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Did God change Saul's name to Paul?: Difference between revisions
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=What does the Bible say?= | =What does the Bible say?= | ||
The | The Old Testament contains many examples of people’s names being changed to better fit their circumstances. God changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah (Gen 17:5, 15); He also changed Jacob’s name to Israel (Gen 32:28). Moses changed Hoshea’s name to Joshua (Num 13:16).<ref>John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ru 1:20.</ref> William Branham thought that something similar happened to Paul when he encountered Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 9). | ||
The suggestion that Saul’s name was changed to Paul at the time of his conversion has absolutely no support in the New Testament.<ref>C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 48.</ref> | The suggestion that Saul’s name was changed to Paul at the time of his conversion has absolutely no support in the New Testament.<ref>C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 48.</ref> | ||
Here are several examples that illustrate this | Here are several examples that illustrate this | ||
In Acts 9:4, we read: | In Acts 9:4, we read: | ||
:''And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Acts 9:4</ref> | :''And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Acts 9:4</ref> | ||
Acts 9:17 states: | Acts 9:17 states: | ||
:''So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 9:17.</ref> | :''So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 9:17.</ref> | ||
Acts 13:2 says, | Acts 13:2 says, | ||
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:''While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” <ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 13:2.</ref> | :''While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” <ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 13:2.</ref> | ||
==After | ==After Paul's conversion experience, he is called “Saul” 14 more times== | ||
Please refer to: | Please refer to: | ||
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The name Paul literally means little. It is possible that his mother named him Paul because he was a small baby. Some writers do describe Paul as a short man. | The name Paul literally means little. It is possible that his mother named him Paul because he was a small baby. Some writers do describe Paul as a short man. | ||
It is also possible that Saul gave himself the Greek name Paul as a self-imposed symbol of his humbleness. He saw himself as the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). But those descriptions should not cause us to feel that Paul had an inferiority complex. Quite the contrary. He saw himself as someone who had been | It is also possible that Saul gave himself the Greek name Paul as a self-imposed symbol of his humbleness. He saw himself as the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). But those descriptions should not cause us to feel that Paul had an inferiority complex. Quite the contrary. He saw himself as someone who had been specially called by God. He saw himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus.</ref>Knofel Staton, Second Corinthians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1988), 18–19. | ||
=Conclusion= | |||
There is no evidence that God changed Saul's name to Paul. Therefore, William Branham's interpretation is wrong. | |||
=Quotes of William Branham= | =Quotes of William Branham= | ||