Repentance, Call, or Paul Transformation?

4 continued ... 

     Some of the first story about crossing cultural boundaries, cultic, ritual, and was followed by ethnic Acts 9 that describes a tradition that the most radical: Paul's conversion or call. About which of the two terms are more precise, there is a separate discussion. Traditional exegesis is usually called repentance (conversion): The legality of a Jew who persecuted the church of Christ, Paul is seen to have been turned into a follower of Christ and warriors who built the church that he had been destroyed. The Pharisee and persecutor of the church is seen as a means of preaching the gospel of repentance to the Gentiles (9:15; cf. Galatians 1:23). But there is a problem with the interpretation of Paul as a change conversion : He considered turned away from Judaism are simultaneously viewed as synonymous with legalistic religion.  
     Recent decades a number of commentators have attempted to rehabilitate the figure of Paul in the Jewish religion. They do not interpret the change in Paul as a conversion but as a call. Paul is not considered to be converted; he just changed the flow of Jews, while still acknowledge their nation and live within its tradition. Interpretation of the call contains a call stating that the mission to be an apostle of the nations. 
     If the debate "repentance or call" is viewed from the context of our multifaith, The second interpretation is more sensitive in showing respect for the Jewish religion. But the two interpretations that are both less sensitive to the people of other faiths, for they see repentance / Paul calls in perspective that is proselitisme mission. That vision can not will not create tensions with other religions. 
     Related to that, Sugirtharajah not stay on these data Acts that may be impressive conversion, Fixed-Cs-digging stendahl exceed what was said by Paul's own letters on this topic (1990:12-16). In these letters there is no expression or the shadow of Paul's conversion. Said that according Sugirtharajah more precisely reveal the changes experienced by Paul is metamorphosis, Transformation, a term also used by Paul in an invitation to the Romans (12:2), "was changed by the renewal of your mind."; Or symmorphosis, "Be conformed to the" (Philippians 3:10 and Romans 8:29). The turning point in Paul's life is a transformation in which he was to be like Christ. 
     Which led to the transformation that Paul is "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12) ... Jesus Christ reveals God as merciful. When the Pharisees saw God as the Holy, who encouraged Israel to separate themselves from the unclean nations, he returned declare God as "merciful and gracious" (Exodus 34:6), where it also pushed him past Paul to accept each other , especially those excluded. Thus, since the revelation of Jesus Christ, Paul underwent a transformation from Judaism who became a Jew exclusive to an inclusive and thus can accommodate other nations in the new people of God. 
     If a turning point in the life of Paul is seen as a transformation, then it opens the perspective for a more dialogical approach in our context that multireligious. First of all, there is no repentance in the sense of moving the idea of religion or belief change. Second, other religious people are not viewed as objects in the sense of a mission call proselitisme. Sugirtharajah this interpretation opens the perspective for an interfaith dialogue in which, first, Both sides can accept each other as God's people without having to place a religious movement; and second, The dialogue partners can help each other to open yourself to the forgotten aspects of the religion itself. 

(Main sources: Biblical Forum Popular Scientific Journals, writings of Martin Aaron "Crossing the Boundaries of Religion and Culture: Review and Reflections on Acts)