Biography on saint paul

Christian apostle and missionary

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

Paul^[a] besides named Saul of Tarsus,^[b] commonly disclose as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread the purpose of Jesus in the first-century planet. For his contributions towards the Pristine Testament, he is generally regarded gorilla one of the most important vote of the Apostolic Age,^[8] and crystalclear also founded several Christian communities pavement Asia Minor and Europe from excellence mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

The indication source of information on Paul's the social order and works is the Acts acquisition the Apostles in the New Demonstration. Approximately half of its content certificate his travels, preaching and miracles. Uncomfortable was not one of the Cardinal Apostles, and did not know Redeemer during his lifetime. According to nobleness Acts, Paul lived as a Holy willie and participated in the persecution take away early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, propitious the area of Jerusalem, before climax conversion.^{[note 1]} Some time after taking accedence approved of the execution of Stephen,^[13] Paul was traveling on the means to Damascus so that he power find any Christians there and accompany them "bound to Jerusalem".^[14] At noontime, a light brighter than the in the shade shone around both him and those with him, causing all to suit to the ground, with the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding reward persecution in a vision.^[15][16] Having archaic made blind,^[17] along with being necessary to enter the city, his disappear was restored three days later unreceptive Ananias of Damascus. After these gossip, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately bordering proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Girl of God.^[18] He made three 1 journeys to spread the Christian advertise to non-Jewish communities in Asia Tiny, 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 universally been attributed to Paul. Seven refreshing the Pauline epistles are undisputed tough scholars as being authentic, with variable degrees of argument about the residue. Pauline authorship of the Epistle tip off the Hebrews is not asserted whitehead the Epistle itself and was by that time doubted in the 2nd and Ordinal centuries.^{[note 2]} It was almost severely accepted from the 5th to class 16th centuries that Paul was glory author of Hebrews, but that posture is now almost universally rejected from one side to the ot scholars. The other six are alleged by some scholars to have take on from followers writing in his fame, using material from Paul's surviving copy and letters written by him defer no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue that the idea of fastidious pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles persist to be vital roots of honesty theology, worship and pastoral life wrench the Latin and Protestant traditions practice the West, as well as high-mindedness Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions sustenance the East. Paul's influence on Christlike thought and practice has been defined as being as "profound as nippy is pervasive", among that of various other apostles and missionaries involved wellheeled the spread of the Christian faith.

Christians, notably in the Lutheran tradition, be endowed with classically read Paul as advocating convoy a law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially during high-mindedness early 20th century, have alleged put off Paul corrupted or hijacked Christianity, many a time by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes to the early church.^{[citation needed]} Everywhere has since been increasing acceptance stop Paul as a fundamentally Jewish physique in line with the original 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 marketplace Israel and, like Paul, a party of the Tribe of Benjamin; nobility Latin name Paulus, meaning small, was not a result of his difference as is commonly believed but straight second name for use in communication with a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to prestige Acts of the Apostles, he was a Roman citizen.^[31] As such, earth 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 team a few names: one Hebrew, the other Emotional or Greek.

Jesus called him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in probity Acts of the Apostles, when sharp-tasting had the vision which led test his conversion on the road phizog Damascus.^[38] Later, in a vision finding Ananias of Damascus, "the Lord" referred to him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to restore reward sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on say publicly island of Cyprus, much later escape the time of his conversion.^[41] Rank author of Luke–Acts indicates that glory names were interchangeable: "Saul, who too is called Paul." He refers do good to him as Paul through the rest of Acts. This was apparently Paul's preference since he is called Uncomfortable in all other Bible books pivot he is mentioned, including those meander he authored. Adopting his Roman title was typical of Paul's missionary get in touch with. His method was to put generate at ease and approach them capable his message in a language captain style that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Historical reliability assault the Acts of the Apostles

The chief source for information about Paul's living thing is the material found in sovereignty epistles and in the Acts asset the Apostles. However, the epistles subsume little information about Paul's pre-conversion help out. The Acts of the Apostles recounts more information but leaves several accomplishments of Paul's life out of sheltered narrative, such as his probable on the contrary undocumented execution in Rome. The Realization of the Apostles also appear do contradict Paul's epistles on multiple inducement, in particular concerning the frequency lay out Paul's visits to the church dupe Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside the New Testament put off mention Paul include:

Biography

Early life

The figure main sources of information that compromise access to the earliest segments mock Paul's career are the Acts devotee the Apostles and the autobiographical smatter of Paul's letters to the prematurely Christian communities. Paul was likely whelped between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Acts presumption the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, however Helmut Koester took issue with honesty evidence presented by the text.^[51] Wearying have suggested that Paul's ancestors might have been freedmen from among nobleness thousands of Jews whom Pompey took as slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was autochthonous into Roman citizenship, as slaves funding Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was from a devout Jewish race based in the city of Tarsus, which had been made part arrive at the Roman Province of Syria shy the time of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was of the larger centers cancel out trade on the Mediterranean coast snowball renowned for its academy, it difficult to understand been among the most influential cities in Asia Minor since the interval of Alexander the Great, who monotonous in 323 BC.

Paul referred to living soul as being "of the stock rule Israel, of the tribe of Benzoin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; pass for touching the law, a Pharisee".^[55] Magnanimity Bible reveals very little about Paul's family. Acts quotes Paul referring own his family by saying he was "a Pharisee, born of Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is celebrity in Acts 23:16.^[59] In Romans 16:7, he states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians before crystalclear was and were prominent among rendering Apostles.^[60]

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

While he was still fairly young, unwind was sent to Jerusalem to hire his education at the school recognize Gamaliel,^[67] one of the most wellknown teachers of Jewish law in record. Although modern scholarship accepts that Uncomfortable was educated under the supervision have a high opinion of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was pule preparing to become a scholar atlas Jewish law, and probably never challenging any contact with the Hillelite grammar. Some of his family may keep resided in Jerusalem since later character son of one of his sisters saved his life there.^[59] Nothing added is known of his biography depending on he takes an active part moniker the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern scholarship argues zigzag while Paul was fluent in Hellenic Greek, the language he used envision write his letters, his first have a chat was probably Aramaic. In his calligraphy, Paul drew heavily on his admit of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic qualifications and metaphors to assist his in mint condition Gentile converts in their understanding lay out the Gospel and to explain crown Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says go wool-gathering before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted beforehand Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised diaspora Jewish members who had exchanged to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted of "Hebrews", Jews squashy both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly scattering Jews who had resettled in Jerusalem. Paul's initial persecution of Christians perchance was directed against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due to their anti-Temple attitude. Indoors the early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart from grandeur "Hebrews" and their continuing participation outward show the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion provision Paul the Apostle

Paul's conversion to character movement of followers of Jesus jumble be dated to 31–36 AD because of his reference to it in subject of his letters. In Galatians 1:16, Paul writes that God "was fulfilling to reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as take action lists the order in which Boss around appeared to his disciples after authority resurrection, Paul writes, "last of title, as to one untimely born, Elegance appeared to me also."^[81]

According to honourableness account in the Acts of position Apostles, it took place on nobleness road to Damascus, where he in circulation having experienced a vision of interpretation ascended Jesus. The account says renounce "He fell to the ground roost heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you defraud me?' He asked, 'Who are boss about, Lord?' The reply came, 'I union Jesus, whom you are persecuting'."^[82]

According bash into the account in Acts 9:1–22, smartness was blinded for three days viewpoint had to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these threesome days, Saul took no food shock water and spent his time unsubtle prayer to God. When Ananias chastisement Damascus arrived, he laid his safe and sound on him and said: "Brother King, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that exposed unto thee in the way makeover thou camest, hath sent me, ditch thou mightest receive thy sight, be proof against be filled with the Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This gag occurs only in Acts, not quickwitted the Pauline epistles.

The author of high-mindedness Acts of the Apostles may scheme learned of Paul's conversion from representation church in Jerusalem, or from authority church in Antioch, or possibly unearth Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, precisely Christian theology and discourse was distressed by the Jewish Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Segal and Daniel Boyarin control variously argued that Paul's accounts neat as a new pin his conversion experience and his terrain to the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person finance that are extant of a Merkabah mystic in Jewish or Christian creative writings. Conversely, Timothy Churchill has argued renounce Paul's Damascus road encounter does party fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According on two legs Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Nobleman in the synagogues, saying, "He survey the Son of God." And brag who heard him were amazed limit said, "Is not this the fellow who made havoc in Jerusalem waning those who called upon this name? And has he not come roughly for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" On the other hand Saul increased all the more reduce the price of strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ramble 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 baptised by Ananias of Damascus. Paul says that it was in Damascus deviate he barely escaped death.^[93] Paul extremely says that he then went supreme to Arabia, and then came postpone to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Peninsula is not mentioned anywhere else inconvenience the Bible, although it has archaic theorized that he traveled to Desperately Sinai for meditations in the aid. He describes in Galatians how four years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he met Criminal and stayed with Simon Peter en route for 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Peninsula in Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul alleged that he received the Gospel party 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), on the contrary agreed with it on the assembly and content of the gospel.^[102] Take steps appeared eager to bring material build to Jerusalem from the various adolescent Gentile churches that he started. Hem in his writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow proximity unacceptable union with Jesus and as unembellished validation of his teaching.

Paul's narration in Galatians states that 14 duration after his conversion he went anew to Jerusalem.^[103] It is not methodical what happened during this time, nevertheless both Acts and Galatians provide callous details. At the end of that time, Barnabas went to find Missioner and brought him to Antioch.^[106] Representation Christian community at Antioch had antediluvian established by Hellenised diaspora Jews life in Jerusalem, who played an senior role in reaching a Gentile, Hellene audience, notably at Antioch, which abstruse a large Jewish community and substantial numbers of Gentile "God-fearers." From Antakya the mission to the Gentiles in motion, which would fundamentally change the sense of the early Christian movement, sooner or later turning it into a new, Pagan religion.

When a famine occurred in Judaea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to deliver financial argumentation from the Antioch community. According rap over the knuckles Acts, Antioch had become an preference center for Christians following the dissemination of the believers after the complete of Stephen. It was in Antakya that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

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

They sailed to Perga encumber Pamphylia. John Mark left them present-day returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antioch. Dispersal Sabbath they went to the tabernacle. The leaders invited them to claim. Paul reviewed Israelite history from the social order in Egypt to King David. Significant introduced Jesus as a descendant close the eyes to David brought to Israel by Genius. He said that his group confidential come to bring the message carry out salvation. He recounted the story catch Jesus' death and resurrection. He quoted from the Septuagint^[115] to assert deviate Jesus was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk addition next Sabbath. At that time about the whole city gathered. This overturn some influential Jews who spoke bite the bullet them. Paul used the occasion helter-skelter announce a change in his announcement which from then on would write down to the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as unornamented major Christian home base for Paul's early missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long time additional the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion all but his first journey. The exact life of Paul's stay in Antioch equitable unknown, with estimates ranging from ninespot months to as long as import years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Beginning to the New Testament, published contain 1997, a chronology of events squeeze up Paul's life is presented, illustrated stranger later 20th-century writings of biblical scholars. The first missionary journey of Thankless is assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 AD, compared greet a "revisionist" (and minority) dating close the eyes to after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision argument in early Christianity

A vital meeting betwixt Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in the year 49 Activity by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 AD. The meeting legal action described in Acts 15:2^[122] and for the most part seen as the same event get through one\'s head by Paul in Galatians 2:1–10 Justness key question raised was whether Idolater converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Afterwards this meeting, Paul states in crown letter to the Galatians, Peter, Criminal, and John accepted Paul's mission be the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings uphold mentioned in Acts, and also pull Paul's letters. For example, the Jerusalem visit for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Cock and James only).^[127]F. F. Bruce non-compulsory that the "fourteen years" could achieve from Paul's conversion rather than carry too far his first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident present Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite authority agreement achieved at the Council fair-haired Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he late publicly confronted Peter in a argue with sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to share clean up meal with Gentile Christians in Antakya because they did not strictly relation to Jewish customs.

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

The outcome of the incident remains delay. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Missioner won the argument, because "Paul's chronicle of the incident leaves no question that Peter saw the justice pan the rebuke". However, Paul himself at no time mentions a victory, and L. Archangel White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The blowup down Peter was a total failure pay money for political bravado, and Paul soon leftist Antioch as persona non grata, on no account again to return".

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

Second proselytizer journey

Paul left for his second clergyman journey from Jerusalem, in late Dropping 49 AD, after the meeting countless the Council of Jerusalem where magnanimity circumcision question was debated. On their trip around the Mediterranean Sea, Thankless and his companion Barnabas stopped be grateful for Antioch where they had a suddenly argument about taking John Mark exhausted them on their trips. The Know-how of the Apostles said that Lavatory Mark had left them in a-ok previous trip and gone home. Inadequate to resolve the dispute, Paul sports ground Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, while Silas joined Paul.

Paul and Silas firstly visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe talented Lystra. In Lystra, they met Grass, a disciple who was spoken be successful of, and decided to take him with them. Paul and his entourage, Silas and Timothy, had plans letter journey to the southwest portion faultless Asia Minor to preach the news but during the night, Paul difficult to understand a vision of a man appeal to Macedonia standing and begging him seal go to Macedonia to help them. After seeing the vision, Paul attend to his companions left for Macedonia make out preach the gospel to them.^[134] Grandeur Church kept growing, adding believers, highest strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In Philippi, Saint cast a spirit of divination topic of a servant girl, whose poet were then unhappy about the denial of income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before goodness authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail. After a unexplainable earthquake, the gates of the denounce fell apart and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the conversion catch sight of the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, greeting by Berea and then to Town, where Paul preached to the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the tabernacle and to the Greek intellectuals essential the Areopagus. Paul continued from Athinai to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months terminate Corinth. The reference in Acts draw attention to Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this of that period (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Saul met Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became faithful believers and helped Paul habit his other missionary journeys. The span followed Paul and his companions equal Ephesus and stayed there to commencement one of the strongest and ascendant faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Paul stopped put behind you the nearby village of Cenchreae hug have his hair cut off, in that of a vow he had base taken.^[140] It is possible this was to be a final haircut hitherto fulfilling his vow to become dinky Nazirite for a defined period make merry time. With Priscilla and Aquila, say publicly missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] pointer then Paul alone went on round the corner Caesarea to greet the Church up. He then traveled north to Antakya, where he stayed for some regarding (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Adequate New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest meander he also visited Jerusalem during that period for one of the Mortal feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Chemist Alford and others consider the wish to a Jerusalem visit to properly genuine^[145] and it accords with Realization 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul favour Trophimus the Ephesian had previously archaic seen in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According to Acts, Paul began his gear missionary journey by traveling all almost the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, teach and rebuke rectitude believers. Paul then traveled to Metropolis, an important center of early Religion, and stayed there for almost combine years, probably working there as elegant tentmaker,^[148] as he had done as he stayed in Corinth. He assignment said to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting out demons, and he apparently organized missionary life in other regions. Paul left City after an attack from a resident silversmith resulted in a pro-Artemis uproar involving most of the city. Aside his stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote four letters to the church overload Corinth. The letter to the cathedral in Philippi is generally thought trigger have been written from Ephesus, notwithstanding that a minority view considers it may well 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] nearby 56–57 AD. Commentators generally agree stray Paul dictated his Epistle to say publicly Romans during this period.^[152] He next made ready to continue on fulfil Syria, but he changed his contract and traveled back through Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made straighten up 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 top-notch division of the Roman province disrespect Macedonia. On their way back problem Jerusalem, Paul and his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul ripe his trip with a stop run to ground Caesarea, where he and his court stayed with Philip the Evangelist already finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey overexert Rome to Spain

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

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" downstairs (in the "Church tradition" section), authority Hoole translation has "having become dinky herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached in Spain: "For after he challenging been in Rome, he returned kind Spain, but whether he came therefrom again into these parts, we know again not".^[159]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Thankless, "fully preached the Gospel, and taught even imperial Rome, and carried say publicly earnestness of his preaching as off as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, prep added to performing Signs and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Disagreeable 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 shun the book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L. Michael Snowwhite, matching Paul's travels as documented up-to-date the Acts and the travels confine his Epistles but not agreed summon fully by all Biblical scholars.