WISER THAN PAUL by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1879

WISER THAN PAUL.

By A. S. Hutchins

The apostle very modestly speaks of himself in the third person, while referring to the visions and revelations of the Lord which he received. He says: “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third Heaven,” where he heard words impossible for man to utter. 2 Cor. 12: 2, 4.

There is one thing with reference to this man which Paul affirms that he did not know; i. e., whether he was in the body, or out of the body. He says, “God knoweth.” So far as our knowledge is concerned in this matter, we had supposed the same uncertainty must obscure our minds which veiled the apostle’s; but we find some now who have an understanding of the subject quite satisfactory to themselves. We are told that this wonderful vision or revelation was given to Paul while he lay dead at Lystra. A man of intelligence, steadfast and immovable in the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, thus confidently affirmed not long since.

Respecting the death of Paul at Lystra, the record runs as follows: “And, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city.” Acts 14: 19, 20. Here it is affirmed of Paul that he was stoned, drawn out of the city, supposed to be dead, and rose up in the presence of his brethren and came into the city. With this record before us, it would be impossible to prove an alibi for this man. And if so, it was not this Paul who at this time had the vision, but it must have been another Paul.

Those who hold to the unreasonable and unscriptural view of the immortality of the soul, tell us that the immaterial part, the soul, or spirit, is the real man, which leaves the body at death; and so argued my friend, this being the Paul who received the vision of so remarkable a character. Then certainly there were two Pauls, for the material, visible Paul was all this time on earth and in the presence of his brethren.

In the solution of this problem, one of two things seems very remarkable: 1. That the real Paul who forsook the one stoned should be unable to tell whether or not he was in the body; or, 2. That men in the nineteenth century have found out so conclusively that he did forsake the body, and thus become wiser than Paul himself.

The following is an approved definition of vision: “A supernatural appearance of men and things to the mind of a person not asleep.” Thus the Lord revealed himself to holy men of old,—to Peter, to Ananias, to Cornelius, to Paul, and to many others. Revelations of a remarkable character were not uncommon with the great apostle to the Gentiles, the man of whom the Lord said, “I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake;” the Paul who through his labors and his school of suffering had so far learned of Christ that he could testify: “Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Oh, that we might become wise in these things by suffering in the school of Christ; and like those who “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

A. S. HUTCHINS.