SAUL'S BOYHOOD IN TARSUS CHAPTER FIVE - Page 1

THE JEWISH BOY walked the street with a vibrant step. He stood tall for his age, and had the intelligent look of someone much older than 10 years of age. A shock of dark hair had been combed carefully above his forehead. He seemed the kind of boy who was constantly seeking to know the world around him.

As he hurried along, a morning breeze blew against his back and he pulled his tasseled cilicium shawl tighter against the chill. His sandals clattered busily on the cobblestones. He carried two scrolls from the library of the local synagogue. Ahead, a Greek stranger walked more slowly along the same street. Wearing a classical toga and
a hooded cloak of thick wool, he was a boy of about the same height and age as the Jewish boy.

As the Jewish boy drew abreast of the stranger, he said, "Hello, I'm Saul," extending his hand.

The Greek boy stopped and shook his hand hesitantly. "I'm Damon Pausius."

"Are you going to school?"

"No."

"Surely, you do go to school?"

"Yes, but not here."

"I am going to synagogue."

The boys fell in step and turned down an alleyway leading toward the city center.

"Why have I not seen you before?" Saul asked. "Are you new in Tarsus?"

"My family has been here a few days. We came from Athens and will be leaving on the morning tide."

"Oh." Saul's voice betrayed disappointment. He had hoped to make a new friend of this Greek. He squinted at the visitor. "Pausius. Are you a descendant of the famous painter from Sicyon?"

"No. I wish I could claim such fame," replied Damon, with a laugh. "My father is Alexander Pausius, a ship builder who is here in Tarsus to inspect the docks for our business."

"You are Greek shipbuilders. Of course. I suppose you were able to see where Alexander lived when he was here?"

"No. I did not so much as hear of it."

"Who in Tarsus could be such a bad host? I will not ask who--I do not want to think ill of my neighbors, but really, you should have been shown! And another famous place in the mountains is the Cilician Gates, the famous mountain pass about thirty miles up. Did you see it?"

The boy shook his head. "Not yet Saul, but I would like to."

"We must plan to go together, Damon. And when there, you will imagine that you can envision Xenophon leading his army of 10,000 through those gates. He describes it in his Anabasis."

Damon raised his brows in surprise. "I hardly expected you to have read Xenophon."

This brought an outburst of laughter from Saul. "My father Benjamin is a cilicium merchant and a rabbi of the Pharisees. Our synagogue is of the tradition to understand everything in the world as it relates to our Jewish religion. We study our law and prophets, but we study other people, too. We read the poets, doctors like Hypocrites, philosophers--especially Solon and your laws. We are always interested in laws as they relate to the law of God. Law brings peace on earth. Obeying the law of God makes us excellent in God's eyes. I want to learn as much as I can, but of course, our teachers at the synagogue say there are many mysteries of the universe, and even in our own world, that the philosophers of Greece and Rome cannot explain."

"And you think, Saul, that your rabbis have greater wisdom than our philosophers, and they can explain these mysteries?"

"No, Damon, we are taught the words of the ancient writer of the Scriptures named Job. He asked, 'Where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living.' "

"Then you are saying, Saul, that man cannot have wisdom to understand the mysteries of life?"

"No, Damon, the prophets say that God is the giver of wisdom, and man must first ask him for wisdom and understanding. Solomon was considered the wisest of Israel's kings, and he asked God for wisdom. He wrote, 'If man will receive God's words and cry after knowledge, he shall find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom.'

"Well, I know very little about your people. But I would like to learn more. You have a lot of Jewish people here in Tarsus. My teacher in Athens said there were many races, but only the Greeks, Romans, and Jews really mattered in the empire."

As they neared the synagogue, Damon said, "Saul, may I ask why you wear the shawl with the tassels?"

"We receive a tassel when we have satisfied our teachers that we have learned the lessons taught us."

"And your father is the teacher?"

"Yes, Damon, but he is one of many teachers."

Damon walked a little farther thinking of the conversation of the past moments, and said, "I am inclined to say, Saul, you are either a favorite of your father, or you are a brilliant student. I think it is the latter. Is there one comparison you would make between the teaching of the Jews and Greeks and Romans?"

Saul paused, and facing his friend he said in a serious tone, "We believe, Damon, the words of our prophets passed on to us are words inspired by God. If we compare these to the mythologies of the Greeks and Romans, who do not know the true God who alone can give men truth, truth about the Creation of earth and man, and the meaning of life and life eternal, I might say, the way I see it, the Romans put priority on power, the Greeks on knowledge, but the Jews feel the most important matter is truth."

Damon looked puzzled. "How can you separate truth from knowledge?"

"Plato, for example, stated that he felt the love of knowledge and the search for it was more important than truth itself. It was a matter of priority to him. That is our rabbis can point out so many inconsistencies in his writings. Much that he wrote he later rejected himself."

Damon nodded, smiling. "We Greeks know this but we spend much of our time ignoring it. I can tell that I am going to enjoy your company, Saul."

"And I yours. I am grateful that Tarsus, which witnessed so much bloodshed and sorrow in the past, is at least a peaceful place today."

The boys had reached the synagogue, and before parting they promised to resume their discussion at the next opportunity.