Why did St. Paul go to Arabia?

Reading acts ^ | September 8, 2017 | Phillip J Long

[Cronos]

One of the more tantalizing aspects of Paul’s early ministry is his “three years in Arabia.” In Galatians 1:17, Paul claims he did not go to Jerusalem immediately, but rather he went to Arabia for a period of time before returning to Damascus. A recent novel by Jerry Jenkins, Empire’s End: A Novel of the Apostle Paul, speculates about this period in Paul’s life, but what can we know about Paul’s life after the Damascus Road experience?

This period of time is not spent in modern Arabia (i.e. Saudi Arabia), but rather the Nabatean kingdom on the east side of the Jordan. As Robert Smith states, the term “Arab” “could be used as a virtual equivalent of ‘Nabatean’ (1 Macc 5:25, 39, 9:35, and 2 Macc 5:8)” (ABD, 1:326).

Paul gives us some details of these events in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33. While Luke indicates the Jews were plotting against him, 2 Corinthains adds an important fact: The local guard was looking out for him as well. He specifically mentions Aretas IV, the client-king over the Nabateans. During the reign of Aretas IV (9 B.C. – A.D. 39) Nabatean culture was at a high point. The king was responsible for the development of Petra and developed a number of cities along the Petra-Gaza trade route. He controlled territory as far north as Damascus and as far south as northern Arabia. To a certain extent, Aretas IV was the “Herod the Great” of the Nabatean kingdom. Since Aretas IV died in 39, the latest date for Paul’s conversion is 36, if not earlier.

After an initial confrontation with Jews in the synagogue in Damascus, it is possible that Paul traveled from Damascus to other major cities in the Nabatean kingdom. This would have included cities of the Decapolis, perhaps even the modern site of Jeresh. It is possible he visited Petra since it was a major trading center at the time. He may have used Damascus as a “base” since there was already a community of believers there. We simply have no real facts to deal with for this three year period, other than he was living in that territory for three years and that he did not consult the other apostles until three years after his experience on the road to Damascus.

But as James Dunn observes, the more difficult question is why Paul spent three years in the Arabia. Paul makes an emphatic statement that after receiving a commission from the resurrected Jesus to be the “light to the Gentiles,” he did not “consult flesh and blood” but went to Arabia (Gal 1:7). Like Dunn, I think that Paul is simply following through on the commission he was given, to take the message of Jesus the Messiah to the Gentiles. The Nabatean kingdom provided him with ample opportunity to do just that.

Sometimes this period is described as a spiritual retreat into the desert, to work out the implications of his encounter with Jesus. I think that it is certain that Paul begins working through what “Jesus as Messiah” means, and what his role as the ‘light to the Gentiles” should be. He likely spent a great deal of time reading the scripture developing the material that he will use later in Antioch, then on the missionary journeys. But this period is not a monastic retreat! Paul is preaching Jesus and being faithful to his calling as the light to the Gentiles.

[Cronos]

Paul's mission to Nabatea is interesting, especially considering that the area later was where Ebionites held out until the 6th century.

Ebionites rejected Paul and also rejected the divinity of Jesus. They most likely influenced the Arabs who later created Islam from a mix of Ebionite, Gnostic, Arab pagan and Kudaic elements.

[daniel1212]

"Paul's mission to Nabatea is interesting, especially considering that the area later was where Ebionites held out until the 6th century. Ebionites rejected Paul and also rejected the divinity of Jesus. They most likely influenced the Arabs who later created Islam from a mix of Ebionite, Gnostic, Arab pagan and Kudaic elements. "

Thanks, though "Paul's mission to Nabatea" as in preaching to them is speculative, yet as is seen in Acts 17, passionate, purposeful Paul certainly can be expected to evangelize and to preach in the face of idolatry. But what is also reasonable to assume is that Arabia is where Paul was personally discipled by the Lord, (cf, 1 Corinthians 9:1) who by revelation provided him with the gospel of grace, which "is not after man For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11,12) And which gospel was confirmed by those who appeared to be pillars, (Galatians 2; cf. Acts 10:43; 15:7-9) which manifest communion was critical in the light of accusations that Paul was not a true apostle.

[Hebrews 11:6]

But what is also reasonable to assume is that Arabia is where Paul was personally discipled by the Lord

And further to assume, given both the responsibility Paul soon would shoulder and the profundity of his writing, that this discipling involved substantially greater breadth and depth than what the Lord dished out on the brief journey to Emmaus.

[fishtank]

Paul went to Mount Sinai? - Mt. Sinai in Arabia - Episode 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0o-9ZsrDk

CIRA International
90.7K subscribers

Joel shares the evidence of Paul’s visit to the real Mount Sinai in Arabia in the book of Galatians. It was here Paul came to realize that salvation comes through faith, not works. Watch as Al Fadi and Joel discuss the details of Paul’s journey through Arabia, again confirming the real location of God’s Holy Mountain....

About CIRA International

CIRA’s mission and goal is to; create awareness about Islam as a religion and political movement; inform and challenge the Church concerning outreach and evangelism to Muslims, equip the believers with effective outreach tools, and advance the Gospel message among our Muslim neighbors & communities so that the vast majority of Muslims will begin a Gospel conversation with a Christ-follower.

CIRA exists to mobilize the Body of Christ across North America, and globally, to more effectively reach Muslims with the Gospel, by discipling and equipping believers, and by empowering church and community leaders to influence the Muslim world for Christ.

[daniel1212]

"And further to assume, given both the responsibility Paul soon would shoulder and the profundity of his writing, that this discipling involved substantially greater breadth and depth than what the Lord dished out on the brief journey to Emmaus."

Certainly, though the 11 received more than what the Lord provided out on the brief journey to Emmaus, and later to 11, for to others He also "shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3) and which could additional revelation to the 11. Yet Peter himself needed additional revelation to preach to the Gentiles, (Acts 10) conflative with the testimony of Paul, (Acts 15:7-12) to whom in particular was committed the revelation of the One New Man, the church as the body of Christ consisting only of believers, Jews and Gentiles. Which is part of the additional public revelation that we read of which the Lord promised in John 16:12-15. And yet unhindered revelation awaits the Lord's return. (1 Co. 13:9-12; 1 Jn. 3:2) Thanks be to God.

But I also should say that Paul's statement that he saw the Lord could, at least in part, refer to the "heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19) of his initial encounter, as well as perhaps his autobiographical statement of hearing words unlawful to utter in 2 Corinthians 12:4.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The three years of discipling for The Eleven predated their reception of the Holy Spirit, so Jesus was pushing that rock uphill.

The early post-resurrection years were unique: no New Testament yet, and a tremendous mountain of Old Testament prophecy, imagery and symbolism to assimilate in light of the First Coming (which Paul surely undertook in Arabia, leading ultimately to such as, "That rock was Christ")--amidst the pervasive deadly persecutions. An exciting time to be alive, if one could stay alive, spreading the gospel.

Paul attests to at least two occasions of seeing the Lord: the first rendered him blind and the second, humble. The Lord showed Himself to me and my wife thirty-eight years ago, and like Paul we will never, ever get over it.

[ckilmer]

I’ve often said that elements of the gnostic gospels can be found in the Koran—as I’ve seen what looks like similar interpretations of the life death and resurrection of Jesus —and also the role of Mary—in both. but I’m fuzzy on details. Do you know the details well enough to quote chapter and verse.

[Yulee]

Paul states in The New Testament that the Mount of Law, where the Ten Commandments were given is in Arabia.

Ron Wyatt and others after him claim that they found it near a Saudi military base, the same area that the Saudis say they are going to build a massive new resort.

[Cronos]

hi,

Yes - sorry for the delay

Isa’s (non-) death
That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-
— Quran 4:157–158[11]

3:55
“O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.
https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=55

---

The role of Mary is even more hilarious

5:116
Sahih International: And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?’” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.

https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=5&verse=116

[Cronos]

Mt Sinai is in the Sinai peninsula - in Egypt. Not Saudia

[Cronos]

Mt Sinai is in the Sinai peninsula - why would Moses take a detour south to the hejaz???

[newfreep]

allah = satan = lucifer = devil = EVIL.

It’s not rocket science...