The life and work of St. Paul

ST. PAUL A HAQADIST. 703
beyond their connexion with loving reminiscences of the things wliioh he h*d learnt in
the lecture-hall of Gamaliel, or in his old paternal home. In this very passage of the
Corinthians the word "following" (oKoAou'floi/aijs) is only a graceful allusion to the least
fantastic element of a legend capable of a spiritual meaning ; and St. Paul, in the instant
addition of the words " and this rock was Christ," shows how slight and casual is the
reference to the purely Hagadistic elements which, in the national consciousness, had got
mingled up with the great story of the wanderings in the wilderness. 1 Meanwhile since
it is the spiritual and not the material rock which is prominent in the thoughts of St.
Paul is there any one who holds so slavish and unseriptural a view of inspiration as to
think that such a transient allusion either demands our literal acceptance of the fact
alluded to, or, if we reject it, weakens the weight of apostolic authority ? If a modern
religious writer glanced allusively at some current legend of our own or of ancient history,
would it be at once assumed that he meant to support its historical certainty ? If he
quotes Milton's line about Aaron's breastplate "ardent with gems oracular," is he held
to pledge himself to the Rabbinic theory of the light which moved upon them? Does any
one think himself bound to a literal belief in seven heavens, because St. Paul, in direct
accordance with Jewish notions, tells us that he was caught up into Paradise as far as the
third? 2
There is one respect in which these traces of Judaic training are specially interesting.
They show the masterly good sense of the Apostle, and they show his inspired superiority
to the influences of his training. That he should sometimes resort to allegory is reason-
able and interesting; but when we study the use which he makes of the allegorising
method in the case of Sarah and Hagar, we see at once its immense superiority
to the
fantastic handling of the same facts by the learned Philo. How much more soberly does
St. Paul deal with the human and historic elements of the story ; and how far more
simple and natural are the conclusions which he derives from it I Again, when he alludes
to the legends and traditions of his nation, how rational and how purely incidental is his
way of treating them ! Compare St. Paul with Philo, with the Taliuudists, with any of
the Fathers in the first three centuries, and we can then more clearly recognise the chasm
which separates the Apostle from the very greatest writers both of his own nation and of
the early Christian Church.
The question as to whether St. Paul had or had not read Philo is not easy to
answer. Gfrorer's work on Philo might seem a decisive proof that he had done so.
Undoubtedly many passages may be adduced from the voluminous pamphlets of the
eloquent Alexandrian which might lead us to repeat the old remark that " either Paul
Philonises, or Philo is a Christian." Philo, like St. Paul, speaks of the Word of God as
the antitype of the manna, and the smitten rock, and the pillar of cloud and fire ; and
as a Mediator, and as begotten before the worlds, and as the Heavenly Man. He speaks
of the strife between the fleshly and the rational soul ; of the assisting grace of God ; of
the milk of doctrine ; of seeing God as through a mirror; of the true riches ; and of the
faith of Abraham. And, besides agreement in isolated phrases, Philo resembles St. Paul
in his appeal to 3
overwhelming revelations, in modes of citing and interpreting Scripture,
in his use of allegory, in the importance which he attaches to the spiritual over the
carnal meaning of ordinances, and in many other particulars. But when we look closer
we see that many of these expressions and points of view were not peculiar to Philo.
They were, so to speak, in the air. They fall under the same category as the resemblances
to Christian sentiments which may be adduced from the writings of Seneca,
i Seven- such current national traditions are alluded to in St. Stephen's speech. (See supra,
p. 92.)
1 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4 ; Eph. iv. 10. Many other passages and expressions of St. Paul find their
Dluatralion from the Talmud e.g, t 1 Cor. xv. 87, 45, yvjivw K&K.K.W ; Eph. 1L 14 (the Chel) ; 1 Cor.
"
T. 2 (ctrdtetth, other lands ") 2 ; Cor. II. 16, &O-/M) Savarov 2 ; Cor. v. 2, iitevl>