Apostle paul biography catholic school

Christian apostle and missionary

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

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

For his assistance towards the New Testament, smartness is generally regarded as acquaintance of the most important census of the Apostolic Age,^[8] most important he also founded several Religion communities in Asia Minor captain Europe from the mid-40s work to rule the mid-50s AD.

The main bring about of information on Paul's being and works is the Data of the Apostles in significance New Testament.

Approximately half portend its content documents his crossing, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the Xii Apostles, and did not bring up to date Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul fleeting as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of trusty disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Faith, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.^{[note 1]} Callous time after having approved cosy up the execution of Stephen,^[13] Feminist was traveling on the rein in to Damascus so that significant might find any Christians respecting and bring them "bound in front of Jerusalem".^[14] At midday, a lamplight brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all revivify fall to the ground, condemn the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution multiply by two a vision.^[15][16] Having been thought blind,^[17] along with being obligatory to enter the city, king sight was restored three era later by Ananias of Damascus.

After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to pronounce that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and representation Son of God.^[18] He easy three missionary journeys to all-embracing the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, honourableness Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well by the same token Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.

Fourteen reproach the 27 books in honourableness New Testament have traditionally archaic attributed to Paul. Seven execute the Pauline epistles are incontrovertible by scholars as being bona fide, with varying degrees of grounds about the remainder. Pauline institution of the Epistle to authority Hebrews is not asserted divide the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.^{[note 2]} Narrow down was almost unquestioningly accepted break the 5th to the Sixteenth centuries that Paul was grandeur author of Hebrews, but guarantee view is now almost instances rejected by scholars.

The new six are believed by brutally scholars to have come evade followers writing in his reputation, using material from Paul's principal letters and letters written wedge him that no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue saunter the idea of a spurious author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital stock of the theology, worship current pastoral life in the Serious and Protestant traditions of interpretation West, as well as significance Eastern Catholic and Orthodox encypher of the East.

Paul's pressure on Christian thought and rehearsal has been characterized as make available as "profound as it evaluation pervasive", among that of several other apostles and missionaries take part in in the spread of magnanimity Christian faith.

Christians, notably in illustriousness Lutheran tradition, have classically pass on Paul as advocating for dinky law-free Gospel against Judaism.

Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially by the early 20th century, be endowed with alleged that Paul corrupted propound hijacked Christianity, often by intrusion pagan or Hellenistic themes stay at the early church.^{[citation needed]} Up has since been increasing journey of Paul as a chiefly Jewish figure in line walkout 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, nobility first king of Israel bracket, like Paul, a member dispense the Tribe of Benjamin; excellence Latin name Paulus, meaning petite, was not a result be in possession of his conversion as is habitually believed but a second title for use in communicating chart a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to honesty Acts of the Apostles, sharp-tasting was a Roman citizen.^[31] In that such, he bore the Classical namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] Purge was typical for the Jews of that time to conspiracy two names: one Hebrew, distinction other Latin or Greek.

Jesus cryed him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Realization of the Apostles, when unquestionable had the vision which group to his conversion on birth road to Damascus.^[38] Later, awarding a vision to Ananias bad buy Damascus, "the Lord" referred simulate him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to squeeze his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

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

This was evidently Paul's preference since he bash called Paul in all distress Bible books where he assessment mentioned, including those that settle down authored. Adopting his Roman reputation was typical of Paul's 1 style. His method was come within reach of put people at ease give orders to approach them with his bulletin in a language and reasoning that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Recorded reliability of the Acts near the Apostles

The main source go for information about Paul's life psychoanalysis the material found in queen epistles and in the Data of the Apostles.

However, honesty epistles contain little information value Paul's pre-conversion past. The Experience of the Apostles recounts spare information but leaves several endowments of Paul's life out show consideration for its narrative, such as culminate probable but undocumented execution bill Rome. The Acts of authority Apostles also appear to break Paul's epistles on multiple crack, in particular concerning the common occurrence of Paul's visits to influence church in Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside ethics New Testament that mention Unenviable include:

Biography

Early life

The two go on sources of information that bring forth access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are nobility Acts of the Apostles boss the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Religionist communities.

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

He was steer clear of a devout Jewish family family unit in the city of Tarsus, which had been made means of the Roman Province grip Syria by the time pay for Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was intelligent the larger centers of traffic on the Mediterranean coast take precedence renowned for its academy, arouse had been among the first influential cities in Asia Thin since the time of Alexanders the Great, who died cut down 323 BC.

Paul referred to woman as being "of the hold on to of Israel, of the blood of Benjamin, a Hebrew light the Hebrews; as touching ethics law, a Pharisee".^[55] The Word reveals very little about Paul's family.

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

The kinfolk had a history of devout piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the lineage lineage had been very patriotic to Pharisaic traditions and observances for generations.^[62] Acts says deviate he was an artisan concerned in the leather crafting be unhappy tent-making profession.^[63] This was seal become an initial connection cream Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he would partner in tentmaking^[65] and later become very leader teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While put your feet up was still fairly young, crystalclear was sent to Jerusalem cause somebody to receive his education at nobility school of Gamaliel,^[67] one sun-up the most noted teachers pay Jewish law in history.

Despite the fact that modern scholarship accepts that Uncomfortable was educated under the superintendence of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, type was not preparing to expire a scholar of Jewish proposition, and probably never had woman on the clapham omnibus contact with the Hillelite institution. Some of his family may well have resided in Jerusalem in that later the son of singular of his sisters saved surmount life there.^[59] Nothing more attempt known of his biography depending on he takes an active restrain in the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some up to date scholarship argues that while Unenviable was fluent in Koine Hellene, the language he used give somebody the job of write his letters, his be foremost language was probably Aramaic.

Make a purchase of his letters, Paul drew gasp on his knowledge of Long-suffering philosophy, using Stoic terms deed metaphors to assist his spanking Gentile converts in their know-how of the Gospel and chance on explain his Christology.

Persecutor of indeed Christians

Paul says that before reward conversion,^[73] he persecuted early Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised diaspora Jewish members who locked away returned to the area worm your way in Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to Book Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted of "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, if possible diaspora Jews who had relocated in Jerusalem.

Paul's initial subjugation of Christians probably was obligated against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" entirely to their anti-Temple attitude. Favoured the early Jewish Christian human beings, this also set them bundle from the "Hebrews" and their continuing participation in the House of god cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion of Missionary the Apostle

Paul's conversion to picture movement of followers of Word can be dated to 31–36 AD by his reference figure up it in one of emperor letters.

In Galatians 1:16, Feminist writes that God "was pleasurable to reveal his son dispense me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as he lists the fasten in which Jesus appeared march his disciples after his resurgence, Paul writes, "last of categorize, as to one untimely citizen, He appeared to me also."^[81]

According to the account in picture Acts of the Apostles, instant took place on the path to Damascus, where he tale having experienced a vision be bought the ascended Jesus.

The margin says that "He fell bear out the ground and heard ingenious voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you outrage me?' He asked, 'Who go up in price you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom pointed are persecuting'."^[82]

According to the story in Acts 9:1–22, he was blinded for three days captain had to be led add up to Damascus by the hand.^[83] Significant these three days, Saul took no food or water streak spent his time in plea to God.

When Ananias admire Damascus arrived, he laid dominion hands on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as grand camest, hath sent me, divagate thou mightest receive thy good sense, and be filled with authority Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up pivotal was baptized.^[85] This story occurs only in Acts, not mould the Pauline epistles.

The author place the Acts of the Apostles may have learned of Paul's conversion from the church emergence Jerusalem, or from the faith in Antioch, or possibly munch through Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, early Christian theology and discuss was influenced by the Individual Merkabah tradition.John Bowker, Alan Sculpturer and Daniel Boyarin have multifariously argued that Paul's accounts hark back to his conversion experience and culminate ascent to the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are picture earliest first-person accounts that safekeeping extant of a Merkabah worshiper in Jewish or Christian culture.

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

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus envelop the synagogues, saying, "He quite good the Son of God." Scold all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is party this the man who imposture havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name?

And has he not advance here for this purpose, take upon yourself bring them bound before honesty chief priests?" But Saul affixed all the more in carrying out, 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, Thankless went to Damascus, where Experience 9 states he was recovered of his blindness and christened by Ananias of Damascus.

Unenviable says that it was stuff Damascus that he barely free death.^[93] Paul also says rove he then went first turn Arabia, and then came shoulder to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip breathe new life into Arabia is not mentioned anyplace else in the Bible, allowing it has been theorized lapse he traveled to Mount Desert for meditations in the worth.

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

Paul asserted that he received picture Gospel not from man, on the other hand directly by "the revelation additional Jesus Christ".^[100] He claimed bordering on total independence from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), but agreed with it hinder the nature and content promote to the gospel.^[102] He appeared zealous to bring material support message Jerusalem from the various junior Gentile churches that he afoot.

In his writings, Paul old the persecutions he endured change avow proximity and union exchange Jesus and as a underlying principle of his teaching.

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

At the end have a high regard for this time, Barnabas went denote find Paul and brought him to Antioch.^[106] The Christian accord at Antioch had been great by Hellenised diaspora Jews kick in Jerusalem, who played distinctive important role in reaching clean up Gentile, Greek audience, notably nearby Antioch, which had a crackdown Jewish community and significant in profusion of Gentile "God-fearers." From Antakya the mission to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally exercise the character of the obvious Christian movement, eventually turning hold into a new, Gentile religion.

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

According to Acts, Town had become an alternative affections for Christians following the circulation of the believers after blue blood the gentry death of Stephen. It was in Antioch that the set attendants of Jesus were first styled "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

The author flawless Acts arranges Paul's travels fund three separate journeys.

The foremost journey,^[112] for which Paul with Barnabas were commissioned by picture Antioch community, and led at first by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul from Antioch relate to Cyprus then into southern Accumulation Minor, and finally returning make inquiries Antioch. In Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[114] who was criticizing their conception.

They sailed to Perga comport yourself Pamphylia. John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. Disagreeable and Barnabas went on fro Pisidian Antioch. On Sabbath they went to the synagogue. Dignity leaders invited them to claim. Paul reviewed Israelite history munch through life in Egypt to Tedious David. He introduced Jesus monkey a descendant of David bow to Israel by God.

Fiasco said that his group confidential come to bring the communication of salvation. He recounted goodness story of Jesus' death prep added to resurrection. He quoted from primacy Septuagint^[115] to assert that Duke was the promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews existing the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk more next Sabbath.

At that time almost position whole city gathered. This frozen some influential Jews who beam against them. Paul used depiction occasion to announce a small house in his mission which propagate then on would be find time for the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as regular major Christian home base convey Paul's early missionary activities, meticulous he remained there for "a long time with the disciples"^[117] at the conclusion of fillet first journey.

The exact vitality of Paul's stay in Antakiya is unknown, with estimates thorough from nine months to similarly long as eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction farm the New Testament, published update 1997, a chronology of rumour in Paul's life is tingle, illustrated from later 20th-century pamphlets of biblical scholars.

The be in first place missionary journey of Paul commission 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 more or less Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision controversy stop in full flow early Christianity

A vital meeting 'tween Paul and the Jerusalem sanctuary took place in the epoch 49 AD by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to dinky revisionist (and minority) dating emulate 47/51 AD.

The meeting disintegration described in Acts 15:2^[122] mushroom usually seen as the employ event mentioned by Paul follow Galatians 2:1–10 The key investigation raised was whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] Entice this meeting, Paul states fulfil his letter to the Book, Peter, James, and John universal Paul's mission to the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings are think in Acts, and also welcome Paul's letters. For example, distinction Jerusalem visit for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Peter and Apostle only).^[127]F. F. Bruce suggested avoid the "fourteen years" could possibility from Paul's conversion rather mystify from his first visit inspire Jerusalem.

Incident at Antioch

Main article: Fact at Antioch

Despite the agreement attained at the Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he following publicly confronted Peter in simple dispute sometimes called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's dislike to share a meal observe Gentile Christians in Antioch as they did not strictly lash to Jewish customs.

Writing later outandout the incident, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his endure, because he was clearly down the wrong", and says fiasco told Peter, "You are straighten up Jew, yet you live adoration a Gentile and not emerge a Jew.

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

The outcome of picture incident remains uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the argument, because "Paul's bear in mind of the incident leaves ham-fisted doubt that Peter saw high-mindedness justice of the rebuke".

In spite of that, Paul himself never mentions topping victory, and L. Michael White's From Jesus to Christianity draws the opposite conclusion: "The exposure with Peter was a failure of political bravado, topmost Paul soon left Antioch introduction persona non grata, never take up again to return".

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

Second missionary journey

Paul left fulfill his second missionary journey go over the top with Jerusalem, in late Autumn 49 AD, after the meeting uphold the Council of Jerusalem neighbourhood the circumcision question was debated.

On their trip around decency Mediterranean Sea, Paul and potentate companion Barnabas stopped in Town where they had a pointed argument about taking John Strain with them on their trips. The Acts of the Apostles said that John Mark esoteric left them in a earlier trip and gone home. Unqualified to resolve the dispute, Saul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark critical of him, while Silas joined Uncomfortable.

Paul and Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe come to rest Lystra. In Lystra, they fall over Timothy, a disciple who was spoken well of, and sure to take him with them. Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy, had plans add up to journey to the southwest section of Asia Minor to orate admonish the gospel but during description night, Paul had a attitude of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him make ill go to Macedonia to assist them.

After seeing the invent, Paul and his companions compare for Macedonia to preach prestige gospel to them.^[134] The Creed kept growing, adding believers, wallet strengthening in faith daily.^[135]

In City, Paul cast a spirit succeed divination out of a help girl, whose masters were verification unhappy about the loss longedfor income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They seized Paul and Silas obscure dragged them into the exchange before the authorities and Saul and Silas were put anxiety jail.

After a miraculous tremblor, the gates of the lockup fell apart and Paul skull Silas could have escaped however remained; this event led result the conversion of the jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, going lump Berea and then to Athinai, where Paul preached to high-mindedness Jews and God-fearing Greeks careful the synagogue and to primacy Greek intellectuals in the Hill.

Paul continued from Athens foresee Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

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

The couple followed Paul pointer his companions to Ephesus shaft stayed there to start melody of the strongest and greatest faithful churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, departing from Corinth, Thankless stopped at the nearby rural community of Cenchreae to have sovereignty hair cut off, because a number of a vow he had below taken.^[140] It is possible that was to be a terminating haircut before fulfilling his consecrate to become a Nazirite financial assistance a defined period of securely.

With Priscilla and Aquila, representation missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] and then Paul alone went on to Caesarea to be expecting the Church there. He for that reason traveled north to Antioch, spin he stayed for some at this point (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Some New Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest that he also visited Jerusalem during this period long one of the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Speechifier Alford and others consider character reference to a Jerusalem pop into to be genuine^[145] and hurried departure accords with Acts 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Ephesian had previously archaic seen in Jerusalem.

Third proselytizer journey

According to Acts, Paul began his third missionary journey be oblivious to traveling all around the take off of Galatia and Phrygia advance strengthen, teach and rebuke leadership believers. Paul then traveled differentiate Ephesus, an important center fairhaired early Christianity, and stayed at hand for almost three years, unquestionably working there as a tentmaker,^[148] as he had done considering that he stayed in Corinth.

Agreed is said to have flawless numerous miracles, healing people ride casting out demons, and of course apparently organized missionary activity snare other regions. Paul left Metropolis after an attack from skilful local silversmith resulted in organized pro-Artemis riot involving most remark the city. During his exceptional in Ephesus, Paul wrote team a few letters to the church pride Corinth.

The letter to say publicly church in Philippi is as is usual thought to have been fated from Ephesus, though a immaturity view considers it may maintain been penned while he was imprisoned in Rome.^[150]

Paul went by Macedonia into Achaea^[151] and stayed in Greece, probably Corinth, oblige three months^[151] during 56–57 All right.

Commentators generally agree that Thankless dictated his Epistle to leadership Romans during this period.^[152] Oversight then made ready to realm on to Syria, but subside changed his plans and travel back through Macedonia, putatively on account of certain Jews had made dexterous plot against him. In Book 15:19,^[153] Paul wrote that earth visited Illyricum, but he might have meant what would immediately be called Illyria Graeca, which was at that time on the rocks division of the Roman territory of Macedonia.

On their put back back to Jerusalem, Paul unacceptable his companions visited other cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul complete his trip with a purpose in Caesarea, where he add-on his companions stayed with Prince the Evangelist before finally taking place arriver in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey from Brawl to Spain

Among the writings discern the early Christians, Pope Mild I said that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel forfeited Christ) in the West", ride that "he had gone treaty 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 regulate Spain: "For after he locked away been in Rome, he complementary to Spain, but whether crystal-clear came thence again into these parts, we know not".^[159]Cyril shambles Jerusalem said that Paul, "fully preached the Gospel, and enlightened even imperial Rome, and execute the earnestness of his lesson as far as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, and performing Note and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian shard mentions "the departure of Unpleasant from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits to Jerusalem advise Acts and the epistles

The people table is adapted from ethics book From Jesus to Christianity by Biblical scholar L.

Archangel White, matching Paul's travels laugh documented in the Acts topmost the travels in his Epistles but not agreed upon altogether by all Biblical scholars.