Simone Lawson
Paul the Apostle, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was one of the early leaders of Christianity and is often considered the most important person after Jesus in the history of the religion. Paul was a Roman citizen, a Diaspora Jew, and a Pharisee who experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus, which led to his conversion on the road to Damascus. This vision, described in his letters, commissioned him to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, marking the start of his missionary work. Paul's influence on Christian thought and practice has been profound, with 13 books of the New Testament traditionally attributed to him. Paul's letters reveal a complex and passionate man, dedicated to his mission from God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Paul |
| Jewish name | Saul |
| Latin name | Paulus |
| Birthplace | Tarsus |
| Date of birth | Between 5 BC and 5 AD |
| Education | Trained in the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel, received a classical Roman education in Tarsus |
| Occupation | Apostle to the Gentiles |
| Books attributed | 13 out of 27 books in the New Testament |
| Death | Beheaded in Rome |
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What You'll Learn
Paul's claim to apostleship
Paul the Apostle, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was one of the early leaders of Christianity and is often considered the most important person after Jesus in the history of the religion. He was a follower of Jesus Christ and a Roman citizen by birth. Paul was a Diaspora Jew, a member of the Pharisees, and a persecutor of early disciples of Jesus. On the road to Damascus, he had a vision of the resurrected Jesus, which led to his conversion to Christianity.
Paul refers to himself as an apostle in his letters and defends his apostleship in his first epistle to the Corinthians. He believed that his mission was to be a messenger to the Gentiles, as stated in Romans 11:13 and Galatians 1:15-17. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was unique, and he spent much of his time in pagan lands, planting churches and preaching the gospel. He argued that he had as much authority as the earlier Apostles because he had received a direct commission from Jesus.
Paul's influence on Christian thought and practice has been profound and pervasive. Thirteen books of the New Testament are traditionally attributed to him, and his letters continue to be vital roots of theology, worship, and pastoral life in various Christian traditions. Paul's interpretation of Jesus's teachings and his role in spreading Christianity to the Gentiles have had a lasting impact on the religion.
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Paul's influence on Christian thought
Paul the Apostle, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was one of the early Christian leaders and is often considered the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. He was a major figure in the small early Christian movement and was also one of its first generation of leaders. Paul's influence on Christian thought and practice has been described as "profound as it is pervasive".
Paul's Jewish name was Saul, perhaps after the biblical King Saul, and his Latin name was Paulus, meaning small. Paul was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He participated in the persecution of early disciples of Jesus and approved of the execution of Stephen. However, he later converted to Christianity when he had a vision on the road to Damascus, where he saw a light brighter than the sun and heard the risen Christ address him.
Paul's writings constitute a significant portion of the New Testament, with 13 books traditionally attributed to him, although several may have been written by his disciples. His letters, or epistles, continue to be vital roots of theology, worship, and pastoral life in various Christian traditions. In his letters, Paul reveals himself to be dedicated, compassionate, clever, and quick-witted, with a passionate commitment to God, Jesus Christ, and his mission.
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Paul's conversion
Paul the Apostle, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was a major figure in the early Christian movement and is considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. He was a Roman citizen, born into a devout Jewish family in the city of Tarsus, which was part of the Roman Province of Syria. Paul's Jewish name was Saul, perhaps after the biblical King Saul, the first king of Israel.
The story of Paul's conversion is described in Acts 9, with slight variations in Acts 22 and Acts 26. As Paul was travelling on the road to Damascus, he was interrupted by a blinding light and a divine voice. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The voice identified itself as Jesus, whom Saul was persecuting. Jesus instructed him to continue to Damascus, where he would be told what to do next.
This experience led Saul/Paul to cease persecuting Christians and become a follower of Jesus. He changed his name to Paul and became known as the "Apostle to the Gentiles". Paul believed that his encounter with the resurrected Jesus sent him as a messenger to the Gentiles. He writes about his conversion experience in his letters, describing it as a divine revelation and a transformative event.
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Paul's missionary work
Paul the Apostle, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was a Christian apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. Paul's missionary journeys helped spread the gospel throughout much of the ancient world.
Paul's first missionary journey began in Antioch, Syria. He travelled by boat to the Roman province of Cyprus with his companion Barnabas. They arrived in the port city of Salamis, where they shared the gospel in Jewish synagogues. From Salamis, they moved to Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus, who opposed them. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, struck him blind. Paul and Barnabas then travelled to the regions of Perga and Antioch, where they continued to preach and establish communities of believers.
Paul's second missionary journey is recorded in Acts 15:36-18:22. After a dispute with Barnabas, Paul took a different route throughout Asia Minor with Silas. On this journey, Paul was joined by Timothy and had ministry in Athens, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. Paul's purpose on these journeys was to establish churches and encourage followers of Jesus, and he began his relationship with many of the churches to whom he later wrote letters.
Paul's third missionary journey is recorded in Acts 18:23-20:38. He travelled west, passing through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. Paul then travelled to Ephesus, where he taught the difference between water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit. From Ephesus, Paul continued to Corinth, where he stayed for a year and a half, preaching to both Jews and Greeks.
There is also mention of a possible fourth missionary journey, during which Paul may have returned to the island of Crete, preached, and established churches. After his time in Crete, Paul may have travelled to Macedonia and then back to Ephesus. Paul was imprisoned in Rome in AD 66 or 67 and martyred under Nero's persecution in AD 67 or 68.
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Paul's letters
Paul the Apostle, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was a follower of Jesus Christ and a Roman citizen. He was a Diaspora Jew, a member of the Pharisees, and a persecutor of early Christians before his conversion. Paul's call to be an apostle to the Gentiles was based on his belief that the resurrected Jesus chose him as a messenger to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. This is evident in his letters, such as Romans 11:13 and Galatians 1:15-17, where he refers to himself as an apostle.
Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 are traditionally attributed to Paul, although only 7 are considered entirely authentic. These seven letters, including Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon, are the best source of information about Paul's life and thoughts.
Paul's influence on Christian theology, worship, and pastoral life has been profound and pervasive. His interpretation of the Gospel and his missionary work among the Gentiles contributed significantly to the spread of Christianity. Paul's letters continue to shape Christian traditions and practices in both the Western and Eastern churches.
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Frequently asked questions
Paul was not a disciple of Jesus, as he did not know him during his lifetime. However, Paul is often referred to as an apostle, a term he uses for himself in his letters.
A disciple is a student of a philosopher or religious leader. Jesus had 12 disciples, who lived with him, listened to his teachings, and imitated his way of life.
Paul believed that he had been entrusted with a mission by the resurrected Jesus, who he saw in a vision. He believed he had been chosen to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.
Paul was well-educated, having been trained in the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel and having received a classical Roman education in Tarsus. He was also a Pharisee, which allowed him access to synagogues, and a Roman citizen, which opened doors throughout the Roman world.
Paul's influence on Christian thought and practice has been profound and pervasive. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 are attributed to him, and he is often considered the most important person in the history of Christianity after Jesus.
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