Philippians 3: "persecutor of the church"
Galatians 1:21-24 : churches of Judea
The "Assembly of God"
As I explain in the first of these threads, the Greek word that is being translated as "persecute" here, can also be translated as "devoutly follow" or "fervently pursue", etc.
I would like to suggest alternative readings for the two passages which are currently read as testaments to Paul's persecution of Christians.
1 Further, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church a devout follower of the assembly; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church followed the assembly of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.
Firstly, Philippians. As I argued in the thread Philippians 3: "persecutor of the church", I think that Paul was listing out the criteria for being a Jew in good standing in Phil 3:4-6. Persecuting "Christians" has nothing to do with this and doesn't fit the context. Paul was saying that he was circumcised, he studied the Law, he attended synagogue, and he followed the Law. His whole point was to demonstrate his Jewish credentials. Persecuting odd sects wasn't a Jewish credential. Thus, we can see, that "the assembly" Paul was talking about here was not "the Christian church" (which didn't even exist in Paul's time), but rather was Jewish synagogue (an activity, not a place or institution).
Now for Galatians. When we change "persecutor" to "devout follower" in Philippians, we may question whether we should do the same in Galatians as well. Let's again look at the context. Just as in Philippians, Paul is talking about his credentials as a devout Jew. He starts by talking about his "life in Judaism". Following verse 13 Paul goes on to talk about how well he was advancing in Judaism. What has any of this to do with persecuting Christians? Paul is trying to demonstrate that he himself was once a devout Jew who also accepted the Law and circumcision. He is going to go on in the letter to attempt to persuade the Galatian Jewish proselytes not to get circumcised. What has persecuting Christians to do with any of this? It is inconceivable that "persecuting believers in the Lord Jesus" would have been seen as a credential that showed one's devotion to Judaism. The way this is read it is as if Paul would have told people, "I can prove I was a devout Jew, because I tried to destroy worshipers of the Lord!" Of course that makes no sense.
Here is what Paul was really saying:
You see. This connects the idea from 1:13 to 1:17. It explains why he mentioned 1:13. Why does Paul say that he didn't consult any human being? Because he first says that his knowledge of Judaism came from human beings! "Look, I studied the scriptures with the rabbis regularly in the assembly, BUT, then I received a revelation from God, and I did not discuss it in the assembly where I learned the simple teachings of my youth."
Everything that contradicts this reading, I propose, is anti-Marcionite interpolation.
This puts the two passages in the Pauline letters that refer to persecution in harmony with each other, and they both make more sense IMO. In both cases, the context of these passages is Paul presenting his credentials as a devout Jew. In both cases he is citing a period in his early life when he was fervently following the traditional teachings of Judaism. He is relating the aspects of his life that demonstrated his devotion. Attending synagogue fits this context far more than "persecuting the church".
What makes more sense: "I was such a devout Jew I fervently attended synagogue" or "I was such a devout Jew I persecuted Christians".
The reading of "persecutions" and the interpolations that surround it, I propose, were all created by the writer of Acts, who also doctored the Pauline letters.