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Paul definitively had a life-altering experience on the Road to Damascus. What type of experience did he have? Was it a call? If so, to what was he called? Was he converted? If a conversion, from what to what was he converted?
After viewing all the assigned readings and the assigned presentation, it is my determination that Paul had a conversion experience on the Road to Damascus. The definition of
a call is an appeal or demand for something to happen or to be done. In contrast, a conversion is the process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another, or the changing of one’s beliefs or the persuasion of someone else to change theirs.
While the reading of Luke’s account of the events on that road may indicate a calling (Acts 9:6), looking at the inner change that must have occurred in Paul’s heart would warrant a more conversion experience. It is true that God called on Paul to do something different. This is
why there may be room to consider a more exhaustive experience than just one or the other. However, looking at the definitions of these words, Paul seemed to have been converted more than just called. He does not denounce his ties to Judaism. Therefore, the argument is not that he is converted from Judaism to this new life. The argument is that Paul had a change in beliefs. We could name that belief many different names, but the name of the belief he transitioned from or to does not disqualify it from being titled a conversion.
Paul’s account in Galatians seems to reference a calling until it is examined more in-
depth. Before the phrase “God called me,” the scripture tells us that God “separated” him. According to Guzik, this separation was the act of God separating Paul not necessarily from something but to something, to God.
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This would then be considered a conversion, as our 1
Guzik, D. "Study Guide for Galatians 1 by David Guzik." Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 6/2022. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/galatians/galatians-1.cfm
