Urambo Tauro
Oh, without a doubt! And if he didn't hear Yeshua live, he certainly came into contact with people relaying His message.
A logical conclusion to me.
But as a "Pharisee of Pharisees", it's uncertain whether or not he actually listened to them.
Probably not until he fell off his high horse did that Pharisee believe a word of Jesus or His ordained followers. I am certain he was a hard head "Pharisee" of Pharisees and "leaned on his own understanding".
He could easily dismiss them as "false teachings", or he may have tried looking for holes in the "new religion". I sure wish we had more information on the matter.
I think this verse pretty much covers what Paul was trying to do to the "new religion" converting the land:
Acts 8:3, But Saul began to destroy the church.
Paul was killing Christians on the Earth, the Body of Christ, the Church.
Acts 9:4-5, He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
Here Saul is killing (persecuting) Christians on the earth, the organic body of Jesus Christ, the Church.
I had not heard of the theory of Paul being the "rich young man"... That's interesting.
I am certain that little encounter with Jesus would have made him mad as a hatter. Not unlike a few pharisees of today that are seen on tv preaching a prosperity gospel that exclude repentance. But I digress.
What's your take on Paul's (apparent) ingorance on prayer? I'm sure he was brought up learning to pray a certain way.
My friend,
I believe Paul when he was called Saul prayed the prayer of the Pharisee:
Luke 18:11:
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Not unlike the prayer of the pharisee today that would say:
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, catholics, orthodox, sinners, or even as this Kyril. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Please Lord help him to see things the way I see them, open his eyes O'Lord to yours and my truth written in your holy word. Help him to get your Holy Spirit O'Lord that he will be one with me as I am one with you.
I am guilty of the pharisitical prayer. A prayer I repent of every saying as a protestant christian.
Now I believe also that Saul had a name change thus a heart change and his prayer then changed to the publicans:
Luke 18:13:
The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this Paul went down to his house justified rather than the pharisee he was:
For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
When Saul fell off his high horse Paul was able to say:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Thus is the prayer of the Orthodox Christian, unceasingly.
Your servant in humility and love,
Kyril