this because you taught me!”

And then there is the fact that my two eldest sons have been Bible students on their own for many years – teaching and preaching so many (including myself) and always sharpening one another as they study and challenge not only each other but the rest of us.

Now – to the story.

This weekend, I was with my son and his family for a ball tournament. While traveling home, we listened to someone preach, and he made a statement about God changing Saul’s name to Paul. My son immediately turned the sound down and asked his daughter, “Why does the Bible refer to Saul and then Paul?” She, knowing that her father had an answer, began to try to explain that Saul fell off his horse when he was converted and that’s when God changed his name and he was known as Paul afterward. When her father said, “NO!!! God didn’t change his name! The answer is that Saul’s name was also Paul. The custom of dual names was common in those days. Acts 13 describes the apostle as “Saul, who was also called Paul.” From that verse on, Saul is always referred to in Scripture as “Paul.”

Paul was a Jew, born in the Roman city of Tarsus. He was proud of his Jewish heritage, “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee.” So zealous and devout was he that persecuting Christians was the natural way for him to show his devotion. He chose to use his Hebrew name, Saul, until sometime after he began to believe in and preach Christ. After that time, as the apostle to the Gentiles, he used his Roman name, Paul. It would make sense for Paul to use his Roman name as he traveled farther and farther into the Gentile world.” This is not a direct quote of course, but the best that I can remember!

At this point, my granddaughter turned to me with great big eyes and laughingly said to me, “You lied to me!” I laughed out loud as I answered, “Well, that’s what I’ve always been taught! Now we’ve both learned something.” My son of course very quickly stated that yes, we’ve all heard this preached and taught for most of our lives.

Here’s the deal. Is it okay for me to categorize the life of Saul/Paul into the time periods when he was working as a religious zealot versus when he was preaching Christ? Of course, that’s fine. Is it ok for me to pray for a conversion of life choices in someone I love as a Saul to Paul change? Of course, it is. But what is not ok is for any of us to add to or take away from Scripture. Or, assume something. It was humbling to realize that in an effort to tell the story I along with others have done just that! (I will also point out, however: that it is good to be humbled – but it is not the same thing as being humiliated!) My son could have taken this opportunity to humiliate me in front of his family – to tell his daughters that their Grandmommy had no business teaching them if she didn’t know this. But he didn’t.

At this point in my life, I am dedicated to continued study, learning and understanding of God’s Word and how His Word is intended to transform me. So now I know. God didn’t change the man’s name. His name was always Paul and Saul… I think of it now more like my variety of names. I’m Joy, Mom, Momma, Grandmommy, Grams, Mommajoy. What I’m called depends on where I am and who I am with! And hopefully, as God continues to transform my life all of my names will identify me as one who serves Him.