In Neville Goddard’s symbolic interpretation of Scripture, Paul’s journey is not simply the historical record of an apostle—it is a manifestation of the transformation of consciousness. Paul represents the awakening of inner vision and the power of assumption. His story is a guide to spiritual liberation, showing us how to move from outer law to inner grace.
But to truly understand Paul’s emergence, we must first examine the departure of Jesus, for Paul’s story begins where Jesus’ outward presence ends.
Jesus’ Departure: The Withdrawal of the Outer Teacher
In Acts 1, after Jesus’ resurrection, He appears to the disciples and speaks of the Kingdom of God, and then, in a dramatic moment, He ascends into the heavens:
“He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
— Acts 1:9
In Neville’s framework, this ascension is not an abandonment but a symbolic act. Jesus represents the divine imagination, the very source of creation. His departure is the inner realisation that the divine power is no longer an external force but exists within us.
As Neville taught:
"The drama of Jesus is a psychological one which takes place in the consciousness of every man."
The “cloud” that receives Him represents the mystical inner consciousness—the place where the power of God rests. When Jesus ascends, it marks a shift from relying on an external saviour to realising that you, as the imagination, are the creator.
Enter Paul: The Internalisation of Christ
Immediately following Jesus’ departure, the narrative turns to the apostles and, in particular, to Paul. Unlike the other apostles, Paul never physically encountered Jesus. Instead, his encounter was purely spiritual:
“And as he journeyed, suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.”
— Acts 9:3
This light is not an external phenomenon but an inner awakening. It represents the moment of illumination when Paul (symbolising the individual soul) realises that the Christ—the divine power—exists within. In that moment, Saul’s sight is blinded, symbolising the loss of reliance on the outer senses. For three days, he cannot see, representing the death of the old self—the ego that sees only physical reality. But when Paul regains his sight, he is no longer the same man. He is transformed, a new identity.
Paul’s Teachings: The Shift from the Flesh to the Spirit
As Paul’s teachings unfold, he stresses the importance of moving beyond the physical and external, urging that we should no longer consider Jesus in the flesh. This is beautifully expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:16:
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
This passage reflects the shift from an external, historical understanding of Christ to a realisation of Christ as a spiritual presence within. In Neville’s teachings, this aligns with the understanding that Jesus represents the divine imagination, and no longer should we view the Christ consciousness through the lens of the physical realm. We are now called to perceive Christ, not as a person in the past, but as a living principle within each of us, waiting to be awakened.
The Transformation of Saul to Paul: The Shift from Outer Law to Inner Grace
Saul, the persecutor of believers, represents the egoic mind, bound by reason, tradition, and external law. But when he becomes Paul, he embodies the higher self—the part of you that knows truth beyond the physical world.
This shift is pivotal. As Neville would say, “You are not becoming; you are remembering who you already are.” Saul’s transformation into Paul symbolises the awakening of your divine imagination, the realisation that Christ—the power of creation—is within you. You no longer follow an external saviour; you become the saviour, as Christ’s consciousness takes root in you.
Paul: The Embodiment of Living from Within
As Paul moves through his journeys in Acts, he encounters challenges, opposition, imprisonment, and even shipwreck. But these external experiences reflect his inner state of being—his absolute conviction that the kingdom of God is within. Paul faces trials, but he does not surrender. Instead, he acts as though the end is already realised.
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The shipwreck in Acts 27 and his survival after a snakebite in Acts 28 show that your faith (living from the wish fulfilled) makes the impossible possible.
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In Acts 16, when Paul and Silas are imprisoned, they sing hymns of praise, and the jail doors are miraculously opened. This is a powerful symbol of how joyful faith breaks open limitation.
Paul is constantly manifesting from his higher state of being. He is no longer the man who sees with the outer eye; he is the man who lives from the imagination, the Christ within.
The Christ Within: Paul as the Symbol of Inner Realisation
Paul, after his conversion, speaks of Christ revealed in him, not to him:
“It pleased God… to reveal His Son in me.”
— Galatians 1:15–16
This is the inner realisation Neville emphasised: Christ is not a person to follow but a principle to embody. When you recognise the divine power within, you step into your own Christ-like role. You are the creator, the operant power of your own world. Paul’s transformation is the realisation that God lives within you and that you have the power to manifest your desires by assuming the end and living from that state.
Conclusion: From Jesus to Paul—A Spiritual Awakening
Jesus’ ascension is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of an internal revolution. Paul’s rise represents the awakening of the divine imagination within each of us. The outer teacher (Jesus) gives way to the inner Christ—the realisation that God is within, and through this recognition, you can manifest your desires, heal your world, and transform your life.
As Paul writes:
“Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
— Ephesians 5:14
This is the awakening we must all have. Jesus’ departure is your call to go within, to realise that you are the Christ in your life, and that through imagination and faith, you create your own reality.
“I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”
— Galatians 2:20
Paul’s message is the message of Neville Goddard: that you are the operant power, and Christ is in you. The external Jesus is no longer needed because you are the living Christ.
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