The Apostle Paul had studied under Gamaliel, one of the leading Jewish teachers of his day (Acts 5:34 and 22:3). Paul knew the Old Testament very well, seems to have had much of it memorized. I read somewhere, years ago, that the entrance requirement for the University of Cairo was to recite the Koran from memory. It took about three days. Can you imagine any Christian college asking even for a portion of the NT to be memorized?
As you hear the reading from Isaiah 29 this week (Pentecost 16, Aug. 22), pay close attention to verse 14. God says he is going to do wonderful things. In the day he does those things, the wisdom of wise men will perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden. We think we know so much. But have we forgotten what is most important. Paul cites this verse in I Corinthians 1:19 as he speaks into that conflicted situation of the first century and into our parishes of the 21st century.
