Apostle Paul Was Once An Atheist

This man's past was no different than Osama Bin Laden. But he was chosen by God to do a work for him, in that the true power and existence of the father would be made manifest.
Within the New Testament, Paul's conversion experience is discussed in both Paul's own letters and in the book known by the title Acts of the Apostles. In both instances, the conversion experience (How Saul was stricken blind by God's powers, then healed by God) is described to be miraculous or revelatory in nature. According to both sources, Paul was never a follower of Jesus nor knew him before Jesus's crucifixion; instead he persecuted the early Christians. Although Paul refers to himself as an "Apostle" of Jesus, it is clear that Paul was not one of "The Twelve" apostles.(1 Corinthians 9:1-2). Paul's conversion occurred after Jesus's crucifixion, and the accounts of Paul's conversion experience describe it as miraculous, supernatural, or otherwise revelatory in nature.

[edit] Paul's life before conversion

Before his conversion, Paul, then known as Saul, was a "zealous" Pharisee who "intensely persecuted" the followers of Jesus. Some scholars argue that Paul was a member of the "Zealot" party. Says Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians (1:13-14):


For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

— Galatians 1:13–14, KJV

Paul also discusses his pre-conversion life in his Epistle to the Philippians (3:4-6), and his participation in the stoning of Stephen is described in Acts 7:57-8:3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_of_Pa...

Jesus selected the original twelve apostles. Judas betrayed him--then committed suicide. Jesus then selected Saul to be an apostle with a specific mission. Paul possessed all the qualifications and was just as much an apostle as the original twelve.

reality_review wrote:

Jesus selected the original twelve apostles. Judas betrayed him--then committed suicide. Jesus then selected Saul to be an apostle with a specific mission. Paul possessed all the qualifications and was just as much an apostle as the original twelve.

What I meant to say was he was not one of the original members.
But Jesus did say to Peter "I have sheep that are not of this fold"

I was reading the 1st comment where Paul (once Saul) was once just like bin laden.
And I was thinking:
All the terrorists that want to do us harm, if we ask from the heart, the Lord can change them and put America back on the right track.
God say if we ask anything in his name, that he will do. John 14:13
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
All of the Christians of America are allowing themselves to be defeated of the victory through prayer.

Paul was hardly an atheist. Prior to his conversion, Saul was a religious zealot of the Jewish Pharisees whose job was to persecute the followers of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus, Syria he was struck blind, healed and converted to a follower of Christ, adopting the name Paul.

LongGoneFrom Laurel wrote:

Paul was hardly an atheist. Prior to his conversion, Saul was a religious zealot of the Jewish Pharisees whose job was to persecute the followers of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus, Syria he was struck blind, healed and converted to a follower of Christ, adopting the name Paul.

paul was a pharisee hypocrite who pretended to be a believer, just to get what he wanted from others.
so yes, i think he must have been an atheist in disguise, because he did not really believe the lords power was real until it 'hit' him.

jesus, paul, and john the revelator were gnostics
jesus said, "there is nothing occult(hidden) that won't be revealed = revelation(to reveal)

[1].
if paul and simon the magi(magus) weren't one and the same, then why did paul mention thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; which are names of the hierarchies of angels?

if jesus wasn't gnostic, why did he mention the kingdom; which is the culmination of the sephiroth tree of life rooted in matter.

if paul and simon magus were not the same, then why does this person associate them in the same place and time, just as the writers in acts did?

http://www.reformation.org/simon-peter-simon-...

and simon magus(magi) and paul are introduced in the same chapter of the bible, act 8.

http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2005/10/17/...

striver wrote:

<quoted text>paul was a pharisee hypocrite who pretended to be a believer, just to get what he wanted from others.
so yes, i think he must have been an atheist in disguise, because he did not really believe the lords power was real until it 'hit' him.

You do realize that an atheist is a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings. The Pharisees and Sadducees were very devout Godly people, but thought the Hebrew identity of God was the only one. Christianity was considered new and at the time of Saul/Paul, Jesus Christ was still considered by many to be a rebel and rabble-rouser. It wasn't until the occurrence on the road to Damascus that Paul realized his mistake and converted from Judaism to that of a follower of Christ.

kneph wrote:

jesus, paul, and john the revelator were gnostics
jesus said, "there is nothing occult(hidden) that won't be revealed = revelation(to reveal)
[1].
if paul and simon the magi(magus) weren't one and the same, then why did paul mention thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; which are names of the hierarchies of angels?
if jesus wasn't gnostic, why did he mention the kingdom; which is the culmination of the sephiroth tree of life rooted in matter.
if paul and simon magus were not the same, then why does this person associate them in the same place and time, just as the writers in acts did?
http://www.reformation.org/simon-peter-simon-...
and simon magus(magi) and paul are introduced in the same chapter of the bible, act 8.
http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2005/10/17/...

If you read and believe the apocrypha Acts of Peter and Paul, both were present with Simon Magus at the debate with Nero. If that's true, then Paul and Simon Magus can't be the same person.

LongGoneFrom Laurel wrote:

<quoted text>
If you read and believe the apocrypha Acts of Peter and Paul, both were present with Simon Magus at the debate with Nero. If that's true, then Paul and Simon Magus can't be the same person.

still doesn't discount that paul was simon magus given his use of terminology from kabbalistic teachings, or jewish mysticism.

case in point regarding paul alone:

occult terms in the nt

Romans 8:38
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Colossians 1:16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Colossians 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Titus 3:1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

he wasn't the only one either

jude uses the terms dominion and power too

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case in point regarding john the revelator:

666 = base mind

1000 = conqueror

crown = kether is mentioned 9 times in revelation = fiery heavens remember they will burn with fervent heat

wisdom = chochmah is mentioned 4 times in revelation = twelve tribes or a complete revolution

glory = hod is mentioned 18 times in revelation = mercury

understanding = binah is mentioned in 13:18 = saturn the scythe bearer = satan the gatherer/harvester with the fan

Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

abyss(bottomless pit)= ein sof is mentioned 9 times. fyi 9 is perfection of the spirit and the abyss is first mentioned in ch. 9 vers 1. the UNCREATED CREATOR or FORMLESS ONE

The Zohar explains the term "Ein Sof" as follows:
“ Before He gave any shape to the world, before He produced any form, He was alone, without form and without resemblance to anything else. Who then can comprehend how He was before the Creation? Hence it is forbidden to lend Him any form or similitude, or even to call Him by His sacred name, or to indicate Him by a single letter or a single point.... But after He created the form of the Heavenly Man, He used him as a chariot wherein to descend, and He wishes to be called after His form, which is the sacred name 'YHWH'.

foundation = jesod is mentioned 4 times in revelation = moon

victory = netsah is mentioned in rev 15:2 = venus

kingdom = malchuth is mentioned 6 times in revelations = elements

twelve tribes = zodiac is mentioned 10 times in revelation

try to keep in mind that moses received his learning from the egyptians in the secret(occult) teachings