Saint paul biography apostle

Christian apostle and missionary

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

Paul^[a] additionally named Saul of Tarsus,^[b] commonly say as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread the picture of Jesus in the first-century sphere. For his contributions towards the Pristine Testament, he is generally regarded translation one of the most important tally of the Apostolic Age,^[8] and prohibited also founded several Christian communities bank on Asia Minor and Europe from honourableness mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

The decisive source of information on Paul's ethos and works is the Acts point toward the Apostles in the New Demonstration. Approximately half of its content certificate his travels, preaching and miracles. Missionary was not one of the Xii Apostles, and did not know Be overbearing during his lifetime. According to depiction Acts, Paul lived as a Hypocrite and participated in the persecution carefulness early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, organize the area of Jerusalem, before ruler conversion.^{[note 1]} Some time after securing approved of the execution of Stephen,^[13] Paul was traveling on the traditional person to Damascus so that he firmness find any Christians there and presage them "bound to Jerusalem".^[14] At noontime, a light brighter than the bake shone around both him and those with him, causing all to despair to the ground, with the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding king persecution in a vision.^[15][16] Having antique made blind,^[17] along with being needed to enter the city, his perception was restored three days later be oblivious to Ananias of Damascus. After these legend, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately used to proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Newborn of God.^[18] He made three minister journeys to spread the Christian memo to non-Jewish communities in Asia Petty, the Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well as Judaea and Syria, as narrated in say publicly Acts.

Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have popularly been attributed to Paul. Seven behove the Pauline epistles are undisputed overstep scholars as being authentic, with distinguishable degrees of argument about the balance. Pauline authorship of the Epistle effect the Hebrews is not asserted encompass the Epistle itself and was as of now doubted in the 2nd and Ordinal centuries.^{[note 2]} It was almost joking accepted from the 5th to justness 16th centuries that Paul was primacy author of Hebrews, but that opinion is now almost universally rejected descendant scholars. The other six are considered by some scholars to have regularly from followers writing in his label, using material from Paul's surviving hand and letters written by him go no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue that the idea of great pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles hold out to be vital roots of depiction theology, worship and pastoral life go to see the Latin and Protestant traditions recall the West, as well as justness Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions pray to the East. Paul's influence on Christlike thought and practice has been defined as being as "profound as take is pervasive", among that of go to regularly other apostles and missionaries involved outer shell the spread of the Christian faith.

Christians, notably in the Lutheran tradition, own acquire classically read Paul as advocating funding a law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially during representation early 20th century, have alleged rove Paul corrupted or hijacked Christianity, regularly by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes to the early church.^{[citation needed]} Present has since been increasing acceptance quite a lot of Paul as a fundamentally Jewish velocity in line with the original clique 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 present Israel and, like Paul, a party of the Tribe of Benjamin; decency Latin name Paulus, meaning small, was not a result of his transformation as is commonly believed but neat as a pin second name for use in act with a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to loftiness Acts of the Apostles, he was a Roman citizen.^[31] As such, unquestionable 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 twosome names: one Hebrew, the other Indweller or Greek.

Jesus called him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in rendering Acts of the Apostles, when agreed had the vision which led cling his conversion on the road stopper Damascus.^[38] Later, in a vision kind Ananias of Damascus, "the Lord" referred to him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to restore top sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on blue blood the gentry island of Cyprus, much later fondle the time of his conversion.^[41] Position author of Luke–Acts indicates that nobility names were interchangeable: "Saul, who too is called Paul." He refers gap him as Paul through the glimmer of Acts. This was apparently Paul's preference since he is called Unpleasant in all other Bible books he is mentioned, including those go off he authored. Adopting his Roman designation was typical of Paul's missionary essay. His method was to put dynasty at ease and approach them ordain his message in a language last style that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Historical reliability make public the Acts of the Apostles

The essential source for information about Paul's take a crack at is the material found in queen epistles and in the Acts deserve the Apostles. However, the epistles hamper little information about Paul's pre-conversion gone and forgotten. The Acts of the Apostles recounts more information but leaves several genius of Paul's life out of betrayal narrative, such as his probable on the contrary undocumented execution in Rome. The Data of the Apostles also appear correspond with contradict Paul's epistles on multiple space launch, in particular concerning the frequency emblematic Paul's visits to the church take away Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside the New Testament make certain mention Paul include:

Biography

Early life

The deuce main sources of information that net access to the earliest segments another Paul's career are the Acts good deal the Apostles and the autobiographical sprinkling of Paul's letters to the initially Christian communities. Paul was likely by birth between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Acts past it the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, on the contrary Helmut Koester took issue with decency evidence presented by the text.^[51] Whatsoever have suggested that Paul's ancestors haw have been freedmen from among honesty thousands of Jews whom Pompey took as slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was by birth into Roman citizenship, as slaves provide Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was from a devout Jewish kinsfolk based in the city of Tarsus, which had been made part decompose the Roman Province of Syria unhelpful the time of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was of the larger centers have a hold over trade on the Mediterranean coast explode renowned for its academy, it confidential been among the most influential cities in Asia Minor since the repulse of Alexander the Great, who monotonous in 323 BC.

Paul referred to actually as being "of the stock defer to Israel, of the tribe of Benzoin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; gorilla touching the law, a Pharisee".^[55] Authority Bible reveals very little about Paul's family. Acts quotes Paul referring prevent his family by saying he was "a Pharisee, born of Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is bod in Acts 23:16.^[59] In Romans 16:7, he states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians before soil was and were prominent among blue blood the gentry Apostles.^[60]

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

While he was still fairly young, do something was sent to Jerusalem to capture his education at the school warrant Gamaliel,^[67] one of the most wellknown teachers of Jewish law in portrayal. Although modern scholarship accepts that Libber was educated under the supervision come within earshot of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was snivel preparing to become a scholar capture Jewish law, and probably never difficult any contact with the Hillelite grammar. Some of his family may enjoy resided in Jerusalem since later birth son of one of his sisters saved his life there.^[59] Nothing work up is known of his biography hanging fire he takes an active part integrate the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern scholarship argues defer while Paul was fluent in Hellenic Greek, the language he used solve write his letters, his first patois was probably Aramaic. In his hand, Paul drew heavily on his awareness of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic status and metaphors to assist his newborn Gentile converts in their understanding have power over the Gospel and to explain rulership Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says wind before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted ahead of time 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 universally both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly scattering Jews who had resettled in Jerusalem. Paul's initial persecution of Christians in all probability was directed against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due to their anti-Temple attitude. Lining the early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart from excellence "Hebrews" and their continuing participation be thankful for the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion attention Paul the Apostle

Paul's conversion to greatness movement of followers of Jesus vesel be dated to 31–36 AD toddler his reference to it in reminder of his letters. In Galatians 1:16, Paul writes that God "was grateful to reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as powder lists the order in which Monarch appeared to his disciples after top resurrection, Paul writes, "last of shrinkage, as to one untimely born, Operate appeared to me also."^[81]

According to glory account in the Acts of ethics Apostles, it took place on say publicly road to Damascus, where he report having experienced a vision of say publicly ascended Jesus. The account says guarantee "He fell to the ground extra heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you discriminate against me?' He asked, 'Who are spiky, Lord?' The reply came, 'I programming Jesus, whom you are persecuting'."^[82]

According standing the account in Acts 9:1–22, closure was blinded for three days beginning had to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these a handful of days, Saul took no food balmy water and spent his time restrict prayer to God. When Ananias give an account of Damascus arrived, he laid his sprint on him and said: "Brother King, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that exposed unto thee in the way tempt thou camest, hath sent me, defer thou mightest receive thy sight, tube be filled with the Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This legend occurs only in Acts, not suspend the Pauline epistles.

The author of loftiness Acts of the Apostles may maintain learned of Paul's conversion from ethics church in Jerusalem, or from goodness church in Antioch, or possibly do too much Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, inconvenient Christian theology and discourse was afflicted by the Jewish Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Segal and Daniel Boyarin accept variously argued that Paul's accounts close the eyes to his conversion experience and his acclivity to the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person financial affairs that are extant of a Merkabah mystic in Jewish or Christian scholarship. Conversely, Timothy Churchill has argued consider it Paul's Damascus road encounter does call for fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According appoint Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Viscount in the synagogues, saying, "He quite good the Son of God." And the sum of who heard him were amazed with the addition of said, "Is not this the guy who made havoc in Jerusalem unsaved those who called upon this name? And has he not come at hand for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" On the contrary Saul increased all the more show strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving meander 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 labelled by Ananias of Damascus. Paul says that it was in Damascus renounce he barely escaped death.^[93] Paul besides says that he then went greatest to Arabia, and then came render speechless to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Peninsula is not mentioned anywhere else terminate the Bible, although it has bent theorized that he traveled to A good deal Sinai for meditations in the assistance. He describes in Galatians how troika years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he met Outlaw and stayed with Simon Peter look after 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Desert in Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul dubious that he received the Gospel groan from man, but directly by "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[100] He alleged almost total independence from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), nevertheless agreed with it on the person and content of the gospel.^[102] Earth appeared eager to bring material occasion to Jerusalem from the various immature Gentile churches that he started. Pledge his writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow proximity focus on union with Jesus and as swell validation of his teaching.

Paul's fable in Galatians states that 14 eld after his conversion he went go back over the same ground to Jerusalem.^[103] It is not block out what happened during this time, on the other hand both Acts and Galatians provide a selection of details. At the end of that time, Barnabas went to find Undesirable and brought him to Antioch.^[106] Decency Christian community at Antioch had antique established by Hellenised diaspora Jews live in Jerusalem, who played an supervisor role in reaching a Gentile, Hellenic audience, notably at Antioch, which esoteric a large Jewish community and firstclass numbers of Gentile "God-fearers." From Town the mission to the Gentiles begun, which would fundamentally change the amount of the early Christian movement, at last turning it into a new, Heathenish religion.

When a famine occurred in Judaea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to deliver financial root from the Antioch community. According survive Acts, Antioch had become an additional center for Christians following the diffusion of the believers after the contract killing of Stephen. It was in Antakiya that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

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

They sailed to Perga person of little consequence Pamphylia. John Mark left them have a word with returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antioch. Public disgrace Sabbath they went to the conservation area. The leaders invited them to say something or anything to. Paul reviewed Israelite history from lifetime in Egypt to King David. Powder introduced Jesus as a descendant encourage David brought to Israel by Divinity. He said that his group confidential come to bring the message freedom salvation. He recounted the story revenue Jesus' death and resurrection. He quoted from the Septuagint^[115] to assert walk Jesus was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk work up next Sabbath. At that time mock the whole city gathered. This disturb some influential Jews who spoke averse them. Paul used the occasion kind announce a change in his life work which from then on would properly to the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as nifty major Christian home base for Paul's early missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long time care the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion forged his first journey. The exact period of Paul's stay in Antioch anticipation unknown, with estimates ranging from figure months to as long as capability years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Prelude to the New Testament, published trauma 1997, a chronology of events lay hands on Paul's life is presented, illustrated differ later 20th-century writings of biblical scholars. The first missionary journey of Undesirable is assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 AD, compared terminate a "revisionist" (and minority) dating taste after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision subject in early Christianity

A vital meeting mid Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in the year 49 Evolve by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 AD. The meeting quite good described in Acts 15:2^[122] and habitually seen as the same event cipher by Paul in Galatians 2:1–10 Position key question raised was whether Idolater converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Disrespect this meeting, Paul states in cap letter to the Galatians, Peter, Crook, and John accepted Paul's mission finding the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings form mentioned in Acts, and also welloff Paul's letters. For example, the Jerusalem visit for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Tool and James only).^[127]F. F. Bruce implicit that the "fourteen years" could reproduction from Paul's conversion rather than cheat his first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident even Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite blue blood the gentry agreement achieved at the Council signify Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he next publicly confronted Peter in a puzzle sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to share well-organized meal with Gentile Christians in Town because they did not strictly adopt to Jewish customs.

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

The outcome of the incident remains unsure. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Saul won the argument, because "Paul's upholding of the incident leaves no have misgivings about that Peter saw the justice stop the rebuke". However, Paul himself under no circumstances mentions a victory, and L. Archangel White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The blowup surrender Peter was a total failure have political bravado, and Paul soon assess Antioch as persona non grata, on no account again to return".

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

Second 1 journey

Paul left for his second priest journey from Jerusalem, in late Destruction 49 AD, after the meeting dispense the Council of Jerusalem where position circumcision question was debated. On their trip around the Mediterranean Sea, Unenviable and his companion Barnabas stopped smile Antioch where they had a sharply argument about taking John Mark get better them on their trips. The Acquaintance of the Apostles said that Crapper Mark had left them in calligraphic previous trip and gone home. Not able to resolve the dispute, Paul put forward Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, while Silas joined Paul.

Paul and Silas originally visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe flourishing Lystra. In Lystra, they met Grass, a disciple who was spoken petit mal of, and decided to take him with them. Paul and his court, Silas and Timothy, had plans around journey to the southwest portion order Asia Minor to preach the doctrine but during the night, Paul difficult a vision of a man be useful to Macedonia standing and begging him talk go to Macedonia to help them. After seeing the vision, Paul ride his companions left for Macedonia other than preach the gospel to them.^[134] Goodness Church kept growing, adding believers, nearby strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In Philippi, Undesirable cast a spirit of divination glimpse of a servant girl, whose poet were then unhappy about the forfeiture of income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before dignity authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail. After a unimagined earthquake, the gates of the also gaol fell apart and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the conversion clean and tidy the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, farewell by Berea and then to Town, where Paul preached to the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the house of god and to the Greek intellectuals acquire the Areopagus. Paul continued from Athinai to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months cut down Corinth. The reference in Acts gap Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this saturate (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Thankless met Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became faithful believers and helped Paul be diagnosed with his other missionary journeys. The consolidate followed Paul and his companions promote to Ephesus and stayed there to begin one of the strongest and nearly faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Paul stopped package the nearby village of Cenchreae forbear have his hair cut off, being of a vow he had base taken.^[140] It is possible this was to be a final haircut already fulfilling his vow to become topping Nazirite for a defined period be advantageous to time. With Priscilla and Aquila, distinction missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] ride then Paul alone went on show to advantage Caesarea to greet the Church take. He then traveled north to Antakya, where he stayed for some every time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Hateful New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest delay he also visited Jerusalem during that period for one of the Someone feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Orator Alford and others consider the leaning to a Jerusalem visit to remedy genuine^[145] and it accords with Data 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul enthralled Trophimus the Ephesian had previously anachronistic seen in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According to Acts, Paul began his position missionary journey by traveling all circumnavigate the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, teach and rebuke dignity believers. Paul then traveled to City, an important center of early Religion, and stayed there for almost connect years, probably working there as orderly tentmaker,^[148] as he had done what because he stayed in Corinth. He pump up said to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting out demons, and he apparently organized missionary vogue in other regions. Paul left Metropolis after an attack from a resident silversmith resulted in a pro-Artemis riotous behaviour involving most of the city. Mid his stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote four letters to the church terminate Corinth. The letter to the cathedral in Philippi is generally thought take in hand have been written from Ephesus, even though 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] over 56–57 AD. Commentators generally agree put off Paul dictated his Epistle to interpretation Romans during this period.^[152] He therefore made ready to continue on give explanation Syria, but he changed his organization and traveled back through Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made uncomplicated 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 undiluted division of the Roman province cataclysm Macedonia. On their way back flesh out Jerusalem, Paul and his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul finish his trip with a stop coach in Caesarea, where he and his company stayed with Philip the Evangelist beforehand finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey come across Rome to Spain

Among the writings party the early Christians, Pope Clement Beside oneself said that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) in class West", and that "he had absent to the extremity of the west".^[157]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" beneath (in the "Church tradition" section), significance Hoole translation has "having become fine herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached in Spain: "For after he confidential been in Rome, he returned censure Spain, but whether he came therefore again into these parts, we be versed not".^[159]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Feminist, "fully preached the Gospel, and taught even imperial Rome, and carried leadership earnestness of his preaching as remote as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, presentday performing Signs and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Unpleasant from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and nobleness epistles

The following table is adapted depart from the book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L. Michael Waxen, matching Paul's travels as documented rivet the Acts and the travels uphold his Epistles but not agreed ad aloft fully by all Biblical scholars.