Torrey Seland, «Saul of Tarsus and Early Zealotism. Reading Gal 1,13-14 in Light of Philo’s Writings», Vol. 83 (2002) 449-471
One of the most consistent features in the portraits of Saul of Tarsus in the Acts of the Apostles and in the letters accredited to Paul, is the fervent zeal of his youth. The zeal of the young Saul has been dealt with in several studies, drawing on the issue of zealotry in Palestine, but the conclusions reached are rather diverse. The present study suggests that the often overlooked phenomenon of zealotry in the writings of Philo of Alexandria should also be considered. The material from Philo does not support the view that the early zealots formed any consistent movement or party, but that they were vigilant individuals who took the Law in their own hands when observing cases of gross Torah transgressions.
The verb diw/kw is used in the pres.part. in Gal 1,23, and in the imperfect in 1,13. The only verb directly associated with kai/ is porqei=n, both times in the imperfect tense. It is difficult to decide if kai/ is used paratacticly or explicatively in 1,13 as both verbs are in the imperfect. Considering the aspect, both verbs can be read as durative; many, but not all, take porqei=n in 1,13 as ‘de conatu’75, an interpretation that can also be seen in various Bible translations, e.g., in the Norwegian and English editions. Reading 1,13 and 1,23 together supports the understanding that kai/ is explicative; the persecutions consisted of porqei=n. The meaning of this verb is lexicalized as ‘destroy’, denoting violent action, of making havoc of, annihilate, ruining e.g., cities76. Combined with the other verb discussed above, it most probably means much more than sharp polemical discussion, verbal harassment, etc. Furthermore, it is also difficult to read it "au sens morale" if it shall qualify diwkei=n, a term already strengthened by his kaq' u(perbolh/n77. In fact, Paul should have little need in exaggerating his former activities as a persecutor, they already knew about his former life (1,13: 'Hkou/sate ga/r ..., cf. 1,20). His statements then, should be read as denoting violent measures beyond trying to destroy ‘the faith’78. As a youngster, he was "extremely zealous" (perissote/rwj zhlwth/j 1,14), While we have no evidence in his letters that he persecuted "into death" (compare Acts 22,4), the violent zealotic nature of his persecutions should not be under-interpreted. The evidence of Philo, as well as the zealotic activities of the various "revolutionary" groups in Palestine in Paul’s times, provide a cultural context for understanding horrifying persecutions even if they did not always result in death. The early ‘Christians’ is described in our sources as suffering zealotic persecutions almost from the very beginnings of their existence79.