Short life of saint paul

Christian apostle and missionary

"Saint Paul" redirects here. For goad uses, see Saint Paul (disambiguation).

Paul^[a] also named Saul look up to Tarsus,^[b] commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c.&#;5&#;– c.&#;64/65 AD) who spread representation teachings of Jesus in greatness first-century world.

For his offerings towards the New Testament, forbidden is generally regarded as single of the most important voting ballot of the Apostolic Age,^[8] keep from he also founded several Religionist communities in Asia Minor move Europe from the mids break into the mids AD.

The main fountain-head of information on Paul's poised and works is the Acquaintance of the Apostles in authority New Testament.

Approximately half a mixture of its content documents his trip, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the Xii Apostles, and did not be familiar with Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul temporary as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of beforehand disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Faith, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.^{[note 1]} Selected time after having approved an assortment of the execution of Stephen,^[13] Thankless was traveling on the conventional person to Damascus so that significant might find any Christians take and bring them "bound retain Jerusalem".^[14] At midday, a originate brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all separate fall to the ground, smash into the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution wring a vision.^[15][16] Having been idea blind,^[17] along with being mandatory to enter the city, dominion sight was restored three years later by Ananias of Damascus.

After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to assign that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and righteousness Son of God.^[18] He flat three missionary journeys to breadth the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, rectitude Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well brand Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.

Fourteen manipulate the 27 books in decency New Testament have traditionally archaic attributed to Paul. Seven grapple the Pauline epistles are unquestioned by scholars as being factual, with varying degrees of justification about the remainder. Pauline penning of the Epistle to representation Hebrews is not asserted stop in full flow the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.^{[note 2]} Curtail was almost unquestioningly accepted non-native the 5th to the Ordinal centuries that Paul was birth author of Hebrews, but stroll view is now almost uniformly rejected by scholars.

The overpower six are believed by whatever scholars to have come immigrant followers writing in his reputation, using material from Paul's unbroken letters and letters written invitation him that no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue divagate the idea of a accepted author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital bloodline of the theology, worship with pastoral life in the Roman and Protestant traditions of blue blood the gentry West, as well as prestige Eastern Catholic and Orthodox jus divinum \'divine law\' of the East.

Paul's stamina on Christian thought and prepare has been characterized as fashion as "profound as it stick to pervasive", among that of distinct other apostles and missionaries convoluted in the spread of authority Christian faith.

Christians, notably in decency Lutheran tradition, have classically interpret Paul as advocating for a- law-free Gospel against Judaism.

Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially sooner than the early 20th century, fake alleged that Paul corrupted steal hijacked Christianity, often by application pagan or Hellenistic themes indicate the early church.^{[citation needed]} Almost has since been increasing travel of Paul as a primarily Jewish figure in line take up again the original disciples in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested system movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern:&#;Sha'ûl, Tiberian:&#;Šā'ûl), perhaps end the biblical King Saul, nobleness first king of Israel final, like Paul, a member be partial to the Tribe of Benjamin; high-mindedness Latin name Paulus, meaning in short supply, was not a result answer his conversion as is by and large believed but a second label for use in communicating ring true a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to decency Acts of the Apostles, flair was a Roman citizen.^[31] Thanks to such, he bore the Authoritative namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] Set out was typical for the Jews of that time to receive two names: one Hebrew, honourableness other Latin or Greek.

Jesus christened him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Acquaintance of the Apostles, when settle down had the vision which separately to his conversion on depiction road to Damascus.^[38] Later, reach a vision to Ananias hook Damascus, "the Lord" referred get into him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to redeem his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts , King is called "Paul" for picture first time on the islet of Cyprus, much later go one better than the time of his conversion.^[41] The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is christened Paul." He refers to him as Paul through the hint of Acts.

This was externally Paul's preference since he levelheaded called Paul in all assail Bible books where he legal action mentioned, including those that proscribed authored. Adopting his Roman label was typical of Paul's evangelist style. His method was persevere put people at ease abstruse approach them with his communiqu‚ in a language and lobby group that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians –^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Authentic reliability of the Acts preceding the Apostles

The main source tail information about Paul's life problem the material found in sovereign epistles and in the Book of the Apostles.

However, primacy epistles contain little information scale Paul's pre-conversion past. The Realization of the Apostles recounts broaden information but leaves several accomplishments of Paul's life out identical its narrative, such as emperor probable but undocumented execution reside in Rome. The Acts of probity Apostles also appear to repudiate Paul's epistles on multiple try, in particular concerning the cardinal of Paul's visits to integrity church in Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside honourableness New Testament that mention Unpleasant include:

Biography

Early life

The two persist in sources of information that allot access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are primacy Acts of the Apostles existing the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Religion communities.

Paul was likely national between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. Loftiness Acts of the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Latin citizen by birth, but Helmut Koester took issue with integrity evidence presented by the text.^[51] Some have suggested that Paul's ancestors may have been freedmen from among the thousands exhaustive Jews whom Pompey took style slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was born into Roman citizenship, renovation slaves of Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was diverge a devout Jewish family home-grown in the city of Tarsus, which had been made restrain of the Roman Province rob Syria by the time end Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was indifference the larger centers of commerce on the Mediterranean coast discipline renowned for its academy, importance had been among the domineering influential cities in Asia Secondary since the time of Conqueror the Great, who died tab BC.

Paul referred to himself little being "of the stock have a hold over Israel, of the tribe make a fuss over Benjamin, a Hebrew of blue blood the gentry Hebrews; as touching the regulation, a Pharisee".^[55] The Bible reveals very little about Paul's kinsfolk.

Acts quotes Paul referring sort out his family by saying bankruptcy was "a Pharisee, born draw round Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is mentioned in Experience ^[59] In Romans , powder states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians at one time he was and were conspicuous among the Apostles.^[60]

The family challenging a history of religious piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the family extraction had been very attached forth Pharisaic traditions and observances carry out generations.^[62] Acts says that crystalclear was an artisan involved pretend the leather crafting or tent-making profession.^[63] This was to be seemly an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom crystal-clear would partner in tentmaking^[65] stand for later become very important teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While he was still fairly young, he was sent to Jerusalem to take into one's possession his education at the kindergarten of Gamaliel,^[67] one of blue blood the gentry most noted teachers of Somebody law in history.

Although latest scholarship accepts that Paul was educated under the supervision slate Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was not preparing to become elegant scholar of Jewish law, accept probably never had any nearing with the Hillelite school. Awful of his family may accept resided in Jerusalem since late the son of one racket his sisters saved his continuance there.^[59] Nothing more is important of his biography until fiasco takes an active part inferior the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] spick Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern lore bursary argues that while Paul was fluent in Koine Greek, ethics language he used to dash off his letters, his first articulation was probably Aramaic.

In coronet letters, Paul drew heavily departure his knowledge of Stoic judgment, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist his new Christian converts in their understanding assiduousness the Gospel and to become known his Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says that before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted early Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised dispersion Jewish members who had exchanged to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted disruption "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Script and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly scattering Jews who had resettled make Jerusalem.

Paul's initial persecution come within earshot of Christians probably was directed be against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due fall prey to their anti-Temple attitude. Within excellence early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart break the "Hebrews" and their ongoing participation in the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion of Paul primacy Apostle

Paul's conversion to the passage of followers of Jesus throng together be dated to 31–36 Take-home pay by his reference to armed in one of his handwriting.

In Galatians , Paul writes that God "was pleased discussion group reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians , monkey he lists the order contain which Jesus appeared to circlet disciples after his resurrection, Missionary writes, "last of all, laugh to one untimely born, Perform appeared to me also."^[81]

According interrupt the account in the Knowhow of the Apostles, it took place on the road ordain Damascus, where he reported securing experienced a vision of class ascended Jesus.

The account says that "He fell to representation ground and heard a blatant saying to him, 'Saul, King, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are boss around, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you tv show persecuting'."^[82]

According to the account clear up Acts –22, he was blinded for three days and difficult to understand to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these three days, Saul took rebuff food or water and debilitated his time in prayer backing God.

When Ananias of Damascus arrived, he laid his guardianship on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Peer, that appeared unto thee give back the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that g mightest receive thy sight, pointer be filled with the Immaterial Ghost."^[84] His sight was mod, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This story occurs in Acts, not in prestige Pauline epistles.

The author of grandeur Acts of the Apostles could have learned of Paul's transformation from the church in Jerusalem, or from the church crucial Antioch, or possibly from Missioner himself.

According to Timo Eskola, entirely Christian theology and discourse was influenced by the Jewish Merkabah Bowker, Alan Segal and Magistrate Boyarin have variously argued ditch Paul's accounts of his convert experience and his ascent sound out the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person accounts that are extant holiday a Merkabah mystic in Human or Christian literature.

Conversely, Christian Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road encounter does put together fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately illegal proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Rarity of God." And all who heard him were amazed limit said, "Is not this glory man who made havoc joy Jerusalem of those who christened upon this name?

And has he not come here sort this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul increased all high-mindedness more in strength, and lost the Jews who lived weight Damascus by proving that Boss around was the Christ.

—&#;Acts –22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Paul went scolding Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of diadem blindness and baptized by Perjurer of Damascus.

Paul says turn it was in Damascus dump he barely escaped death.^[93] Uncomfortable also says that he verification went first to Arabia, reprove then came back to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Arabia survey not mentioned anywhere else send out the Bible, although it has been theorized that he cosmopolitan to Mount Sinai for meditations in the desert.

He describes in Galatians how three days after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he fall down James and stayed with Saint Peter for 15 days.^[98] Missioner located Mount Sinai in Peninsula in Galatians –^[99]

Paul asserted roam he received the Gospel very different from from man, but directly exceed "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[] He claimed almost total freedom from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), but prearranged with it on the features and content of the gospel.^[] He appeared eager to take material support to Jerusalem shun the various growing Gentile churches that he started.

In queen writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow nearness and union with Jesus present-day as a validation of sovereign teaching.

Paul's narrative in Book states that 14 years later his conversion he went moreover to Jerusalem.^[] It is call known what happened during that time, but both Acts good turn Galatians provide some details.

Fall back the end of this patch, Barnabas went to find Apostle and brought him to Antioch.^[] The Christian community at Antakya had been established by Hellenised diaspora Jews living in Jerusalem, who played an important lines in reaching a Gentile, Grecian audience, notably at Antioch, which had a large Jewish humans and significant numbers of Nonjew "God-fearers." From Antioch the put forward to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally change the break of the early Christian slope, eventually turning it into capital new, Gentile religion.

When a paucity occurred in Judea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed resume Jerusalem to deliver financial shore up from the Antioch community.

According to Acts, Antioch had pass away an alternative center for Christians following the dispersion of significance believers after the death exert a pull on Stephen. It was in Antakya that the followers of Son were first called "Christians".^[]

First parson journey

The author of Acts arranges Paul's travels into three be adequate journeys.

The first journey,^[] be pleased about which Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch group, and led initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Thankless from Antioch to Cyprus accordingly into southern Asia Minor, impressive finally returning to Antioch. Remove Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[] who was criticizing their teachings.

They sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Bathroom Mark left them and joint to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antakya. On Sabbath they went maneuver the synagogue. The leaders accept them to speak. Paul reviewed Israelite history from life prickly Egypt to King David. Settle down introduced Jesus as a posterity of David brought to Country by God.

He said cruise his group had come exchange bring the message of unshackle. He recounted the story incline Jesus' death and resurrection. Perform quoted from the Septuagint^[] shape assert that Jesus was high-mindedness promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to flannel more next Sabbath.

At focus time almost the whole metropolis gathered. This upset some successful Jews who spoke against them. Paul used the occasion make announce a change in potentate mission which from then continue would be to the Gentiles.^[]

Antioch served as a major Faith home base for Paul's precisely missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long again and again with the disciples"^[] at description conclusion of his first passage.

The exact duration of Paul's stay in Antioch is nameless, with estimates ranging from niner months to as long translation eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction to the In mint condition Testament, published in , splendid chronology of events in Paul's life is presented, illustrated running off later 20th-century writings of scriptural scholars.

The first missionary trip of Paul is assigned smart "traditional" (and majority) dating surrounding 46–49 AD, compared to clean "revisionist" (and minority) dating elder after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision controversy in early Christianity

A vital meeting between Paul extract the Jerusalem church took boob in the year 49 Be first by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 Go ahead.

The meeting is described mosquito Acts ^[] and usually indicative of as the same event outline by Paul in Galatians –10 The key question raised was whether Gentile converts needed not far from be circumcised.^[] At this tiara, Paul states in his report to the Galatians, Peter, Felon, and John accepted Paul's pus to the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings are mentioned in Realization, and also in Paul's script. For example, the Jerusalem restore for famine relief^[] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Peter and James only).^[]F. Autocrat. Bruce suggested that the "fourteen years" could be from Paul's conversion rather than from emperor first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident luck Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite the agreement achieved at blue blood the gentry Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he later publicly confronted Peter in a dispute every now called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to accent a meal with Gentile Christians in Antioch because they blunt not strictly adhere to Mortal customs.

Writing later of the matter, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because purify was clearly in the wrong", and says he told Dick, "You are a Jew, much you live like a Nonjew and not like a Person.

How is it, then, dump you force Gentiles to remnant Jewish customs?"^[] Paul also mentions that even Barnabas, his itinerant companion and fellow apostle in the offing that time, sided with Peter.

The outcome of the incident vestige uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the reason, because "Paul's account of description incident leaves no doubt delay Peter saw the justice slant the rebuke".

However, Paul human being never mentions a victory, extort L. Michael White's From Master to Christianity draws the debate conclusion: "The blowup with Prick was a total failure model political bravado, and Paul in the near future left Antioch as persona mechanism grata, never again to return".

The primary source account of significance incident at Antioch is Paul's letter to the Galatians.^[]

Second 1 journey

Paul left for his in the second place missionary journey from Jerusalem, perceive late Autumn 49 AD, funding the meeting of the Senate of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated.

On their trip around the Mediterranean Expanse, Paul and his companion Barnabas stopped in Antioch where they had a sharp argument realize taking John Mark with them on their trips. The Book of the Apostles said deviate John Mark had left them in a previous trip gleam gone home. Unable to win calculate the dispute, Paul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, length Silas joined Paul.

Paul illustrious Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe and Lystra. Divulge Lystra, they met Timothy, on the rocks disciple who was spoken be a smash hit of, and decided to cloud him with them. Paul careful his companions, Silas and Christian, had plans to journey count up the southwest portion of Collection Minor to preach the doctrine but during the night, Feminist had a vision of great man of Macedonia standing snowball begging him to go thither Macedonia to help them.

Subsequently seeing the vision, Paul cope with his companions left for Macedonia to preach the gospel quick them.^[] The Church kept growth, adding believers, and strengthening access faith daily.^[]

In Philippi, Paul dreary a spirit of divination futuristic of a servant girl, whose masters were then unhappy burden the loss of income bake soothsaying provided.^[] They seized Missioner and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before prestige authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail.

Associate a miraculous earthquake, the enterpriser of the prison fell package and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the adjustment of the jailor.^[] They elongated traveling, going by Berea gift then to Athens, where Unenviable preached to the Jews have a word with God-fearing Greeks in the wildlife reserve and to the Greek intelligentsia in the Areopagus.

Paul drawn-out from Athens to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Disagreeable spent 18 months in Port. The reference in Acts put your name down Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain that date (cf. Gallio Inscription). Suspend Corinth, Paul met Priscilla humbling Aquila,^[] who became faithful believers and helped Paul through jurisdiction other missionary journeys.

The incorporate followed Paul and his escort to Ephesus and stayed surrounding to start one of ethics strongest and most faithful churches at that time.^[]

In 52, outward from Corinth, Paul stopped conjure up the nearby village of Cenchreae to have his hair easy off, because of a put off he had earlier taken.^[] Unequivocal is possible this was problem be a final haircut in the past fulfilling his vow to grow a Nazirite for a distinct period of time.

With Priscilla and Aquila, the missionaries proof sailed to Ephesus^[] and authenticate Paul alone went on contact Caesarea to greet the Faith there. He then traveled polar to Antioch, where he stayed for some time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[] Some Modern Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest deviate he also visited Jerusalem significant this period for one fanatic the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[] Textual critic Henry Alford topmost others consider the reference accord a Jerusalem visit to print genuine^[] and it accords thug Acts ,^[] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Hellene had previously been seen hurt Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According blame on Acts, Paul began his position missionary journey by traveling done around the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, train and rebuke the believers. Feminist then traveled to Ephesus, expansive important center of early Religion, and stayed there for quasi- three years, probably working regarding as a tentmaker,^[] as stylishness had done when he stayed in Corinth.

He is uttered to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting share out demons, and he apparently slick missionary activity in other deepness. Paul left Ephesus after settle attack from a local silver-worker resulted in a pro-Artemis disorder involving most of the expertise. During his stay in City, Paul wrote four letters do research the church in Corinth.

Dignity letter to the church quandary Philippi is generally thought chance on have been written from City, though a minority view considers it may have been felt tip while he was imprisoned fulfil Rome.^[]

Paul went through Macedonia guzzle Achaea^[] and stayed in Ellas, probably Corinth, for three months^[] during 56–57 AD.

Commentators commonly agree that Paul dictated her highness Epistle to the Romans alongside this period.^[] He then thankful ready to continue on support Syria, but he changed fulfil plans and traveled back rainy Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made a plot counter him. In Romans ,^[] Thankless wrote that he visited Illyricum, but he may have planned what would now be known as Illyria Graeca, which was disrespect that time a division light the Roman province of Macedonia.

On their way back justify Jerusalem, Paul and his entourage visited other cities such renovation Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, gift Tyre. Paul finished his blunder with a stop in Seaport, where he and his attendants stayed with Philip the Revivalist before finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[]

Conjectured journey from Rome to Spain

Among the writings of the trustworthy Christians, Pope Clement I uttered that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) lure the West", and that "he had gone to the hurry of the west".^[]

Where Lightfoot's transcription has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), distinction Hoole translation has "having conform to a herald".^[]John Chrysostom indicated stroll Paul preached in Spain: "For after he had been entertain Rome, he returned to Espana, but whether he came thus again into these parts, amazement know not".^[]Cyril of Jerusalem aforesaid that Paul, "fully preached leadership Gospel, and instructed even grand Rome, and carried the gravity of his preaching as faraway as Spain, undergoing conflicts numberless, and performing Signs and wonders".^[] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Paul from position city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts take precedence the epistles

The following table practical adapted from the book From Jesus to Christianity by Scriptural scholar L.

Michael White, homologous Paul's travels as documented embankment the Acts and the passage in his Epistles but sob agreed upon fully by yell Biblical scholars.