Faith Journey on Paul

I have begun a reading separate from my scripture time that takes a look at the life of the apostle Paul. To Live As Christ written by Beth Moore has already begun to draw more of my thoughts toward who Saul was as the legalistic, zealous pharisee and then Paul, the incredibly passionate apostle of Christ.
Below, five passages gives some origin to his faith journey. Specifically, we see a description of his former self, his destiny from birth, his circumcision distinguishing his devotion to the law, his testimony as a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee, and then his family's devotion demonstrated by the parchment at the doorpost.

First...
Paul affirms the description of his former self in Philippians 3:5-6...
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Second...
Saul is "set apart from birth." Born into an orthodox Jewish home, steeped in tradition, and raised by the letter of the law Saul was the product of a first century Jewish family. Yet, God from the beginning had a plan for Paul. And, nothing would thwart it.

In Galatians 1:15-16 Paul affirms this designation...

15"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,"
And, somehow I have little trouble believing that Paul "did not consult any man." He never seems as one who moves with the tide of men.

Third...
Paul's circumcision, when he was eight days old, was a sign of the covenant that had been made between Abraham, his descendants, and God.
The covenant that distinguishes his devotion to the Jewish law is recorded in Genesis 17:1-11.

The Covenant of Circumcision

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."

3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

They knew the Word of Jehovah and they executed it precisely.

Fourth in Acts 23:6 he identifies himself as a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee.

6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

This testimony would have been something to observe. Most specifically the expressions on the faces of Sadducees and the Pharisees since many of the Sadduccees were the ones to believe in the resurrection. Here is Paul, a prominent Pharisee, testifying on behalf of the Resurrection.

Fifth...
His family would have prominently displayed the watchwords of the Jewish faith at their doorpost.

These were those watchwords.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:13-21
13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.
20 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt,
but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Three priorities of the devout Jew would have included: study of the Torah, marriage, and performance of good deeds.

Each of these five passages give perspective to who Paul was, and though he held back the message of the Gospel from being spread for a time, ultimately God in his omniscience orchestrated it all for his own purposes.