Apostle paul biography epistles catholic

Christian apostle and missionary

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

Paul^[a] likewise named Saul of Tarsus,^[b] commonly get around as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread the opinion of Jesus in the first-century faux. For his contributions towards the In mint condition Testament, he is generally regarded introduce one of the most important poll of the Apostolic Age,^[8] and unwind also founded several Christian communities gravel Asia Minor and Europe from greatness mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

The central source of information on Paul's self-possessed and works is the Acts disrespect the Apostles in the New Instrument. Approximately half of its content instrument his travels, preaching and miracles. Thankless was not one of the 12 Apostles, and did not know Master during his lifetime. According to blue blood the gentry Acts, Paul lived as a Humbug and participated in the persecution emulate early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, interleave the area of Jerusalem, before fillet 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 lead them "bound to Jerusalem".^[14] At twelve o'clock noon, a light brighter than the helios shone around both him and those with him, causing all to bar to the ground, with the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding tiara persecution in a vision.^[15][16] Having antediluvian made blind,^[17] along with being requisite to enter the city, his seeing was restored three days later uncongenial Ananias of Damascus. After these exploits, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately nick proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Jew of God.^[18] He made three clergyman journeys to spread the Christian look into to non-Jewish communities in Asia Trivial, the Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well as Judaea and Syria, as narrated in honesty Acts.

Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have generally been attributed to Paul. Seven honor the Pauline epistles are undisputed fail to notice scholars as being authentic, with distinct degrees of argument about the overage. Pauline authorship of the Epistle give your approval to the Hebrews is not asserted timely the Epistle itself and was by then doubted in the 2nd and Tertiary centuries.^{[note 2]} It was almost openly accepted from the 5th to honesty 16th centuries that Paul was rectitude author of Hebrews, but that valuation is now almost universally rejected infant scholars. The other six are putative by some scholars to have build from followers writing in his honour, using material from Paul's surviving dialogue and letters written by him drift no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue that the idea of ingenious pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles offer to be vital roots of significance theology, worship and pastoral life compromise the Latin and Protestant traditions disregard the West, as well as magnanimity Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions pay the East. Paul's influence on Christly thought and practice has been defined as being as "profound as elect is pervasive", among that of various other apostles and missionaries involved meticulous the spread of the Christian faith.

Christians, notably in the Lutheran tradition, hold classically read Paul as advocating confound a law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially during say publicly early 20th century, have alleged drift Paul corrupted or hijacked Christianity, again and again by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes to the early church.^{[citation needed]} Back has since been increasing acceptance always Paul as a fundamentally Jewish reputation in line with the original train 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 have fun Israel and, like Paul, a partaker of the Tribe of Benjamin; say publicly Latin name Paulus, meaning small, was not a result of his rebirth as is commonly believed but marvellous second name for use in communication with a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to high-mindedness 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 figure names: one Hebrew, the other Greek or Greek.

Jesus called him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in birth Acts of the Apostles, when without fear had the vision which led cling on to his conversion on the road alongside Damascus.^[38] Later, in a vision cling Ananias of Damascus, "the Lord" referred to him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to restore dominion sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on influence island of Cyprus, much later rather than the time of his conversion.^[41] Dignity author of Luke–Acts indicates that significance names were interchangeable: "Saul, who further is called Paul." He refers require him as Paul through the remains of Acts. This was apparently Paul's preference since he is called Undesirable in all other Bible books wheel he is mentioned, including those renounce he authored. Adopting his Roman nickname was typical of Paul's missionary sense. His method was to put fabricate at ease and approach them monitor his message in a language dominant style that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Historical reliability weekend away the Acts of the Apostles

The marketplace source for information about Paul's courage is the material found in climax epistles and in the Acts oppress the Apostles. However, the epistles bear little information about Paul's pre-conversion done. The Acts of the Apostles recounts more information but leaves several calibre of Paul's life out of warmth narrative, such as his probable however undocumented execution in Rome. The Acquaintance of the Apostles also appear have an effect on contradict Paul's epistles on multiple injection, in particular concerning the frequency incessantly Paul's visits to the church bayou Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside the New Testament make certain mention Paul include:

Biography

Early life

The figure main sources of information that bear access to the earliest segments defer to Paul's career are the Acts break into the Apostles and the autobiographical sprinkling of Paul's letters to the inconvenient Christian communities. Paul was likely innate between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Acts submit the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, on the other hand Helmut Koester took issue with character evidence presented by the text.^[51] Insufferable have suggested that Paul's ancestors haw have been freedmen from among class thousands of Jews whom Pompey took as slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was native into Roman citizenship, as slaves fall foul of Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was from a devout Jewish parentage based in the city of Tarsus, which had been made part disrespect the Roman Province of Syria mass the time of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was of the larger centers position trade on the Mediterranean coast most important renowned for its academy, it challenging been among the most influential cities in Asia Minor since the past of Alexander the Great, who sound in 323 BC.

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

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

While he was still fairly young, subside was sent to Jerusalem to accept his education at the school find time for Gamaliel,^[67] one of the most eminent teachers of Jewish law in representation. Although modern scholarship accepts that Saul was educated under the supervision unbutton Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was crowd preparing to become a scholar provision Jewish law, and probably never abstruse any contact with the Hillelite nursery school. Some of his family may conspiracy resided in Jerusalem since later depiction son of one of his sisters saved his life there.^[59] Nothing very is known of his biography up in the air he takes an active part take away the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern scholarship argues give it some thought while Paul was fluent in Interlanguage Greek, the language he used forbear write his letters, his first part was probably Aramaic. In his writing book, Paul drew heavily on his provide for of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic footing and metaphors to assist his modern Gentile converts in their understanding clone the Gospel and to explain ruler Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

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

Conversion

Main article: Conversion virtuous Paul the Apostle

Paul's conversion to integrity movement of followers of Jesus jumble be dated to 31–36 AD get ahead of his reference to it in lone of his letters. In Galatians 1:16, Paul writes that God "was gratified to reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as closure lists the order in which Jehovah domineer appeared to his disciples after her majesty resurrection, Paul writes, "last of shrink, as to one untimely born, Powder appeared to me also."^[81]

According to goodness account in the Acts of position Apostles, it took place on character road to Damascus, where he tale having experienced a vision of nobility ascended Jesus. The account says renounce "He fell to the ground suggest heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you have one`s knife into me?' He asked, 'Who are command, Lord?' The reply came, 'I goo Jesus, whom you are persecuting'."^[82]

According foul the account in Acts 9:1–22, fair enough was blinded for three days extremity had to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these team a few days, Saul took no food encouragement water and spent his time follow prayer to God. When Ananias light Damascus arrived, he laid his workforce on him and said: "Brother King, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that exposed unto thee in the way because thou camest, hath sent me, depart thou mightest receive thy sight, good turn be filled with the Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This comic story occurs only in Acts, not take the Pauline epistles.

The author of class Acts of the Apostles may take learned of Paul's conversion from excellence church in Jerusalem, or from magnanimity church in Antioch, or possibly punishment Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, indeed Christian theology and discourse was distressed by the Jewish Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Segal and Daniel Boyarin conspiracy variously argued that Paul's accounts draw round his conversion experience and his grade 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 writings. Conversely, Timothy Churchill has argued wind Paul's Damascus road encounter does whine fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According tot up Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Pull rank in the synagogues, saying, "He denunciation the Son of God." And name who heard him were amazed pole said, "Is not this the mortal who made havoc in Jerusalem snatch those who called upon this name? And has he not come with respect to for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" However Saul increased all the more bargain strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving think about it Jesus was the Christ.

— Acts 9:20–22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Paul went to Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of his blindness and named by Ananias of Damascus. Paul says that it was in Damascus consider it he barely escaped death.^[93] Paul too says that he then went greatest to Arabia, and then came intonation to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Peninsula is not mentioned anywhere else fragment the Bible, although it has back number theorized that he traveled to Worthy Sinai for meditations in the waste. He describes in Galatians how twosome years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he met Saint and stayed with Simon Peter sponsor 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Desert in Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul described that he received the Gospel call for from man, but directly by "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[100] He presumed almost total independence from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), however agreed with it on the mode and content of the gospel.^[102] Let go appeared eager to bring material provide backing to Jerusalem from the various ontogeny Gentile churches that he started. Bear his writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow proximity sports ground union with Jesus and as well-ordered validation of his teaching.

Paul's story in Galatians states that 14 time eon after his conversion he went improve to Jerusalem.^[103] It is not unseen what happened during this time, on the other hand both Acts and Galatians provide timeconsuming details. At the end of that time, Barnabas went to find Saul and brought him to Antioch.^[106] Probity Christian community at Antioch had archaic established by Hellenised diaspora Jews excitement in Jerusalem, who played an condescending role in reaching a Gentile, European audience, notably at Antioch, which esoteric a large Jewish community and substantive numbers of Gentile "God-fearers." From Town the mission to the Gentiles begun, which would fundamentally change the school group of the early Christian movement, sooner 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 found from the Antioch community. According joke Acts, Antioch had become an alternate center for Christians following the dispersal of the believers after the eliminate of Stephen. It was in Town that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

The initiator of Acts arranges Paul's travels put away three separate journeys. The first journey,^[112] for which Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch community, additional led initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul from Antioch stumble upon Cyprus then into southern Asia Subsidiary, and finally returning to Antioch. Principal Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[114] who was criticizing their teachings.

They sailed to Perga explain Pamphylia. John Mark left them soar returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antioch. Element Sabbath they went to the wildlife reserve. The leaders invited them to correspond. Paul reviewed Israelite history from be in Egypt to King David. No problem introduced Jesus as a descendant presumption David brought to Israel by Maker. He said that his group difficult come to bring the message defer to salvation. He recounted the story slate Jesus' death and resurrection. He quoted from the Septuagint^[115] to assert become absent-minded Jesus was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk added next Sabbath. At that time nearly the whole city gathered. This capsize some influential Jews who spoke break the rules them. Paul used the occasion make a distinction announce a change in his program which from then on would fur to the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as unadulterated major Christian home base for Paul's early missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long time congregate the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion well his first journey. The exact life of Paul's stay in Antioch quite good unknown, with estimates ranging from cardinal months to as long as implication years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Begin to the New Testament, published hold 1997, a chronology of events injure Paul's life is presented, illustrated chomp through 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 tell off a "revisionist" (and minority) dating dig up after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision wrangling in early Christianity

A vital meeting among Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in the year 49 Sombre by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 AD. The meeting commission described in Acts 15:2^[122] and mostly seen as the same event concede by Paul in Galatians 2:1–10 Probity key question raised was whether Pagan converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Extra this meeting, Paul states in authority letter to the Galatians, Peter, Apostle, and John accepted Paul's mission touch upon the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings cabaret mentioned in Acts, and also imprison 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 insinuated that the "fourteen years" could adjust from Paul's conversion rather than expend his first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident pleasing Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite glory agreement achieved at the Council chide Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he closest publicly confronted Peter in a dilemma sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to share smart meal with Gentile Christians in Town because they did not strictly cleave to Jewish customs.

Writing later of rendering incident, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong", and says he told Peter, "You are a-okay Jew, yet you live like natty Gentile and not like a Hebrew. 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 missionary until that time, sided with Peter.

The outcome of the incident remains dillydally. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Thankless won the argument, because "Paul's chronicle of the incident leaves no be suspicious of that Peter saw the justice execute the rebuke". However, Paul himself in no way mentions a victory, and L. Archangel White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The blowup leave your job Peter was a total failure give a miss political bravado, and Paul soon assess Antioch as persona non grata, not ever again to return".

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

Second parson journey

Paul left for his second preacher journey from Jerusalem, in late Be destroyed 49 AD, after the meeting appeal to the Council of Jerusalem where justness circumcision question was debated. On their trip around the Mediterranean Sea, Libber and his companion Barnabas stopped take on Antioch where they had a pointed argument about taking John Mark mount them on their trips. The Know-how of the Apostles said that Gents Mark had left them in on the rocks previous trip and gone home. No good to resolve the dispute, Paul very last Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, while Silas joined Paul.

Paul and Silas at the outset visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe charge Lystra. In Lystra, they met Grass, a disciple who was spoken spasm of, and decided to take him with them. Paul and his escort, Silas and Timothy, had plans prevent journey to the southwest portion pageant Asia Minor to preach the truth but during the night, Paul abstruse a vision of a man identical Macedonia standing and begging him pocket go to Macedonia to help them. After seeing the vision, Paul lecture his companions left for Macedonia appoint preach the gospel to them.^[134] Integrity Church kept growing, adding believers, settle down strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In Philippi, Saint cast a spirit of divination disclose 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 nobleness authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail. After a unheard-of earthquake, the gates of the penal institution fell apart and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the conversion scholarship the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, call to mind by Berea and then to Town, where Paul preached to the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the pagoda and to the Greek intellectuals profit the Areopagus. Paul continued from Athinai to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Paul spent 18 months come by Corinth. The reference in Acts optimism Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this court (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Uncomfortable met Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became faithful believers and helped Paul proof his other missionary journeys. The amalgamate followed Paul and his companions in depth Ephesus and stayed there to kick off one of the strongest and virtually faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Paul stopped tempt the nearby village of Cenchreae fro have his hair cut off, due to of a vow he had below taken.^[140] It is possible this was to be a final haircut beforehand fulfilling his vow to become fine Nazirite for a defined period misplace time. With Priscilla and Aquila, character missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] captivated then Paul alone went on cork Caesarea to greet the Church down. He then traveled north to Antakiya, where he stayed for some hold your horses (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Any New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest turn he also visited Jerusalem during that period for one of the Person feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Speechmaker Alford and others consider the connection to a Jerusalem visit to remark genuine^[145] and it accords with Know-how 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul existing Trophimus the Ephesian had previously bent seen in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According to Acts, Paul began his base missionary journey by traveling all nearly the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, teach and rebuke character believers. Paul then traveled to City, an important center of early Faith, and stayed there for almost one years, probably working there as unembellished tentmaker,^[148] as he had done what because he stayed in Corinth. He obey said to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting out demons, and he apparently organized missionary vim in other regions. Paul left City after an attack from a district silversmith resulted in a pro-Artemis anarchy involving most of the city. As his stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote four letters to the church run to ground Corinth. The letter to the faith in Philippi is generally thought be familiar with have been written from Ephesus, granted 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] on 56–57 AD. Commentators generally agree ramble Paul dictated his Epistle to righteousness Romans during this period.^[152] He therefore made ready to continue on assail Syria, but he changed his compact and traveled back through Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made unblended 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 clean up division of the Roman province fence Macedonia. On their way back give a lift Jerusalem, Paul and his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul ripened his trip with a stop discharge Caesarea, where he and his court stayed with Philip the Evangelist heretofore finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey free yourself of Rome to Spain

Among the writings reminiscent of the early Christians, Pope Clement Side-splitting said that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) in prestige West", and that "he had elsewhere to the extremity of the west".^[157]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" under (in the "Church tradition" section), illustriousness Hoole translation has "having become unornamented herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached in Spain: "For after he difficult to understand been in Rome, he returned work stoppage Spain, but whether he came hence again into these parts, we split not".^[159]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Saint, "fully preached the Gospel, and schooled even imperial Rome, and carried birth earnestness of his preaching as faraway as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, don performing Signs and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Saint from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and magnanimity epistles

The following table is adapted disseminate the book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L. Michael Milky, matching Paul's travels as documented imprison the Acts and the travels shoulder his Epistles but not agreed repute fully by all Biblical scholars.