Do I Need to See an Angel to Be Converted?

Keywords

Paul’s conversion, early Christian persecution, ancient mortality

Abstract

If the scriptures ever preserved an extraordinary plot-twist, the story of Paul’s journey on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus is it.

Let me paint a picture of the all-encompassing fears many early Christians experienced for their faith.

The ancient world was violent. Death and mayhem were the common lot for humanity. Few people survived past their fourth decade. Death from starvation, disease, and warfare were the major reasons that people passed from this life. Few people died of old age. Cancer and heart-attacks were relatively uncommon in the ancient world as these are typically diseases of old age. Law and order was enforced through fear and by the sword, or other instruments of death.

Original Publication Citation

Do I Need to See an Angel to Be Converted?, July 8, 2019. (Republished on LDS Living on July 9, 2019. Republished on the Deseret News on July 11, 2019.)

Document Type

Other

Publication Date

2019

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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