Did God change Saul's name to Paul?: Difference between revisions

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    ==What caused the shift in the name?==
    ==What caused the shift in the name?==


    Had Paul not been a Roman citizen, it would have been natural to suppose that ‘Paul’ was simply a Gentile name possessed by him from childhood alongside his Jewish name ‘Saul’; for the use of a Gentile name in addition to a Jewish, particularly one more or less like-sounding, was by New Testament times a well-established custom among Hellenistic Jews.
    Saul is a Hebrew name. His mother probably named him after King Saul. Paul is a Greek name. Why two names? Because of the ethnic melting pot of the first century, many Jewish mothers gave their sons both Hebrew and Greek names at birth. That is probably what happened with Paul. We know that Saul was also known as Paul from Acts 13:9 as follows:


    But, since Paul was a Roman citizen, the matter is rather more complicated. It is very probable that he possessed the three names characteristic of a Roman citizen, a praenomen or personal name, a nomen or clan name and a cognomen or family name. It is probable that one of the two names given in Acts 13:9 was one of Paul’s official tria nomina, and the other a signum or supernomen, an unofficial, informal name, additional to the three official names, such as was common at this time in the east.  
    :''Then Saul, who was also called Paul...<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 13:9.</ref>


    ‘Saul’ in a Latinized form could have been the apostle’s cognomen, and ‘Paulus’ his signum. But it is much more likely that it was the other way round, that ‘Paulus’ was his cognomen and ‘Saul’ in its Semitic form his signum. That in his work as a missionary among the Gentiles he should have preferred to use one of his Roman names is readily understandable.  
    It is interesting to note that Saul used his Hebrew name until he began to do ministry in the part of the world that was mostly populated by Greeks. It was when he started his missionary journeys that he used the name Paul. That would have been a better point of contact between him and the Greeks. It would have helped the Greeks to know that he was not trying to make Jews out of them. That name would also be accepted by the Jews in the Greek-populated world, for most Jews in the Greek-populated world also used their Greek names.


    The complete disappearance of two of Paul’s names may seem surprising; but Paul, while ready to insist on his Roman citizenship when to do so might be to the advantage of his mission, is not likely to have emphasized it in his dealings with his fellow Christians, most of whom were of inferior worldly status, and he may well have chosen to use only one of his names in view of the fact that most of his fellow Christians only possessed one name. If only one of the tria nomina was to be used, it would naturally be the cognomen "Paul", since that was the most distinctive.<ref?C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 49–50.</ref>
    The name Paul literally means little. It is possible that his mother named him Paul because he was a small baby. Some writers do describe Paul as a short man.


    Acts 13:9 makes it very clear: “But Saul, who was also called Paul, [was] filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Bible says he had both these names.  Any assertion by William Branham that God changed his name from Saul to Paul is clearly false.
    It is also possible that Saul gave himself the Greek name Paul as a self-imposed symbol of his humbleness. He saw himself as the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). But those descriptions should not cause us to feel that Paul had an inferiority complex. Quite the contrary. He saw himself as someone who had been especially called by God. He saw himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus.</ref>Knofel Staton, Second Corinthians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1988), 18–19.


    =Why It Matters=
    =Why It Matters=

    Revision as of 13:39, 22 May 2017

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    Most message followers consider William Branham to be an infallible interpreter of scripture. It is the widely held view of message followers that, if we want to know what a passage of the Bible actually means, William Branham is the best source on all counts.

    When encountering a passage in scripture that seems to be at odds with William Branham's interpretation, message preachers generally encourage message followers to simply put it "on the shelf" until God reveals to them why William Branham has the correct view.

    But there are a number of biblical issues that William Branham seems to have messed up badly:

    You are currently on the article that is in bold.
    William Branham said that God changed Saul's name to Paul. Is this Biblically correct?

    What does the Bible say?

    The Olaments Test contains many examples of people’s names being changed to better fit their circumstances. God changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah (Gen 17:5, 15); He also changed Jacob’s name to Israel (Gen 32:28). Moses changed Hoshea’s name to Joshua (Num 13:16).[1] William Branham thought that something similar happened to Paul when he encountered Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 9).

    The suggestion that Saul’s name was changed to Paul at the time of his conversion has absolutely no support in the New Testament.[2]

    Here are several examples that illustrate this

    Jesus calls him as “Saul” in Acts 9:4

    In Acts 9:4, we read:

    And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”[3]

    Ananias refers to him as “Saul” after his conversion

    Acts 9:17 states:

    So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[4]

    The Holy Spirit refers to him as “Saul”

    Acts 13:2 says,

    While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [5]

    After the conversion experience, he is called “Saul” 14 more times

    Please refer to:

    1. Acts 9:8
    2. Acts 9:11
    3. Acts 9:17
    4. Acts 9:19
    5. Acts 9:22
    6. Acts 9:24
    7. Acts 9:26
    8. Acts 11:25
    9. Acts 11:30
    10. Acts 12:25
    11. Acts 13:1
    12. Acts 13:2
    13. Acts 13:7
    14. Acts 13:9

    What caused the shift in the name?

    Saul is a Hebrew name. His mother probably named him after King Saul. Paul is a Greek name. Why two names? Because of the ethnic melting pot of the first century, many Jewish mothers gave their sons both Hebrew and Greek names at birth. That is probably what happened with Paul. We know that Saul was also known as Paul from Acts 13:9 as follows:

    Then Saul, who was also called Paul...[6]

    It is interesting to note that Saul used his Hebrew name until he began to do ministry in the part of the world that was mostly populated by Greeks. It was when he started his missionary journeys that he used the name Paul. That would have been a better point of contact between him and the Greeks. It would have helped the Greeks to know that he was not trying to make Jews out of them. That name would also be accepted by the Jews in the Greek-populated world, for most Jews in the Greek-populated world also used their Greek names.

    The name Paul literally means little. It is possible that his mother named him Paul because he was a small baby. Some writers do describe Paul as a short man.

    It is also possible that Saul gave himself the Greek name Paul as a self-imposed symbol of his humbleness. He saw himself as the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). But those descriptions should not cause us to feel that Paul had an inferiority complex. Quite the contrary. He saw himself as someone who had been especially called by God. He saw himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus.</ref>Knofel Staton, Second Corinthians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1988), 18–19.

    Why It Matters

    Biblical interpretation not rooted in God’s Word — even if attractive — are still just wrong. I can imagine how easy it is to draw powerful applications from the notion that Saul the persecutor met the risen Jesus and was so transformed that Jesus gave him a new name. That will preach, especially given how closely connected naming and identity are in Scripture. Nevertheless, without biblical evidence for such an idea, we should not use it. Even if it spoils William Branham's teaching.

    This principle applies well beyond this situation, of course. And there are other examples of William Branham's bad interpretation above. We can't derive the right doctrine from the wrong text.

    As God’s people we should endeavor to read God’s Word closely and be as faithful to it as possible, in every area. Application that appears to draw on Scripture but isn’t actually scriptural — even if it seems right — can easily undermine someone’s faith once they realize they’ve been misled all along.[7]

    Quotes of William Branham

    Saul, good name, Saul was a king one time in Israel, but Saul didn't fit an apostle. Might be all right for a king, but not an apostle. So Jesus changed his name from what? From Saul to Paul. [8]


    Words, names, they have meanings. Many people don't believe that, but that's true. If names don't have some meaning, why did Abram's name have to be changed to Abraham? Why did Sarai have to be changed to Sarah? Why did Saul have to be changed to Paul? Why did Simon have to be changed to Peter? See, all these has meanings, everything has meanings.[9]


    If there isn't something in a name, then why as long as Jacob was called Jacob, which means "supplanter, deceiver," that's what he was? But when he wrestled with the Lord all night, and the Lord changed his name, and about… when he was about sixty years old. He changed his name from—from—from Jacob to Israel, "a prince before God," and that's what he was. Why was Abram called… had to be called "Abraham" before the baby could be born? Why was Sarai called "Sarah" before the baby could be born?

    Why was Paul… or call… his name was Saul, but when he met Jesus, He changed him from Saul to "Paul."[10]


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ru 1:20.
    2. ↑ C. E. B. Cranfield, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 48.
    3. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Acts 9:4
    4. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 9:17.
    5. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Ac 13:2.
    6. ↑ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 13:9.
    7. ↑ This research is from Greg Lanier (PhD, Cambridge), who serves as assistant professor of New Testament and dean of students at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He is also an assistant pastor at River Oaks Church (PCA).
    8. ↑ William Braham, 63-0318 - The First Seal, para. 282
    9. ↑ William Braham, 63-1214 - Why Little Bethlehem, para. 78
    10. ↑ William Braham, 63-1222 - God's Gifts Always Find Their Places, para. 47


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