Paul the Apostle
Apostle to the Gentiles and author of many New Testament epistles.
Paul the Apostle, born Saul of Tarsus (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD), was a Christian apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first century AD. He is regarded as one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age, having founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD, and his epistles form a major part of the New Testament.
- born
- c. 5 AD, Tarsus (Roman province of Cilicia)
- died
- c. 64/65 AD
- field
- Christian apostle, missionary, theologian
- nationality
- Roman citizen, Jewish (tribe of Benjamin)
- known_for
- Spreading Christianity to non-Jewish communities; author of 14 New Testament books (7 undisputed); founding churches in Asia Minor and Europe
Lore & Background
Paul was born in Tarsus to a devout Jewish family and was a Pharisee. According to Acts, he initially persecuted early disciples of Jesus. On the road to Damascus to arrest Christians, he saw a bright light, heard Christ speak, was blinded, and later healed by Ananias. After baptism, he began proclaiming Jesus as the Jewish messiah and Son of God. He made three missionary journeys to spread the Christian message to non-Jewish communities. His letters and the Acts of the Apostles are the main sources for his life, documenting his travels, preaching, and miracles. He was not one of the Twelve Apostles and did not know Jesus during his lifetime, but he knew eyewitnesses such as Peter, John, and James from the mid-30s AD.
Reader's Guide
Paul's epistles continue to be vital roots of theology, worship, and pastoral life in Latin, Protestant, Eastern Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. His influence on Christian thought is pervasive and profound. Christians, particularly in the Lutheran tradition, have read Paul as teaching salvation through faith rather than by following Jewish law. He has been accused of corrupting Christianity by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes, but there is increasing acceptance of Paul as a fundamentally Jewish figure in line with the original disciples. Fourteen New Testament books are traditionally attributed to him; seven are undisputed, while others (Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus) are generally considered pseudepigraphical, and Colossians and 2 Thessalonians are debated. Pauline authorship of Hebrews is almost universally rejected. His missionary method involved adopting a Roman name and approachable style to relate to his audience.
Did You Know?
- Paul's Jewish name was Saul, after King Saul of the tribe of Benjamin.
- He was a Roman citizen by birth, bearing the Latin name Paulus.
- He was a tent-maker by trade, partnering with Priscilla and Aquila.
- He argued against circumcision of gentiles, and his exalted Christology was widely accepted in the early church.
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