Is it possible Paul was inspired by these OT verses in regard to the clay and potter?

Question

Consider this OT verse:
 This thought of yours is perverse: as if the clay should think against the potter, and the work should say to the maker thereof: Thou madest me not: or the thing framed should say to him that fashioned it: Thou understandest not.

And then this one:
7 The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge. 

And then what Paul writes in Romans:
20 O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

Is it reasonable to think that Paul, who was a Sadducee and knew the Hebrew scriptures so well, would borrow from them here to make his point about the potter and the clay?

Thorbjorn · Accepted Answer

He was a Pharisee, but did know his scripture. Assumption safe!

Jennie · Answer

Yes, Saul (Paul) was educated as a Pharisee in House of Hillel Halakha under Gamaliel, Epiphanius cites an Ebionite tradition that in order to marry the High Priest's daughter, Paul converted to the Sadduccee faction which controlled the Sanhedrin at the time. He first appears in the pages of the New Testament as a witness to the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:57-8:3). He was, as he described himself, a persistent persecutor of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13) (almost all of whose members were Jewish or Jewish proselytes), until his experience on the Road to Damascus which resulted in his conversion.

In those days- jews memorized the entire Old Testament at early ages. They literally wore scripture in a Tefillin (a small black box) strapped around their head. So, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he referenced the Old Testament.

ajwspeaks · Answer

Well why shouldn't he Mad'am? Didn't Jesus Christ make reference to Jonah, Abraham, King David, Adam and others? Didn't Jesus make mention also of Noah and the flood, comparing those days to ours at the time of the end? ---Matthew 24:36-39 Paul imitated Jesus in everything he did. 1 Cor 11:1

You seem quite knowledgeable, and you seem to be quoting from some book without chapters. How are we, your audience, to trust your references are taken from the Bible, or from some imposter, unproven, even apostate writing from, and not from truly faithful men of old?

Besides - the potter does have absolute authority over the clay, just like I have control over a tomato I'm about to slice and eat. It's not that hard, Ma'am.

Last Ent Wife - what's that?  

Responses can go to sorysaidit@yahoo.com in regard to this response message.  Thanks, it's been fun!

great gig in the sky · Answer

Paul was a Pharisee, and the de facto leader of the pharisaic party. His learning of the OT is evident
Please see Acts 23:6 and 26:5.

Anonymous · Answer

absolutely even Christ, when asked a question, would often answer have you not heard or have you not read the new testament is reiteration of the old Christ said I come not to change even 1 jot of the letter of the law but rather to confirm it

Poohcat1 · Answer

Yes, I guess I would have expected him to take his knowledge of other scriptures to the task of writing something else.

Anonymous · Answer

Paul doesn't have anything on Isaiah! Paul and all those apostles were nothing but idiots who thought they knew all about the Torah when in reality they were nothing but Roman masons.

BILLY THE GOOT · Answer

its more possible that the old message tied into his new one so that the Holy Spirit gave it like that for him to say

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Is it possible Paul was inspired by these OT verses in regard to the clay and potter?

8 Answers