Tell me this: YES! Very much so there were some extremely knowledgeable Biblical Scholars during the time of Christ and they presented tons of knowledge to students like Saul/Paul. These scholars really knew the scriptures and might have had them virtually all memorized. SO, Why did they all refuse Christ as the Messiah when He came? Why did Nicodemus not come in the light to see, at least someone he realized was at least a prophet? Why did the not all accept John’s baptism, when they knew he was a prophet beyond any doubt?
Hello again Bling, we don't know about all of the Pharisees, of course, but Nicodemus appears to be one who most likely became a Christian after the Resurrection (he also defended Jesus in the company of the other Pharisees and rulers, and along with Joseph of Arimathea, he saw to the Lord's burial .. e.g.
John 7:50-52; John 19:38-42).
Nicodemus also said this about the Pharisees,
John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
As for why many (most?) of the Pharisees did not openly follow him (at first, anyway), I think this verse gives us a bit of insight into that ..
John 19:38.
That said, what does a formal education have to do with someone coming to faith
Many had a tremendous working knowledge of the Scriptures, but if that's all that's required to come to saving faith, then Satan would be a Christian, yes
Rather, a formal education is necessary for the scholars among us, of course, as well for our pastors and Biblical counselors who are tasked with helping to teach/train/minister to the saints (who are already saved and part of the church).
Yes, Paul’s scripture “knowledge” did help him, but did the Spirit help the uneducated Peter and Hellenistic Steven reference Old Testament scripture just as will as Paul to the point that could not argue with them?
As
@Radagast has already mentioned, was Peter "uneducated"? When he first met Jesus, yes, but he hardly remained so after living in the Lord's presence and learning from Him for 3 years. The Holy Spirit superintended the writing of Peter's Epistles and the Gospel of Mark, of course, and He helped him with His sermons when he preached, but Peter had clearly come to possess GREAT knowledge about God and the faith during his three years with Jesus, knowledge which the HS was able to help Peter organize and use.
Paul went to the gentiles to teach them, so would his credentials of learning at the feet of Gamaliel help him be easily accepted by the gentiles?
That is true, as he went from city to city and from Jewish temple to Jewish temple in them during his missionary journeys, he preached to the Gentiles along the way (all of whom seemed thrilled that the Lord had chosen to make His salvation available to them, as well .. Acts of the Apostles 13:46-48).
His great knowledge of the OT would have garnered him the respect of the people of the Nations, if that's what you mean, and I'm certain that it helped with his evangelist outreach (just like Philip was able to help the Ethiopian Eunuch understand who Jesus is using the Eunuch's copy of the Book of Isaiah).
How much training did the Eunuch get?
Training, to 'become' a Christian, how is that going to work .. cf
1 Corinthians 2:14?
Again, while a formal education is certainly helpful in regard to evangelism, it's principle use and benefit/blessing would certainly be to our scholars, shepherds, and saints.
God bless you!
--David
