Quote:
Originally Posted by dyna mo
saul/paul could be one of my most favorite historical characters. it's interesting to me that you suggest he was an agent for rome, esp. in light of the fact he was such a religious person. it's amazing to think that he converted from judaism to christianity but it's MINDBLOWING to hear some think he was an agent of rome. he never even visited rome until much much later in his life, and combined with all of the persecutions he recieved- i would be blown away if it were shown he turned his back on religion and actually sabotaged the jewish on behalf of the roman state.
|
well, the only hope of proving or disproving such a thesis would come from as yet unmade archaeological discoveries - because textual evidence and hermenuetics can only tell us so much.
I personally doubt such archaeology will be uncovered, but, I'm always watching for it.
an agent for roman intelligence wouldn't have to be roman, or to ever have been in rome.
saul/paul is a rather terrifying character to have as a favorite figure. but, that is a bias on my part, I always found the letters rather disturbing.
altho I kinda feel like I should reread them. they appeared, and were arguably written, before the gospels, which were always my favorite documents of the collection - it might be educational to re-examine them with the mental toolset I have now.