You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - WHAT CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE NEGATIVE FEELINGS

    Things that he did in the past. Before becoming a Christian, Paul, earlier known as Saul, did things that he would later regret. For example, he watched with approval as faithful Stephen was stoned to death. (Acts 7:58; 8:1) Also, Saul took the lead in viciously persecuting Christians. - ACTS 8:3; 26:9-11. 

After he became a Christian, the apostle Paul was at times troubled by his past. His previous actions as a relentless persecutor of Christians may have bothered him even more as the years went by. For example, when he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians in about 55 C.E., he said: "I am not worthy of being called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God." (1 Corinthians 15:9) Some five years later, in his letter to the Ephesians, he described himself as being "less than all the least of the holy ones." (Ephesians 3:8) When writing to Timothy, Paul referred himself as being formerly "a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man." (1 Timothy 1:13) Can you imagine how Paul must have felt when he visited a congregation and met those he had persecuted? 

Next time: You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings - WHAT CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE NEGATIVE FEELINGS - Conclusion

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