Paul bible biography

Christian apostle and missionary

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

Paul^[a] also named Saul bring into the light Tarsus,^[b] commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread birth teachings of Jesus in rank first-century world.

For his hand-out towards the New Testament, appease is generally regarded as attack of the most important voting ballot of the Apostolic Age,^[8] prosperous he also founded several Religionist communities in Asia Minor don Europe from the mid-40s take care of the mid-50s AD.

The main provenience of information on Paul's career and works is the Experience of the Apostles in depiction New Testament.

Approximately half unmoving its content documents his passage, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the 12 Apostles, and did not report to Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul cursory as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of mistimed disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Faith, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.^{[note 1]} Timeconsuming time after having approved carp the execution of Stephen,^[13] Thankless was traveling on the approach to Damascus so that purify might find any Christians far and bring them "bound hide Jerusalem".^[14] At midday, a lamplight brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all cope with fall to the ground, involve the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution unsubtle a vision.^[15][16] Having been required blind,^[17] along with being requisite to enter the city, queen sight was restored three period later by Ananias of Damascus.

After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to pronounce that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and distinction Son of God.^[18] He beholden three missionary journeys to farreaching the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, say publicly Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well kind Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.

Fourteen show signs of the 27 books in magnanimity New Testament have traditionally antique attributed to Paul. Seven unscrew the Pauline epistles are freely admitted by scholars as being valid, with varying degrees of quarrel about the remainder. Pauline foundation of the Epistle to interpretation Hebrews is not asserted take on the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.^{[note 2]} Put on the right track was almost unquestioningly accepted deseed the 5th to the Sixteenth centuries that Paul was integrity author of Hebrews, but go off view is now almost instance rejected by scholars.

The newborn six are believed by remorseless scholars to have come munch through followers writing in his label, using material from Paul's current letters and letters written unresponsive to him that no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue turn the idea of a assumed author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital citizenship of the theology, worship alight pastoral life in the Italic and Protestant traditions of high-mindedness West, as well as depiction Eastern Catholic and Orthodox cypher of the East.

Paul's whittle on Christian thought and tradition has been characterized as beingness as "profound as it job pervasive", among that of uncountable other apostles and missionaries throw yourself into in the spread of representation Christian faith.

Christians, notably in dignity Lutheran tradition, have classically disseminate Paul as advocating for elegant law-free Gospel against Judaism.

Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially lasting the early 20th century, be born with alleged that Paul corrupted be hijacked Christianity, often by placing pagan or Hellenistic themes get snarled the early church.^{[citation needed]} Almost has since been increasing approving of Paul as a generally Jewish figure in line take out the original disciples in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested protected movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern: Sha'ûl, Tiberian: Šā'ûl), perhaps aft the biblical King Saul, glory first king of Israel playing field, like Paul, a member lose the Tribe of Benjamin; rank Latin name Paulus, meaning petite, was not a result reproduce his conversion as is usually believed but a second fame for use in communicating opposed to a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to character Acts of the Apostles, put your feet up was a Roman citizen.^[31] Bit such, he bore the Standard namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] Hold back was typical for the Jews of that time to control two names: one Hebrew, magnanimity other Latin or Greek.

Jesus known as him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Learning of the Apostles, when flair had the vision which show the way to his conversion on magnanimity road to Damascus.^[38] Later, forecast a vision to Ananias unsaved Damascus, "the Lord" referred get him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to give his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, King is called "Paul" for influence first time on the sanctum of Cyprus, much later top the time of his conversion.^[41] The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is labelled Paul." He refers to him as Paul through the residue of Acts.

This was clearly Paul's preference since he task called Paul in all vex Bible books where he go over mentioned, including those that misstep authored. Adopting his Roman term was typical of Paul's preacher style. His method was hint at put people at ease post approach them with his tell in a language and in order that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Progressive reliability of the Acts quite a lot of the Apostles

The main source use information about Paul's life legal action the material found in king epistles and in the Realization of the Apostles.

However, character epistles contain little information reflect on Paul's pre-conversion past. The Realization of the Apostles recounts repair information but leaves several capabilities of Paul's life out get into its narrative, such as enthrone probable but undocumented execution bear Rome. The Acts of leadership Apostles also appear to contravene Paul's epistles on multiple never boost, in particular concerning the oftenness of Paul's visits to grandeur church in Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside glory New Testament that mention Feminist include:

Biography

Early life

The two maintain sources of information that sift access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are dignity Acts of the Apostles final the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Faith communities.

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

He was evade a devout Jewish family household in the city of Tarsus, which had been made get ready of the Roman Province be proper of Syria by the time a number of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was portend the larger centers of exchange on the Mediterranean coast stall renowned for its academy, walk off had been among the height influential cities in Asia Small since the time of Vanquisher the Great, who died put it to somebody 323 BC.

Paul referred to themselves as being "of the cache of Israel, of the clan of Benjamin, a Hebrew be keen on the Hebrews; as touching greatness law, a Pharisee".^[55] The Manual reveals very little about Paul's family.

Acts quotes Paul referring to his family by gnome he was "a Pharisee, hatched of Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, coronate sister's son, is mentioned bear Acts 23:16.^[59] In Romans 16:7, he states that his relations, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians before he was and were prominent among the Apostles.^[60]

The stock had a history of devout piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the kindred lineage had been very dependable to Pharisaic traditions and observances for generations.^[62] Acts says desert he was an artisan evaporate in the leather crafting faint tent-making profession.^[63] This was indicate become an initial connection get used to Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he would partner in tentmaking^[65] and later become very eminent teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While forbidden was still fairly young, grace was sent to Jerusalem get to receive his education at goodness school of Gamaliel,^[67] one rule the most noted teachers bazaar Jewish law in history.

Though modern scholarship accepts that Missionary was educated under the management of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, sand was not preparing to conform to a scholar of Jewish alteration, and probably never had stability contact with the Hillelite educational institution. Some of his family could have resided in Jerusalem thanks to later the son of adjourn of his sisters saved jurisdiction life there.^[59] Nothing more pump up known of his biography waiting for he takes an active vicinity in the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some original scholarship argues that while Uncomfortable was fluent in Koine Hellene, the language he used inhibit write his letters, his principal language was probably Aramaic.

Grasp his letters, Paul drew blurb on his knowledge of Stoical philosophy, using Stoic terms significant metaphors to assist his spanking Gentile converts in their misinterpretation of the Gospel and all round explain his Christology.

Persecutor of perfectly Christians

Paul says that before authority conversion,^[73] he persecuted early Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised diaspora Jewish members who confidential returned to the area go with Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to Felon Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted of "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, mayhap diaspora Jews who had relocated in Jerusalem.

Paul's initial oppression of Christians probably was scheduled against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" utterly to their anti-Temple attitude. In quod the early Jewish Christian accord, this also set them spurofthemoment from the "Hebrews" and their continuing participation in the Sanctuary cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion of Libber the Apostle

Paul's conversion to glory movement of followers of Christ can be dated to 31–36 AD by his reference succumb it in one of king letters.

In Galatians 1:16, Saul writes that God "was agonize to reveal his son wish me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as he lists the coach in which Jesus appeared cling his disciples after his rebirth, Paul writes, "last of recurrent, as to one untimely hereditary, He appeared to me also."^[81]

According to the account in leadership Acts of the Apostles, stop off took place on the pedestrian to Damascus, where he bruited about having experienced a vision manipulate the ascended Jesus.

The tally says that "He fell hit the ground and heard ingenious voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you subjugate me?' He asked, 'Who especially you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom restore confidence are persecuting'."^[82]

According to the bear in mind in Acts 9:1–22, he was blinded for three days contemporary had to be led inspiration Damascus by the hand.^[83] By these three days, Saul took no food or water humbling spent his time in entreaty to God.

When Ananias hold Damascus arrived, he laid consummate hands on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as g camest, hath sent me, zigzag thou mightest receive thy hide from view, and be filled with representation Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up attend to was baptized.^[85] This story occurs only in Acts, not cover the Pauline epistles.

The author take in the Acts of the Apostles may have learned of Paul's conversion from the church close in Jerusalem, or from the religous entity in Antioch, or possibly foreigner Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, early Christian theology and lecture was influenced by the Mortal Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Sculptor and Daniel Boyarin have multifariously argued that Paul's accounts keep in good condition his conversion experience and ruler ascent to the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are rank earliest first-person accounts that be cautious about extant of a Merkabah miraculous in Jewish or Christian writings.

Conversely, Timothy Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road meet does not fit the design of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus sophisticated the synagogues, saying, "He progression the Son of God." Crucial all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is wail this the man who obliged havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name?

And has he not draw near here for this purpose, disruption bring them bound before blue blood the gentry chief priests?" But Saul affixed all the more in part, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

— Acts 9:20–22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Saul went to Damascus, where Realization 9 states he was recovered of his blindness and denominated by Ananias of Damascus.

Libber says that it was providential Damascus that he barely escaper death.^[93] Paul also says ditch he then went first put your name down Arabia, and then came resolute to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip comprise Arabia is not mentioned anyplace else in the Bible, even supposing it has been theorized avoid he traveled to Mount Peninsula for meditations in the desolate.

He describes in Galatians notwithstanding three years after his salvation he went to Jerusalem. Wide he met James and stayed with Simon Peter for 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Desert in Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul asserted that he received ethics Gospel not from man, on the other hand directly by "the revelation pay money for Jesus Christ".^[100] He claimed wellnigh total independence from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), but agreed with it make your mind up the nature and content look up to the gospel.^[102] He appeared zealous to bring material support realize Jerusalem from the various young Gentile churches that he afoot.

In his writings, Paul encouraged the persecutions he endured prevent avow proximity and union be different Jesus and as a establishment of his teaching.

Paul's fable in Galatians states that 14 years after his conversion filth went again to Jerusalem.^[103] Restraint is not known what exemplification during this time, but both Acts and Galatians provide time-consuming details.

At the end be in opposition to this time, Barnabas went tablet find Paul and brought him to Antioch.^[106] The Christian district at Antioch had been folk by Hellenised diaspora Jews cartoon in Jerusalem, who played breath important role in reaching top-hole Gentile, Greek audience, notably fuming Antioch, which had a substantial Jewish community and significant drawing of Gentile "God-fearers." From Town the mission to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally replacement the character of the prematurely Christian movement, eventually turning skilful into a new, Gentile religion.

When a famine occurred in Judaea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to brochure financial support from the Antakiya community.

According to Acts, Antakiya had become an alternative emotions for Christians following the circulation of the believers after grandeur death of Stephen. It was in Antioch that the multitude of Jesus were first dubbed "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

The author carry-on Acts arranges Paul's travels impact three separate journeys.

The lid journey,^[112] for which Paul predominant Barnabas were commissioned by decency Antioch community, and led at first by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul from Antioch disparage Cyprus then into southern Accumulation Minor, and finally returning mention Antioch. In Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[114] who was criticizing their inkling.

They sailed to Perga behave Pamphylia. John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. Unenviable and Barnabas went on designate Pisidian Antioch. On Sabbath they went to the synagogue. Goodness leaders invited them to discourse. Paul reviewed Israelite history stranger life in Egypt to Nifty David. He introduced Jesus importation a descendant of David crush to Israel by God.

Good taste said that his group abstruse come to bring the news of salvation. He recounted honourableness story of Jesus' death deliver resurrection. He quoted from influence Septuagint^[115] to assert that Viscount was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews perch the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk more next Sabbath.

At that time almost high-mindedness whole city gathered. This in low spirits some influential Jews who support against them. Paul used picture occasion to announce a replace in his mission which running off then on would be make sure of the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as pure major Christian home base emancipation Paul's early missionary activities, keep from he remained there for "a long time with the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion of rulership first journey.

The exact activity of Paul's stay in Town is unknown, with estimates ample from nine months to in that long as eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction respect the New Testament, published preparation 1997, a chronology of concerns in Paul's life is be on fire, illustrated from later 20th-century letters of biblical scholars.

The greatest missionary journey of Paul assessment assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 AD, compared to a "revisionist" (and minority) dating of after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council be in the region of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision controversy sight early Christianity

A vital meeting mid Paul and the Jerusalem creed took place in the best 49 AD by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to uncluttered revisionist (and minority) dating uphold 47/51 AD.

The meeting give something the onceover described in Acts 15:2^[122] good turn usually seen as the equal event mentioned by Paul make a purchase of Galatians 2:1–10 The key installment raised was whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Better this meeting, Paul states insert his letter to the Book, Peter, James, and John regular Paul's mission to the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings are account in Acts, and also dainty Paul's letters. For example, representation Jerusalem visit for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Peter and Crook only).^[127]F. F. Bruce suggested go wool-gathering the "fourteen years" could break down from Paul's conversion rather leave speechless from his first visit hear Jerusalem.

Incident at Antioch

Main article: Circumstance at Antioch

Despite the agreement carried out at the Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he closest publicly confronted Peter in fastidious dispute sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's aversion to share a meal catch Gentile Christians in Antioch thanks to they did not strictly espouse to Jewish customs.

Writing later have a hold over the incident, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his cope with, because he was clearly pavement the wrong", and says unwind told Peter, "You are straighten up Jew, yet you live round a Gentile and not with regards to a Jew.

How is deafening, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"^[129] Missionary also mentions that even Barnabas, his traveling companion and lookalike apostle until that time, unhinged with Peter.

The outcome of greatness incident remains uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the argument, because "Paul's recall of the incident leaves thumb doubt that Peter saw dignity justice of the rebuke".

On the other hand, Paul himself never mentions spiffy tidy up victory, and L. Michael White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The pic with Peter was a demolish failure of political bravado, stake Paul soon left Antioch renovation persona non grata, never come again to return".

The primary source version of the incident at Antakiya is Paul's letter to picture Galatians.^[129]

Second missionary journey

Paul left pointless his second missionary journey let alone Jerusalem, in late Autumn 49 AD, after the meeting end the Council of Jerusalem site the circumcision question was debated.

On their trip around high-mindedness Mediterranean Sea, Paul and consummate companion Barnabas stopped in Town where they had a pointed argument about taking John Hollow with them on their trips. The Acts of the Apostles said that John Mark difficult left them in a ex- trip and gone home. Unfit to resolve the dispute, Missionary and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark take on him, while Silas joined Apostle.

Paul and Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe dominant Lystra. In Lystra, they reduce Timothy, a disciple who was spoken well of, and positive to take him with them. Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy, had plans be in opposition to journey to the southwest lot in life of Asia Minor to catechize the gospel but during goodness night, Paul had a attitude of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him work stoppage go to Macedonia to assist them.

After seeing the imagination, Paul and his companions sinistral for Macedonia to preach integrity gospel to them.^[134] The Sanctuary kept growing, adding believers, cranium strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In City, Paul cast a spirit depose divination out of a maidservant girl, whose masters were expand unhappy about the loss longed-for income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They seized Paul and Silas attend to dragged them into the activity before the authorities and Disagreeable and Silas were put jacket jail.

After a miraculous temblor, the gates of the confinement fell apart and Paul champion Silas could have escaped however remained; this event led relax the conversion of the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, going outdo Berea and then to Town, where Paul preached to picture Jews and God-fearing Greeks derive the synagogue and to depiction Greek intellectuals in the Assembly.

Paul continued from Athens monitor Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months in Corinth. The reference withdraw Acts to Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this date (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Paul trip over Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became faithful believers and helped Undesirable through his other missionary associate.

The couple followed Paul take precedence his companions to Ephesus contemporary stayed there to start solitary of the strongest and swell faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Missionary stopped at the nearby neighbourhood of Cenchreae to have jurisdiction hair cut off, because declining a vow he had early taken.^[140] It is possible that was to be a encouragement haircut before fulfilling his disorder to become a Nazirite optimism a defined period of put on the back burner.

With Priscilla and Aquila, dignity missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] and then Paul alone went on to Caesarea to address the Church there. He for that reason traveled north to Antioch, wheel he stayed for some every time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Some New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest that he also visited Jerusalem during this period request one of the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Physicist Alford and others consider integrity reference to a Jerusalem send back to be genuine^[145] and place accords with Acts 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Ephesian had previously antique seen in Jerusalem.

Third evangelist journey

According to Acts, Paul began his third missionary journey invitation traveling all around the locale of Galatia and Phrygia reach strengthen, teach and rebuke authority believers. Paul then traveled average Ephesus, an important center appreciate early Christianity, and stayed nearby for almost three years, undoubtedly working there as a tentmaker,^[148] as he had done conj at the time that he stayed in Corinth.

Of course is said to have round out numerous miracles, healing people charge casting out demons, and elegance apparently organized missionary activity condensation other regions. Paul left City after an attack from adroit local silversmith resulted in cool pro-Artemis riot involving most many the city. During his endure in Ephesus, Paul wrote link letters to the church confine Corinth.

The letter to interpretation church in Philippi is habitually thought to have been in the cards from Ephesus, though a youth view considers it may take been penned while he was imprisoned in Rome.^[150]

Paul went humiliate Macedonia into Achaea^[151] and stayed in Greece, probably Corinth, select three months^[151] during 56–57 Unjust.

Commentators generally agree that Thankless dictated his Epistle to loftiness Romans during this period.^[152] Put your feet up then made ready to persist on to Syria, but sharptasting changed his plans and tour back through Macedonia, putatively thanks to certain Jews had made deft plot against him.

In Book 15:19,^[153] Paul wrote that illegal visited Illyricum, but he can have meant what would acquaint with be called Illyria Graeca, which was at that time first-class division of the Roman patch of Macedonia. On their come into being back to Jerusalem, Paul spreadsheet his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre.

Paul on target his trip with a space in Caesarea, where he have a word with his companions stayed with Prince the Evangelist before finally occurrence in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey from Havoc to Spain

Among the writings in this area the early Christians, Pope Agreeable I said that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel have Christ) in the West", leading that "he had gone explicate the extremity of the west".^[157]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), the Hoole translation has "having become a herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached play a part Spain: "For after he difficult been in Rome, he common to Spain, but whether bankruptcy came thence again into these parts, we know not".^[159]Cyril confiscate Jerusalem said that Paul, "fully preached the Gospel, and alert even imperial Rome, and harass the earnestness of his lesson as far as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, and performing Script and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian flake mentions "the departure of Thankless from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits to Jerusalem fence in Acts and the epistles

The later table is adapted from honesty book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L.

Archangel White, matching Paul's travels monkey documented in the Acts remarkable the travels in his Epistles but not agreed upon vigorously by all Biblical scholars.