PAUL'S RACIAL BACKGROUND
PROSECUTION
We claim that Paul was an ldumean (Acts 13: 1). We also assert that in Paul's Epistle to Titus, he denies the need to look at one's genealogy. This is so that people will not discover Paul's ldumean ancestry. The denial of looking to genealogy is also a contradiction to Isaiah's call to Israel in Chapter 51:1 ...
"Hearken to me ye that follow righteousness, ye that seek the Lord, look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged - Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him."
Paul claims to be a Benjamite and projects himself as such. Jesus says in Matthew 24:4 ...
"Take heed that no man deceive you".
We claim that this man is Paul, deceiving the disciples of Christ through glorifying himself falsely for egotistical reasons, or for other gain. In Matthew 7:15 there is a further warning against Paul ...
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves"
The image that Paul puts forward of being a Benjamite fits this description only too clearly, for one of the symbols of the Tribe of Benjamin is a ravening wolf!
DEFENCE
These 'claims' by critics of St. Paul just collapse because they are too weak to stand up even to elementary examination. Acts 13:1 states that Manaen was a foster brother (or court member) of Herod, and that is the only reason Herod's name is mentioned. The Prosecution's claim therefore is totally unfounded. Manaen is the one connected with Herod -NOT Saul. And the following verse states that the Holy Spirit called for Barnabas and Saul to be separated for the Lord's work, so is the Holy Spirit Himself mistaken?
The quote in Romans 16:11
"Salute Herodion my Kinsman",
may be just as readily translated
"Salute Herodion my countryman".
There is nothing in Scripture, which states that Herodion was an ldumean. That is an unsupported assumption by the Prosecution. In any case, an ldumean is an Edomite, and Deuteronomy 23:7 states that an Edomite is our brother and therefore a 'kinsman'. But there is nothing to indicate that Paul was using the term 'kinsman' in any other sense than that of tribal or family relationship as he does for Andronicus and Junias in verse 7, and Rufus in verse 13. This entire list of names seems to be one of close relatives-hence Benjamites like himself. Herodion is a Greek masculine proper noun, and not a racial term, nor even a term showing support for Herod, which, in Greek, is an entirely different word altogether.
The reference in Titus 3:9 and 1 Timothy 1:4 in which Paul denies the need to search out one's own genealogy, does not conflict with Isaiah's call to Israel. Herod the Tetrarch had ordered the burning of those genealogical records of Israel which were kept in the archives of the Temple, to protect his own rulership. He himself was an ldumean, and therefore he feared any investigation into ancestral records. At that time, of course, the Pharisees were frantically trying to retrace their genealogies in order that they could continue to boast about their ancestry. Paul was also well aware of the class distinction, which would arise when the "heathenised " Israelites, having lost all their records in the captivity, would be joined to the Assembly.
Paul is simply saying that this endless labouring over trying to re- construct authentic records could be put to better use by labouring in God's stewardship in faith. Isaiah's call for Israel to look to Abraham and Sarah as their father and mother does not mean to compile records of pedigree. It was because of Abraham's faith that we received 'the promises of the fathers'. All Abraham's contemporary Hebrews could have claimed equal entitlement to favour from God if pedigree alone were the criterion.
The Hebrew text means - Pay attention to Abraham and Sarah, or show regard to, or consider. Would we interpret this as a command by God to record pedigree? We, who believe in the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic identity as being that of Israel, pay attention to our forefather Abraham as the father of our people. But do we pester Somerset House for confirmation via ancestry? NO, we believe it through believing Moses and the Prophets as Jesus commanded us, for without that belief we cannot believe Jesus either. It was because of Abraham's total obedience and unique faith in God, that God called Abraham
"alone and blessed him and increased him".
There is no evidence for the Prosecution's next claim -
"Take heed that no man deceive you"
This could apply to men in general. But even if it were specific, it would be grossly biased to assume that Paul is the sole target for accusation without further proof.
Luke's account of Acts shows Paul befriending and being accepted by the other Apostles, without question. So if Paul was the victim of this quote, then that Spirit which the Apostles received at Pentecost, did nothing to influence these Spiritually-guided men - all of whom were persuaded of Paul's worth, as were Luke, James and Peter.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
The suggestion that the 'ravening wolves' refers here to the symbol of the Tribe of Benjamin, is ridiculous. If Paul were the target, then our Lord would have chosen His words more carefully. Supposing that Paul was actually an ldumean, and also a false prophet, then our Lord would hardly have stated ... 'but inwardly they are Benjamites.' 'outwardly' perhaps. This observation alone is sufficient to refute such a theory.
A false prophet is one who makes prophecies, which do not come to pass, but Paul's prophecies did eventuate - as in Acts 23:3 where he told the High Priest Ananias that 'God would smite him'. This came to pass in A.D. 66 when Ananias was assassinated by a rebel group. Therefore Paul was a genuine Prophet, NOT a false one.
Paul was a pure-blooded Benjamite and this Tribe were often recognised as being the light bearing Tribe. This surely makes Benjamin a fit Tribe from which to be selected for Paul's mission.
