Paul of Tarsus, that valiant campaigner for Christianity, sent a message to the church at Corinth which has a special significance for Christian people today. "Though we walk in the flesh," he wrote, "we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)." Paul spoke from a large experience when he warned the church against the use of material methods in furthering the cause of Christianity. Attempting to serve God by zealous self-righteousness, he had used carnal and cruel weapons in persecuting Christians, but had found that they served no constructive purpose.
On his memorable journey to Damascus, Saul bore a commission from the high priest to bring the Christians as prisoners to Jerusalem. His experience that day is a striking illustration of the unreliability of sense testimony. Here was a young man who had been most prominent in oppressing the Christians, and to all appearances was about to carry out a successful coup. But a power unseen by mortal sense was at work, and the journey was interrupted by a startling occurrence. A vision of the Christ appeared to Saul as a great light, and he could not see "for the glory of that light." Then he perceived that Christ Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, and that his teaching was the true way.
While the revelation was sudden, Saul's life had schooled him for this supreme experience. A deep reverence for the law—this was a powerful factor in preparing him for a higher step. And when he saw the wrong he had done, he responded wholeheartedly to the spiritual summons by humbly following divine directing. Afterward he took the name of Paul, which signifies humility.
