His  own  description  (Gal.  ii.  14-21)  of  his  argument
against  Peter's  wavering  and  unclear  views  of  the  gospePs
relation  to  Judaism,  as  revealed  in  his  conduct  at  Antioch,
shows  that  his  own  theology  on  that  whole  subject  was  fully
developed  before  any  of  his  epistles  were  written.  I  have
not  the  slightest  reluctance  to  recognize  a  development  in
Paul's  doctrinal  system,  provided  any  evidence  of  such
development  can  be  found.  But  I  find  no  evidence  war-
ranting the  conclusion  that  the  apostle^s  views  changed
materially  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  public
ministry.  They  grew  and  expanded  and  were  more
amply  illustrated  and  applied;  but  his  ^* gospel '^  was
essentially  the  same  throughout.  We  may  note  changes
of  emphasis,  but  no  change  of  opinion.  The  diversity  in
the  doctrinal  contents  of  the  apostle's  letters  is  naturally
and  sufficiently  explained  by  their  different  occasions,
motives,  and  purposes.^

Paul's  career  opened  gradually  before  him.  After  his
return  to  Palestine  from  Arabia  he  began  to  proclaim
that  Jesus  was  the  Christ.  Many  doubted  the  genuine-
ness of  his  conversion,  but  Barnabas  befriended  him  and
introduced  him  to  the  primitive  apostles.  His  life  being
threatened  by  the  Hellenistic  Jews,  he  departed  for  his
native  city.  Tarsus  (Acts.  ix.  26-30).  In  due  time  he
was  summoned  by  Barnabas  to  aid  in  the  newly  estab-
lished Gentile  mission  at  Antioch  (Acts  x.  25).  From
Antioch  he  went  out  as  assistant  to  Barnabas  on  his  first

1  **  There  was  certainly  a  developmeiit  in  the  theological  thought  of
Ftol.  But  we  think  that  it  falls  in  an  epoch  anterior  to  his  epistles,  at
least  before  that  to  the  Galatians/'  Mdn^oz,  Le  Pkchi  et  la  Bldemjh
tion  d^aprU  St.  Pavl^  p.  7.  Per  contraj  see  Sabatier,  The  ^Apostle  Paul^
who  seeks  by  psychological  analysis  to  trace  an  evolution  in  Paul's  thought
throughout  his  life.
