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Bible Study GAL 1: 17,18

R

reba

Member
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

About 10 years ago in a Bible study chat there was a discussion about these simple verses.
The point of that discussion was where was Paul for the 3 years. What say you?

 
He went where no one knew him....to a desert place. He needed to detox from his old lifestyle AND life. He had become the enemy of all. It was a time of taking stock and seeking the Lord.
 
reba said:
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

About 10 years ago in a Bible study chat there was a discussion about these simple verses.
The point of that discussion was where was Paul for the 3 years. What say you?
Click to expand...

I've heard two possible answers. The most simple one is that he was in Arabia and Damascus for the 3 years. Secondly (and far more speculation is involved here), some believe that it was during this time of "conferring not with flesh and blood" that he was given a vision similar to John's of the 3rd Heaven that he mentioned in 2 Corinthians.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think I would just stick with what the text says...that he went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
 
We all know we open threads for a reason. Nothing with a big spiritual problem with these straight forward verses. I am wondering about my understanding of english grammar.

I grew up with the understanding Paul spent 3 years in the desert did he?


Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Paul says "I didn't go to Jerusalem, I went to Arabia. I came back to Damascus. Three years later i went to Jerusalem. They read to me Paul was in Damascus 3 years..
 
Since I didn't grow up in church, and can't honestly say that I've ever heard that Paul spent three years in the desert, I automatically understood it the way you expressed it as well....that he went to Arabia, returned to Damascus, stayed there 3 years and then went to Jerusalem.

I've heard that Paul did spend three years in sort of an isolated contemplation, in which he most likely studied the Scriptures in the light of the Spirit...perhaps the "desert" was metaphorical?

Where does the "desert" idea come from?
 
I think Arabia = desert.

I sure caught heck for asking in that other chat/forum what ever it was...

I win cause Handy agrees! :yes
 
reba said:
We all know we open threads for a reason. Nothing with a big spiritual problem with these straight forward verses. I am wondering about my understanding of english grammar.

I grew up with the understanding Paul spent 3 years in the desert did he?


Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Paul says "I didn't go to Jerusalem, I went to Arabia. I came back to Damascus. Three years later i went to Jerusalem. They read to me Paul was in Damascus 3 years..
Click to expand...

I do see what you are saying! :)

Yet Paul was hunted in Damascus by the Jews who sought to kill him. He was lowered in a basket at night to get away! Could Damascus have been a place for Paul to hide out?
 
Right around that time, things were getting sticky for the Christians and many of them, including james went to Cesaeria.

Going up to Jerusalem hints at going from a nearby lower location to the much higher Jerusalem

So I am think He was somewhere on the coast, like Cesaeria
 
Adullam said:
He went where no one knew him....to a desert place. He needed to detox from his old lifestyle AND life. He had become the enemy of all. It was a time of taking stock and seeking the Lord.
Click to expand...


I cast my vote with that!
One never seems to 'print' at least what Paul surely went through after witnessing Stephen's execution that he was instrumental in, and the pricks of the Holy Spirit on his conscience! (Acts 9:5) And being told that he was REQUIRED to flip/flop in his past ignorant 'understanding!' verse 7 And what he [MUST DO!] Think of the cost to him in man's understanding! John 12:47-48.

So, he as you say, he had a lot of personal work to retreave from where he went wrong!

--Elijah
 
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