He declared that in his unconverted state he had known Christ after the flesh, not by personal acquaintance, but by the conceptions which he, in common with others, cherished concerning his character and work. He had rejected Jesus of Nazareth as an impostor because he did not fulfill these expectations. But since Paul’s conversion, his views of Christ and his mission were far more spiritual and exalted than the Jewish conception of the long-promised Messiah. He asserted that he did not present to them Christ after the flesh. Herod had seen Christ in the days of his humanity; Annas had seen him; Pilate and the chief priests and rulers had seen him; the Roman soldiers had seen him. But these had not seen him with an eye of faith, and discerned him spiritually as the glorified Redeemer. To apprehend Christ by faith, to have a spiritual knowledge of him, was more to be desired than a personal acquaintance with him as he appeared on earth. The communion with Christ which Paul now enjoyed, was more intimate and more enduring than a mere earthly and human companionship.{LP 277.1}


Skildringer fra Paulus liv kapitel 25. 277.     Fra side 277 i den engelske udgave.tilbage

Ankomst til Rom

Han erklærede at han i sin uomvendte tilstand kendte Kristus efter kødet, ikke ved personlig kendskab, men ved de begreber som han, sammen med andre, havde om hans karakter og arbejde. Han havde forkastet Jesus af Nazareth som en bedrager fordi han ikke opfyldte disse forventninger. Men siden Paulus’ omvendelse, var hans syn på Kristus og hans mission langt mere åndelig og udviddet end jødernes begreb om den længe ventede Messias. Han fremhævede at han ikke viste dem Kristus efter kødet. Herodes havde set Kristus i de dage han var menneske; Annas havde set ham; Pilatus og ypperstepræsterne og herskene havde set ham; de romerske soldater havde set ham. Men disse havde ikke set ham med troens øje, og erkendt ham åndeligt som den forherligede Genløser. At gribe Kristus i tro, og få åndelig kendskab til ham, var mere ønskværdigt en et personligt kendskab med ham, da han viste sig på jorden. Det fællesskab med Kristus som Paulus nu nød, var mere intimt og bedre at klare, end blot det jordiske og menneskelige kammeratskab.

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