--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came to Paul at quite an early age…" description: "\"I came to Paul at quite an early age, having already studied Plato and Aristotle; and I found Paul easily their intellectual equal, though he was handl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/n-t-wright-2-2245_age_i-came-to-paul-at-quite-an-early-age-hav_1075034.jpg" --- # I came to Paul at quite an early age, having already… ![“I came to Paul at quite an early age, having already studied Plato and Aristotle; and I found Paul easily their intellectual equal, though he was handling these amazing questions about God, Jesus, Israel, faith and so on. He continues to be an amazingly stimulating thinker, especially when we try…” quote by N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/n-t-wright-2-2245_age_i-came-to-paul-at-quite-an-early-age-hav_1075034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/n-t-wright-2-2245_age_i-came-to-paul-at-quite-an-early-age-hav_1075034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/n-t-wright-2-2245_age_i-came-to-paul-at-quite-an-early-age-hav_1075034.jpg) > “I came to Paul at quite an early age, having already studied Plato and Aristotle; and I found Paul easily their intellectual equal, though he was handling these amazing questions about God, Jesus, Israel, faith and so on. He continues to be an amazingly stimulating thinker, especially when we try to understand the flow of thought in letter after letter rather than just combing him for a few verses on 'our favourite topics', which, sadly, some Christian teachers do just as some journalists and broadcasters do!” [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights Paul’s intellectual depth and the value of studying his letters comprehensively rather than selectively. **In simple terms:** Study Paul’s ideas fully, not just favorite parts. Key Takeaway Read his writings in context. Themes theology historical analysis critical thinking Mood reflective inquisitive Type analytical educational When to use this quote - seminar discussions - personal study - teaching curricula - interfaith dialogues Key Concepts biblical scholarship intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How does comprehensive study change understanding? - What risks arise from selective reading? A Different Perspective Focusing only on favorite verses can miss broader insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Broadcasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadcasters/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Plato and aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-and-aristotle/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) ## Related quotes > [That's the great thing about being a writer. You dream up amazing questions... and then dream up even more amazing answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-s-the-great-thing-about-being-a-writer-you-dream-up-amazing/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [There is one bit of advice given us by the ancient Greeks, and by the Jews in the Old Testament, and by the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/there-is-one-bit-of-advice-given-us-by-the-ancient-greeks-and-by-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/according-to-christian-teachers-the-essential-vice-the-utmost-evil-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [As a practicing Jew, I have studied with Christian teachers whom I respect for who they are and what they are, including their positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/as-a-practicing-jew-i-have-studied-with-christian-teachers-whom-i/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [Although Christ, in my mind is an absolute Yogi, I think many Christian teachers today are misrepresenting Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/although-christ-in-my-mind-is-an-absolute-yogi-i-think-many-christian-2/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [Although Christ in my mind is an absolute yogi, I think many Christian teachers today are misrepresenting Christ. They're supposed to be representing Jesus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/although-christ-in-my-mind-is-an-absolute-yogi-i-think-many-christian/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [History, when rightly written, is but a record of providence; and he who would read history rightly, must read it with his eyes constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-fisher/history-when-rightly-written-is-but-a-record-of-providence-and-he-who/) D. A. Fisher > [Trees are good for contemplation. Plato and Aristotle did their best thinking in the groves of olives and figs around Athens, and Buddha found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-tudge/trees-are-good-for-contemplation-plato-and-aristotle-did-their-best/) [Colin Tudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-tudge/) > [“Philosophy, beginning in wonder, as Plato and Aristotle said, is able to fancy everything different from what it is. 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And if they pretended to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-they-plato-and-aristotle-wrote-about-politics-it-was-as-if-to-lay/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The only good thing that we owe to Plato and Aristotle is that they brought forward many arguments which we can use against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/the-only-good-thing-that-we-owe-to-plato-and-aristotle-is-that-they/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Since the time of Plato and Aristotle philosophers have had an interest in taking note of common fallacies in reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randal-marlin/since-the-time-of-plato-and-aristotle-philosophers-have-had-an/) [Randal Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randal-marlin/) > [Others of them employ outward marks ... They style themselves Gnostics. They also possess images, some of them painted and others formed from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/others-of-them-employ-outward-marks-they-style-themselves-gnostics/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) ## More by N. T. Wright > [Wherever St. Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/wherever-st-paul-went-there-was-a-riot-wherever-i-go-they-serve-tea/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Rest you well, beloved Jesus, Caesar’s Lord and Israel’s King, In the brooding of the Spirit, in the darkness of the spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/rest-you-well-beloved-jesus-caesar-s-lord-and-israel-s-king-in-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Art is love creating the new world and justice is love rolling up its sleeves to heal the old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/art-is-love-creating-the-new-world-and-justice-is-love-rolling-up-its/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [It is faith that looks up at the creator God and knows him to be the God of love. And it is faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/it-is-faith-that-looks-up-at-the-creator-god-and-knows-him-to-be-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Scripture is, at its heart, the great story that we sing in order not just to learn it with our heads but to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/scripture-is-at-its-heart-the-great-story-that-we-sing-in-order-not/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Most of the things that really matter require faith. 'How do I know that my wife loves me?' 'How do I know that Mozart's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/most-of-the-things-that-really-matter-require-faith-how-do-i-know/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Justice never means "treating everybody the same way", but "treating people appropriately".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/justice-never-means-treating-everybody-the-same-way-but-treating/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [People often get upset when you teach them what is in the Bible rather than what they presume is in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/people-often-get-upset-when-you-teach-them-what-is-in-the-bible/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [The word "salvation" denotes rescue. Rescue? What from? Well, of course, ultimately death. 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Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [If you ask people in England where does Tom Wright sit on the theological spectrum, they say, "Well he's an evangelical of course," as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/if-you-ask-people-in-england-where-does-tom-wright-sit-on-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [True worship is open to God, adoring God, waiting for God, trusting God even in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/true-worship-is-open-to-god-adoring-god-waiting-for-god-trusting-god/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [Jesus of Nazareth ushers in not simply a new religious possibility, not simply a new ethic or a new way of salvation, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/jesus-of-nazareth-ushers-in-not-simply-a-new-religious-possibility/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [All our language about the future ... is like a set of signposts pointing into a bright mist ... the New Testament image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/all-our-language-about-the-future-is-like-a-set-of-signposts-pointing/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) [Explore all 176 N. T. Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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