V. Commentaries.
The Commentators on Paul’s Epistles (in whole or in part) are so numerous that we can only mention
some of the most important:- On all the Pauline Epp.: Calvin, Beza, Estius (b.c.), Corn. A Lapide (R. C.), Grotius, Wetstein,
Bengel, Olshausen, De Wette, Meyer, Lange (Am. ed. enlarged), Ewald, Von Hofmann, Reuss
(French), Alford, Wordsworth, Speaker’sCom., Ellicott (Pop. Com.), Schaff (Pop. Com., vol.
III. 1882). Compare also P. J. Gloag: Introduction to the Pauline Epistles. Edinburgh, 1874. - On single Epp.: Romans by Tholuck (5th ed. 1856), Fritzsche (3 vols. in Latin), Reiche, Rückert,
Philippi (3d ed. 1866, English transl. by Banks, 1878-’79, 2 vols.), Mos. Stuart, Turner, Hodge,
Forbes, Jowett, Shedd (1879), Godet (L’épitre aux Romains, 1879 and 1880, 2
vols).—Corinthians by Neander, Osiander, Hodge, Stanley, Heinrici, Edwards, Godet,
Ellicott.—Galatians by Luther, Winer, Wieseler, Hilgenfeld, Holsten, Jowett, Eadie, Ellicott,
Lightfoot.—Ephesians by Harless, Matthies, Stier, Hodge, Eadie, Ellicott, J. L. Davies.—Other
minor Epp. explained by Bleek (Col., Philemon, and Eph.), Koch (Thess.),van Hengel (Phil.),
Eadie (Col.), Ellicott (Phil., Col., Thess., Philem.),Lightfoot (Phil, Col., Philemon).—Pastoral
Epp. by Matthies, Mack (R. C.), Beck (ed. Lindenmeyer, 1879), Holtzmann (1880), Fairbairn,
Ellicott, Weiss (1886), Knoke (1887), Kölling (1887). - The Commentaries on the second part of Acts by De Wette, Meyer, Baumgarten, Alexander,
Hackett, Lechler, Gloag, Plumptre, Jacobson, Lumby, Howson and Spence.
§ 30. Paul before his Conversion.
His Natural Outfit.
We now approach the apostle of the Gentiles who decided the victory of Christianity as a
universal religion, who labored more, both in word and deed, than all his colleagues, and who
stands out, in lonely grandeur, the most remarkable and influential character in history. His youth
as well as his closing years are involved in obscurity, save that he began a persecutor and ended a
martyr, but the midday of his life is better known than that of any other apostle, and is replete with
burning thoughts and noble deeds that can never die, and gather strength with the progress of the
gospel from age to age and country to country.
Saul or Paul^342 was of strictly Jewish parentage, but was born, a few years after Christ,^343 in
the renowned Grecian commercial and literary city of Tarsus, in the province of Cilicia, and inherited(^342) "Paul" (Little) is merely the Hellenized or Latinized form for his Hebrew name "Saul" (Desired), and has nothing whatever
to do either with his own conversion, or with the conversion of Sergius Paulus of Cyprus. There are many similar instances of
double names among the Jews of that time, as Hillel and Pollio, Cephas and Peter, John and Mark, Barsabbas and Justus, Simeon
and Niger, Silas and Silvanus. Paul may have received his Latin name in early youth in Tarsus, as a Roman citizen; Paulus being
the cognomen of several distinguished Roman families, as the gens AEmilia, Fabia, Julia, Sergia. He used it in his intercourse
with the Gentiles and in all his Epistles. See Hist. Apost. Ch., p. 226, and my annotations to Lange on Romans 1:1, pp. 57 and
58.
(^343) When Paul wrote to Philemon, a.d. 63, he was an aged man (πρεσβύτης, Phil. 9), that is, about or above sixty. According
to Hippocrates a man was called πρεσβύτης from forty-nine to fifty-six, and after that γέρων, senes. In a friendly letter to a
younger friend and pupil the expression must not be pressed. Walter Scott speaks of himself as "an old grey man" at fifty-five.
Paul was still a "youth" (νεανίας, Acts 7:58) at the stoning of Stephen, which probably took place in 37; and although this term
is likewise vaguely used, yet as he was then already clothed with a most important mission by the Sanhedrin, he must have been
A.D. 1-100.