St. Paul of Tarsus

Saint Paul was born in the City of Tarsus, the provincial capital of Cilicia in southern Asia Minor. Because of his birthplace he enjoyed the privilege of Roman citizenship (Acts 22:27-28) He was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin and was circumcised on the eighth day (Ph 3:5). Indeed, he was a Hebrew well versed in the language and traditions of the Hebrews, and, at the same time, a Greco-Roman fluent in Greek.

He began his studies at the age of five. In his tenth year he commenced his studies of the Mishnah, the codified commentaries on the Law. At thirteen he was given the title "Son of the Law" recognising that his father had accepted him to be legally of age, to understand the requirements of the Law, and, to be morally responsible for his own actions.

In this period, it was customary that a son learned a trade by which he could support himself. The Talmud asks, "What must a father do for his son?" and to this the Talmud answers, "To circumcise him on the eighth day, to teach him the Law until he is thirteen, and, to give him a craft with which to support his life." Rabbi Yuda said, "The one who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to steal." Gamalael, the great legal scholar and the teacher of Paul, says, "What comparison can I find to the one who has a craft? He is like a vine protected by a surrounding fence." Paul learned to be a tentmaker using felt made from goat hair. (Acts 18:3)

In today's epistle (Gal 6/11-18), Paul speaks about those who crave the approval of others, those who follow the letter of the Law for their own imagined security, and, in doing so, place themselves far from the Cross of Christ.

Issam John Darwish BSO, DD

Eparch

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