… as for zeal, persecuting the church;
Summary: Paul’s zeal for persecuting the church provides a window into who Paul is and the depth of his love for God.
The keyword in this passage is “zeal,” so let’s take a closer look at what it means.
Interestingly, the Greek word for “zeal” is very similar to our English word. In Greek, the word is “zẽlos.” (Zee, I told you! 🙂 )
What is interesting to me about this word is its close association with the emotion of jealousy.
Strong’s Concordance and Lexicon defines the word “zẽlos” this way:
“ζῆλος zēlos, dzay’-los; from G2204; properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) “zeal” (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice):—emulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.”*
I find it intriguing that Strong’s uses the “two side of a coin” description for how the word “zeal” is used.
On one side of the coin, zeal is “ardor,” meaning that a person has enthusiasm or great passion. On the other side of the coin is “jealousy.” If you are familiar with that emotion, you know it is also very powerful. In fact, jealousy is key to understanding ardor.
I am reminded of the story of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Samuel 13. Amnon was one of King David’s sons, and Tamar was King David’s daughter by another one of his wives. Amnon, David’s oldest son, lusted after his half-sister, Tamar. He tricks her into coming to his bedroom and then rapes her. Suddenly, in a single moment, his desire for her turns to hate. In a rage, he throws her out of his bedroom and, in so doing, sets off a cataclysmic series of crises in the kingdom.
Human jealousy† is grounded in human emotion. Like Amnon’s change of heart, jealousy brings out our possessive nature. It can spring from the heart like a wild animal pouncing on its prey. It can lead to great violence, just as ardor can inspire great accomplishments.
Paul’s zeal for persecuting the church did not come from his intellect. His zeal came from deep within his heart. He was passionate about serving God, and having been raised a Pharisee, he believed that he knew what God wanted. He believed God wanted all Christians stamped out.
Then he met Jesus.
Confronted by the Living God, Paul suddenly realized he had it all wrong. His zeal had been misplaced. He had been looking at the wrong side of the coin.
Jesus flipped the coin over for Paul and redirected his zeal. In that moment, not only did Paul change, but the world changed, too.
Application: Examine the coins in your life. Are there any that God wants you to flip?
Food for Thought: How is our human perspective different than God’s perspective?
*”G2205 – zēlos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 9 Oct, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2205/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
†Not to be confused with divine jealousy!
How is our human perspective different than God’s perspective?
I think there are innumerable ways our human perspective is different than God’s perspective. The ones that are forefront in my mind are:
1) God’s perspective is holy, eternal, complete, and pure. There is nothing unknown to God, for He is the source of all things. God commands the universes, and places order and justice according to His good Will.
Isaiah 46:9-10
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
2) Human perspective is limited to, and by, our experience, and clouded by our self-centered judgement. Human perspective is corrupted by sin; our perspective is rooted in lawlessness, and our sin separates us from God:
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
1 John 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
Isaiah 64:6
6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
3) God’s perspective is truth, human perspective is rooted in self-deception:
1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4) God’s perspective is sacrificial; giving life and bearing fruit. Human perspective is self-preservation and self-gratification; consumption and destruction:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 8:6-7 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Thank you, Chris!
Well stated! I especially appreciate this comment:
“God’s perspective is truth, human perspective is rooted in self-deception”
We humans do excel at thinking our thoughts are the final word.
Great Points CH, Thank You!
How is our human perspective different than God’s perspective?
The human perspective is self centered, while God’s perspective is other centered. We are created beings with limits, While God is the creator of all things, and having no limits. God, in His grace, provides divine revelation to guide human understanding.
Isaiah 55:8-9 , For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Proverbs 14:12 , There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Romans 3:23, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This moral limitation necessitates divine intervention for redemption and sanctification.
God’s judgments and actions are always aligned with His holy nature, and often beyond our limited human comprehension. Our walk with God, life lived within His will over our own, is the result of faith and power given to us by God. Believers exist, live and walk knowing God is in control of all things, He is our power to accomplish His will as we grow into beings accepting all circumstances as good.
Deuteronomy 32:4 , it is written, He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Through His Word, God offers insight and guidance that surpass human reasoning.
Thank you, Ron!
As I read your thoughts about God’s holy nature, I am reminded of why Jesus had to come to us as a man. In him we are able to see God’s nature and his selfless love for others.
Lots of great stuff in the comments. Good verses.
I don’t have much more to add. The first verses that popped into my head was Isaiah 55: 8 – 9, which CH and R2T2 already mentioned. There are also several appropriate passages in the book of Job. I’ll put out one other passage.
Romans 11: 33 – 36: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and i knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?” j
35“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Thank you, Rich!
You make the great point that God’s Word has a lot to say on the topic! 🙂