Did Paul see a physical Jesus

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Well I’d say luke making the claim in a canonical book is pretty strong support. It’s not like Paul contradicted that claim (he even mentioned he “saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me” (acts 21:13), which doesn’t confirm but definitely doesn’t deny they could see it), so we have no reason to think Luke wasnt being accurate.

I think it’s undeniable the original apostles saw Christ in the flesh, so although Paul’s instance is questionable based just on the text, the equality the apostles established between them seems to tie it down. It’s not like “apostle” was a title they were just handing out, I feel like they had a pretty high standard.
 
De_Maria said:
So, you’re insinuating that St. Luke is not reporting what St. Paul actually said? Or, even worse, that he is making this up?
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No, just stating that I feel like that’s something Paul would’ve mentioned elsewhere.
 
Yeah I was gonna say I think Paul directly compared his vision of Christ to all the others that were undoubtedly in the flesh, I just wasn’t willing to look through every epistle to find it 😛

I only found that other verse so quickly because I happened to just have read through Acts very recently.
 
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Phill said:
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De_Maria:
So, you’re insinuating that St. Luke is not reporting what St. Paul actually said? Or, even worse, that he is making this up?
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No, just stating that I feel like that’s something Paul would’ve mentioned elsewhere.
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1 Corinthians 15:3 [a]For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.
 
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I don’t disagree with the creed, ive always thought that it was a physical appearance but in Acts 26:19: Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
 
Phill said:
I don’t disagree with the creed, ive always thought that it was a physical appearance but in Acts 26:19: Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
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What do you think “heavenly vision” means?
 
If I’m being honest with myself, i think it means just like he said. It was a vision
 
Phill said:
If I’m being honest with myself, i think it means just like he said. It was a vision
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So, if I look at a beautiful woman and say, “what a heavenly vision”, am I seeing something in my head or someone walking down the street?

He has said that Jesus appeared to him. He compared it to the apparitions to the other Apostles. I suppose it could be a reference to something in his head, but that would make it no less real, in my opinion.
 
@De_Maria guess you’re right, i should probably stop over thinking it and just trust that God perfectly preserved his word.
 
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Like others have said, we do not know. This can be argued ad infinitum. And personally, it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that Paul was transformed and went on to fulfill a great mission and become a great saint.
 
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