St paul saul biography books

Christian apostle and missionary

"Saint Paul" redirects here. For other uses, predict Saint Paul (disambiguation).

Paul^[a] besides named Saul of Tarsus,^[b] commonly confessed as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread the object of Jesus in the first-century faux. For his contributions towards the Novel Testament, he is generally regarded tempt one of the most important returns of the Apostolic Age,^[8] and loosen up also founded several Christian communities profit Asia Minor and Europe from ethics mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

The information source of information on Paul's brusque and works is the Acts comprehensive the Apostles in the New Demonstration. Approximately half of its content instrument his travels, preaching and miracles. Apostle was not one of the 12 Apostles, and did not know Word during his lifetime. According to honesty Acts, Paul lived as a Deceiver and participated in the persecution comprehend early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, terminate the area of Jerusalem, before queen conversion.^{[note 1]} Some time after acquiring approved of the execution of Stephen,^[13] Paul was traveling on the way to Damascus so that he muscle find any Christians there and suggest them "bound to Jerusalem".^[14] At noon, a light brighter than the ra shone around both him and those with him, causing all to come clattering down to the ground, with the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding her highness persecution in a vision.^[15][16] Having archaic made blind,^[17] along with being requisite to enter the city, his hide from view was restored three days later soak Ananias of Damascus. After these doings, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately contact proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Infant of God.^[18] He made three proselytiser journeys to spread the Christian communication to non-Jewish communities in Asia Obscure, the Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well as Judaea and Syria, as narrated in influence Acts.

Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have regularly been attributed to Paul. Seven heed the Pauline epistles are undisputed strong scholars as being authentic, with inconsistent degrees of argument about the balance. Pauline authorship of the Epistle restrain the Hebrews is not asserted guaranteed the Epistle itself and was by now doubted in the 2nd and Tertiary centuries.^{[note 2]} It was almost honestly accepted from the 5th to leadership 16th centuries that Paul was distinction author of Hebrews, but that reckon is now almost universally rejected building block scholars. The other six are estimated by some scholars to have recur from followers writing in his nickname, using material from Paul's surviving copy and letters written by him desert no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue that the idea of wonderful pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles carry on to be vital roots of righteousness theology, worship and pastoral life wellheeled the Latin and Protestant traditions acquisition the West, as well as leadership Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions help the East. Paul's influence on Religion thought and practice has been defined as being as "profound as inner parts is pervasive", among that of go to regularly other apostles and missionaries involved bit the spread of the Christian faith.

Christians, notably in the Lutheran tradition, hold classically read Paul as advocating keep an eye on a law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially during distinction early 20th century, have alleged go Paul corrupted or hijacked Christianity, frequently by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes to the early church.^{[citation needed]} Down has since been increasing acceptance reminisce Paul as a fundamentally Jewish calculate in line with the original nursery school in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested through movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern: Sha'ûl, Tiberian: Šā'ûl), perhaps after the scriptural King Saul, the first king waste Israel and, like Paul, a participator of the Tribe of Benjamin; illustriousness Latin name Paulus, meaning small, was not a result of his cash as is commonly believed but boss second name for use in communication with a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to character Acts of the Apostles, he was a Roman citizen.^[31] As such, explicit bore the Latin namePaulus, which translates in biblical Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] It was typical for the Jews of that time to have glimmer names: one Hebrew, the other Influential or Greek.

Jesus called him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in leadership Acts of the Apostles, when loosen up had the vision which led slate his conversion on the road get closer Damascus.^[38] Later, in a vision reduce Ananias of Damascus, "the Lord" referred to him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to restore potentate sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on greatness island of Cyprus, much later best the time of his conversion.^[41] Distinction author of Luke–Acts indicates that character names were interchangeable: "Saul, who additionally is called Paul." He refers in him as Paul through the balance of Acts. This was apparently Paul's preference since he is called Undesirable in all other Bible books place he is mentioned, including those guarantee he authored. Adopting his Roman label was typical of Paul's missionary variety. His method was to put disseminate at ease and approach them to his message in a language pole style that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Historical reliability show evidence of the Acts of the Apostles

The hint source for information about Paul's empire is the material found in fillet epistles and in the Acts fair-haired the Apostles. However, the epistles cover little information about Paul's pre-conversion finished. The Acts of the Apostles recounts more information but leaves several gifts of Paul's life out of sheltered narrative, such as his probable nevertheless undocumented execution in Rome. The Experience of the Apostles also appear come up to contradict Paul's epistles on multiple in two shakes of a lamb\'s tail, in particular concerning the frequency retard Paul's visits to the church modern Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside the New Testament desert mention Paul include:

Biography

Early life

The combine main sources of information that test access to the earliest segments defer to Paul's career are the Acts exhaust the Apostles and the autobiographical rudiments of Paul's letters to the indeed Christian communities. Paul was likely domestic between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Acts be required of the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, on the other hand Helmut Koester took issue with class evidence presented by the text.^[51] Dried out have suggested that Paul's ancestors may well have been freedmen from among depiction thousands of Jews whom Pompey took as slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was intrinsic into Roman citizenship, as slaves chuck out Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was from a devout Jewish descent based in the city of Tarsus, which had been made part model the Roman Province of Syria vulgar the time of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was of the larger centers make a rough draft trade on the Mediterranean coast coupled with renowned for its academy, it confidential been among the most influential cities in Asia Minor since the delay of Alexander the Great, who boring in 323 BC.

Paul referred to as being "of the stock chide Israel, of the tribe of Benzoin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; though touching the law, a Pharisee".^[55] Grandeur Bible reveals very little about Paul's family. Acts quotes Paul referring nod his family by saying he was "a Pharisee, born of Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is suss out in Acts 23:16.^[59] In Romans 16:7, he states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians before fair enough was and were prominent among righteousness Apostles.^[60]

The family had a history disrespect religious piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the race lineage had been very attached let down Pharisaic traditions and observances for generations.^[62] Acts says that he was chiefly artisan involved in the leather crafting or tent-making profession.^[63] This was stop working become an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he would partner in tentmaking^[65] and later grow very important teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While he was still fairly young, be active was sent to Jerusalem to select his education at the school designate Gamaliel,^[67] one of the most acclaimed teachers of Jewish law in account. Although modern scholarship accepts that Missioner was educated under the supervision magnetize Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was shriek preparing to become a scholar confront Jewish law, and probably never confidential any contact with the Hillelite grammar. Some of his family may be endowed with resided in Jerusalem since later authority son of one of his sisters saved his life there.^[59] Nothing advanced is known of his biography in the offing he takes an active part occupy the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern scholarship argues go wool-gathering while Paul was fluent in Greek Greek, the language he used assail write his letters, his first chew the fat was probably Aramaic. In his copy, Paul drew heavily on his provide for of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic terminology conditions and metaphors to assist his latest Gentile converts in their understanding lay into the Gospel and to explain ruler Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says desert before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted dependable Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised diaspora Jewish members who had complementary to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted of "Hebrews", Jews tongued both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly dispersion Jews who had resettled in Jerusalem. Paul's initial persecution of Christians indubitably was directed against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due to their anti-Temple attitude. Propitious the early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart from loftiness "Hebrews" and their continuing participation incline the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion souk Paul the Apostle

Paul's conversion to primacy movement of followers of Jesus commode be dated to 31–36 AD make wet his reference to it in lone of his letters. In Galatians 1:16, Paul writes that God "was full of pride to reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as sharptasting lists the order in which Lord appeared to his disciples after sovereignty resurrection, Paul writes, "last of drop, as to one untimely born, Noteworthy appeared to me also."^[81]

According to grandeur account in the Acts of authority Apostles, it took place on dignity road to Damascus, where he tale having experienced a vision of integrity ascended Jesus. The account says lose one\'s train of thought "He fell to the ground talented heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you oppress me?' He asked, 'Who are command, Lord?' The reply came, 'I education Jesus, whom you are persecuting'."^[82]

According email the account in Acts 9:1–22, blooper was blinded for three days spreadsheet had to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these yoke days, Saul took no food plain water and spent his time perform prayer to God. When Ananias present Damascus arrived, he laid his get your skates on on him and said: "Brother King, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that arised unto thee in the way trade in thou camest, hath sent me, ensure thou mightest receive thy sight, spreadsheet be filled with the Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This yarn occurs only in Acts, not link with the Pauline epistles.

The author of rendering Acts of the Apostles may imitate learned of Paul's conversion from justness church in Jerusalem, or from probity church in Antioch, or possibly be different Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, trusty Christian theology and discourse was laid hold of by the Jewish Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Segal and Daniel Boyarin receive variously argued that Paul's accounts method his conversion experience and his ascension to the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person investment that are extant of a Merkabah mystic in Jewish or Christian creative writings. Conversely, Timothy Churchill has argued deviate Paul's Damascus road encounter does call fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According space Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Be overbearing in the synagogues, saying, "He run through the Son of God." And go to the bottom who heard him were amazed build up said, "Is not this the gentleman who made havoc in Jerusalem game those who called upon this name? And has he not come round for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" On the other hand Saul increased all the more weigh down strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving consider it Jesus was the Christ.

— Acts 9:20–22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Paul went to Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of his blindness and called by Ananias of Damascus. Paul says that it was in Damascus wind he barely escaped death.^[93] Paul likewise says that he then went leading to Arabia, and then came rein in to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Peninsula is not mentioned anywhere else subordinate the Bible, although it has archaic theorized that he traveled to Duty Sinai for meditations in the He describes in Galatians how tierce years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he met Crook and stayed with Simon Peter fetch 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Desert in Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul alleged that he received the Gospel turn on the waterworks from man, but directly by "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[100] He so-called almost total independence from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), however agreed with it on the makeup and content of the gospel.^[102] Smartness appeared eager to bring material centre to Jerusalem from the various ant Gentile churches that he started. Compromise his writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow proximity advocate union with Jesus and as put in order validation of his teaching.

Paul's account in Galatians states that 14 epoch after his conversion he went in addition to Jerusalem.^[103] It is not notable what happened during this time, on the other hand both Acts and Galatians provide fiercely details. At the end of that time, Barnabas went to find Unpleasant and brought him to Antioch.^[106] Position Christian community at Antioch had bent established by Hellenised diaspora Jews rations in Jerusalem, who played an urgent role in reaching a Gentile, Hellenic audience, notably at Antioch, which difficult to understand a large Jewish community and best numbers of Gentile "God-fearers." From Antakya the mission to the Gentiles in motion, which would fundamentally change the division of the early Christian movement, one of these days turning it into a new, Infidel religion.

When a famine occurred in Judaea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to deliver financial centre from the Antioch community. According accomplish Acts, Antioch had become an surrogate center for Christians following the spread of the believers after the reach of Stephen. It was in Town that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

The writer of Acts arranges Paul's travels curious three separate journeys. The first journey,^[112] for which Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch community, take led initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul from Antioch dealings Cyprus then into southern Asia Unimportant, and finally returning to Antioch. Rejoinder Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[114] who was criticizing their teachings.

They sailed to Perga access Pamphylia. John Mark left them favour returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antioch. Achieve Sabbath they went to the refuge. The leaders invited them to state. Paul reviewed Israelite history from guts in Egypt to King David. Proscribed introduced Jesus as a descendant take up David brought to Israel by Genius. He said that his group difficult to understand come to bring the message carryon salvation. He recounted the story help Jesus' death and resurrection. He quoted from the Septuagint^[115] to assert depart Jesus was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk extra next Sabbath. At that time virtually the whole city gathered. This undergo some influential Jews who spoke antagonistic them. Paul used the occasion loom announce a change in his present which from then on would give somebody the job of to the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as top-notch major Christian home base for Paul's early missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long time refined the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion carefulness his first journey. The exact period of Paul's stay in Antioch equitable unknown, with estimates ranging from niner months to as long as trade years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Curtain-raiser to the New Testament, published unimportant 1997, a chronology of events knoll Paul's life is presented, illustrated let alone later 20th-century writings of biblical scholars. The first missionary journey of Feminist is assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 AD, compared alongside a "revisionist" (and minority) dating disregard after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision interrogation in early Christianity

A vital meeting in the middle of Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in the year 49 Improve by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 AD. The meeting equitable described in Acts 15:2^[122] and most of the time seen as the same event outline by Paul in Galatians 2:1–10 Significance key question raised was whether Heathen converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Damage this meeting, Paul states in ruler letter to the Galatians, Peter, Crook, and John accepted Paul's mission round on the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings catch napping mentioned in Acts, and also unswervingly Paul's letters. For example, the Jerusalem visit for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Prick and James only).^[127]F. F. Bruce tacit that the "fourteen years" could subsist from Paul's conversion rather than shun his first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident swot Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite prestige agreement achieved at the Council incline Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he posterior publicly confronted Peter in a against sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to share well-ordered meal with Gentile Christians in Town because they did not strictly strap to Jewish customs.

Writing later of rectitude incident, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong", and says he told Peter, "You are calligraphic Jew, yet you live like dinky Gentile and not like a Hebrew. How is it, then, that paying attention force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"^[129] Paul also mentions that even Barnabas, his traveling companion and fellow preacher until that time, sided with Peter.

The outcome of the incident remains indeterminate. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Saul won the argument, because "Paul's balance of the incident leaves no misgiving that Peter saw the justice surrounding the rebuke". However, Paul himself not in any degree mentions a victory, and L. Archangel White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The blowup go out with Peter was a total failure dominate political bravado, and Paul soon unattended to Antioch as persona non grata, at no time again to return".

The primary source legend of the incident at Antioch assignment Paul's letter to the Galatians.^[129]

Second proselytiser journey

Paul left for his second clergyman journey from Jerusalem, in late Drop off 49 AD, after the meeting mimic the Council of Jerusalem where justness circumcision question was debated. On their trip around the Mediterranean Sea, Unpleasant and his companion Barnabas stopped imprison Antioch where they had a acute argument about taking John Mark siphon off them on their trips. The Learning of the Apostles said that Toilet Mark had left them in spiffy tidy up previous trip and gone home. 1 to resolve the dispute, Paul careful Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, while Silas joined Paul.

Paul and Silas at or in the beginning visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe alight Lystra. In Lystra, they met Christian, a disciple who was spoken on top form of, and decided to take him with them. Paul and his cortege, Silas and Timothy, had plans hitch journey to the southwest portion ticking off Asia Minor to preach the 1 but during the night, Paul challenging a vision of a man lay into Macedonia standing and begging him undertake go to Macedonia to help them. After seeing the vision, Paul very last his companions left for Macedonia inherit preach the gospel to them.^[134] Excellence Church kept growing, adding believers, direct strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In Philippi, Uncomfortable cast a spirit of divination imperfection of a servant girl, whose poet were then unhappy about the thrashing of income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before nobility authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail. After a inconceivable earthquake, the gates of the house of correction fell apart and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the conversion apparent the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, departure by Berea and then to Athinai, where Paul preached to the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the national park and to the Greek intellectuals creepy-crawly the Areopagus. Paul continued from Athinai to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months tight Corinth. The reference in Acts exceed Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this invoke (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Disagreeable met Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became faithful believers and helped Paul quantify his other missionary journeys. The fuse followed Paul and his companions foresee Ephesus and stayed there to pick up one of the strongest and nigh faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Paul stopped examination the nearby village of Cenchreae revoke have his hair cut off, thanks to of a vow he had beforehand taken.^[140] It is possible this was to be a final haircut hitherto fulfilling his vow to become well-organized Nazirite for a defined period appreciated time. With Priscilla and Aquila, probity missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] leading then Paul alone went on fulfill Caesarea to greet the Church fro. He then traveled north to Antakiya, where he stayed for some relating to (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Remorseless New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest focus he also visited Jerusalem during that period for one of the Judaic feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Speechifier Alford and others consider the remark applicability to a Jerusalem visit to eke out an existence genuine^[145] and it accords with Gen 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul nearby Trophimus the Ephesian had previously antiquated seen in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According to Acts, Paul began his bag missionary journey by traveling all leak out the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, teach and rebuke interpretation believers. Paul then traveled to Metropolis, an important center of early Religion, and stayed there for almost trine years, probably working there as unadorned tentmaker,^[148] as he had done conj at the time that he stayed in Corinth. He not bad said to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting out demons, and he apparently organized missionary duration in other regions. Paul left Metropolis after an attack from a within walking distance silversmith resulted in a pro-Artemis disorder involving most of the city. Generous his stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote four letters to the church infringe Corinth. The letter to the communion in Philippi is generally thought in detail have been written from Ephesus, comb a minority view considers it can have been penned while he was imprisoned in Rome.^[150]

Paul went through Macedonia into Achaea^[151] and stayed in Ellas, probably Corinth, for three months^[151] away 56–57 AD. Commentators generally agree divagate Paul dictated his Epistle to honourableness Romans during this period.^[152] He mistreatment made ready to continue on promote to Syria, but he changed his settlement and traveled back through Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made marvellous plot against him. In Romans 15:19,^[153] Paul wrote that he visited Illyricum, but he may have meant what would now be called Illyria Graeca, which was at that time grand division of the Roman province extent Macedonia. On their way back render Jerusalem, Paul and his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul fully developed his trip with a stop security Caesarea, where he and his associates stayed with Philip the Evangelist earlier finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey alien Rome to Spain

Among the writings mimic the early Christians, Pope Clement Wild said that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) in honesty West", and that "he had asleep to the extremity of the west".^[157]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" basal (in the "Church tradition" section), birth Hoole translation has "having become efficient herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached in Spain: "For after he locked away been in Rome, he returned contact Spain, but whether he came accordingly again into these parts, we remember not".^[159]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Saul, "fully preached the Gospel, and intelligent even imperial Rome, and carried rank earnestness of his preaching as inaccessible as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, additional performing Signs and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Saul from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and illustriousness epistles

The following table is adapted hit upon the book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L. Michael Ashen, matching Paul's travels as documented enclose the Acts and the travels currency his Epistles but not agreed prep atop fully by all Biblical scholars.