The theory that Paul is a false apostle has been circulating in the English-speaking world for more than ten years. Some people claim that when examining Hebrew or Greek, this interpretation becomes plausible. However, their analysis is partial. This time, let's take a calm, balanced approach, gaining an overall understanding while carefully selecting and examining the relevant original languages.
Let's begin by exploring the original meaning of Παῦλος (Paul). If you click on the link to the left, it is defined as "small, little." Wikipedia describes this as meaning "modest, humble." This is related to the verb παύω (pauo), which in an outline sense means "to cease from sin, to stop, to no longer be tempted." In fact, in Acts 13:10, Paul says to the magician Bar-Jesus, "You should stop sinning!"
Saul's Meaning in Hebrew and Greek:
A change from a noun to a verb can result in a completely different meaning. From there, it's said that the English word "pause" (i.e., "to temporarily stop") is derived. Furthermore, Paul was a key figure in the abolition of Judaism, and according to Greek, he was by no means grandiose but rather a small, humble person who was seen as weak or insignificant by those around him.
Now, let's review Paul's original name, Saul, first in Greek. The linked source states that the name means "desired." The same meaning is found in Hebrew as well.
However, some people abroad insist that Saul derives from the word "Sheol," and they claim that Paul's teachings are a deadly trap. However, Sheol has completely different vowels from Saul (Paul), so it is a different word. Naturally, "Jehovah" has an ominous connotation, but "Yahuwah" has different vowels, so even if the consonantal forms are the same, they have entirely different meanings.
Let's deliberately break down "Paul" into Hebrew. פָּעָה (Paa) is used in only one verse, which is quite fascinating.
Dare to break down Paul into Hebrew.
Isaiah 42:14 I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry(paa) like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills, And dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools. 16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
This word "cry out" is where "paa" is used. Here, God Himself is crying out in the pains of childbirth, making all things desolate, and then leading the wandering Israelites. This chapter is a song of praise to the Lord. However, in verses 18 and 19, the Lord laments, "Who is blind but my servant, or deaf like the messenger I send?" Even so, it is clear that although things will become desolate, verse 16 promises that the blind will be led, thus conveying hopeful renewal.
Acts 28:25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." '(Isaiah 6:9-10) 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
Here, we see how Paul is described. The suffix לָמַד (lamed) in Paul's name originally means "to learn" or "to be taught." It is related to a "goad," which is a positive word that refers to a tool for guiding and teaching. Interestingly, in Acts 26:14 in the NKJV, Jesus tells Paul, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads," meaning that by resisting Jesus, Paul was only harming himself. Afterward, Paul completely converted to Christianity, and just as the original Hebrew suggests, he was taught and trained by the "goad" that is Jesus. Through God's birth pains, Paul then increased the number of the children of the kingdom.
As an added measure, here are two more Hebrew words similar in pronunciation to Paul: פָּלָה (Pala). This word is also very interesting. It means "to distinguish, to set apart, to make wonderful," and is used mostly in positive contexts. In Psalm 17:7, it is used for "the marvelous kindness of the Lord," and in Psalm 139:14 for "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." In the KJV examples, it is used in five places, including Exodus and Psalms, where the Lord "distinguishes" (i.e., sanctifies) Israel from Egypt (Exodus 8:22; 9:4; 11:6; 33:16, Psalm 4:3). פֶּלֶא (Pele) is used only in the positive sense of "wonderful."
So, after researching neutrally, it becomes clear that the hints suggesting Paul is a false apostle are not supported by the original languages. Both the Hebrew and Greek indicate that Paul was a humble and modest figure who stopped the sins of pagan life (pauo) for the Gentile nations of Greece and the West. At the same time, from the Hebrew perspective, Paul was a teacher (lamed) who endured "birth pains" (paa), bringing about a new distinction (pala) and sanctification through astonishing learning and enlightenment. (However, just as ancient Israel fell into apostasy by using the law as a shield to ignore mercy and justice, the Western Roman Christians, following only a single line of grace from Paul's writings, are at high risk of apostasy.)
I have quoted from here, but the author of this blog mistakenly writes "retrain" instead of "restrain" or "refrain," and they pick up unrelated verbs and nouns, so I have carefully selected only what I believe is necessary.
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