Jensens survey of the old testament adam 441

training, and he returned to Jerusalem some
time after Christ’s ascension. He soon
became the leader of the persecution of the
Christian church.
F. CONVERSION
Paul’s conversion to Christ came at the
height of his opposition to the church, on
the road to Damascus. Acts 9:l-19a reports
the experience. (Recall your survey of Acts.)
The sovereign ways of God are remarkably
demonstrated in Paul’s three-phased life
(early training; church persecutor; church
leader) in relation to Christ and the early
church. This is shown on the accompanying
diagram. What are your impressions?
G. MISSIONARY-AUTHOR


Many of Paul’s New Testament letters
were written during the years of his
missionary labors. Chart 59 shows how these
two ministries overlapped each other.6 (For
Scripture references to each item, see
Appendix B, p. 518.)


CHART 59: OUTLINE OF HIGHLIGHTS OF
PAUL’S LIFE

H. CHARACTER
A study of Paul’s character as revealed by

Acts and his writings shows him to be one of
the most unique Christians of the New
Testament. A. T. Robertson’s interpretation
of that character revelation is given here:
Passing by Jesus himself, Paul
stands
forever
the
foremost
representative of Christ, the ablest
exponent of Christianity, its most


constructive genius, its dominant
spirit from the merely human side,
its most fearless champion, its
most illustrious and in uential
missionary, preacher, teacher, and
its most distinguished martyr. He
heard things in the third heaven
not lawful to utter (II Cor. 12:4),
but he felt himself a poor earthen
vessel after all (II Cor. 4:7). He
sought to commend himself in the
sight of God to every man’s
conscience, for he had seen the
light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ and was the servant of all
for Jesus’ sake (II Cor. 4:3 ff.).8

I. TRIALS AND DEATH
Paul was released from his rst Roman
imprisonment (Acts 28:16-31), but he was
incarcerated again after about four years of