Born in Tarsus. Corrections? However, only seven of these are accepted as being entirely authentic: Letter of Paul to the Romans, both Letters of Paul to the Corinthians, Letter of Paul to the Galatians, Letter of Paul to the Philippians, First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, and Letter of Paul to Philemon. The Vatican claims that Paul's body lies within St. Paul's Basilica in Rome. His dedication to eradicating those believing in the teachings of Jesus led him to take bold actions, such as going from house to house in order to find believers (Acts 8:1, 3)! The Apostle Paul (died c. 66 A.D.), the first systematic theologian and writer of the Christian Church, has been the most influential teacher in t… After this meeting he began his famous missions to the west, preaching first in his native Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:17–24). Paul likely viewed himself as a Jewish prophet rather than a separate Christian prophet. His trade, tent making, which he continued to practice after his conversion to Christianity, helps to explain important aspects of his apostleship. 2 AD - 68 AD. No person apart from Jesus himself, shaped the history of Christianity like the apostle Paul. His Birth Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet His father was a Roman. Although the Apostle Paul is a hugely significant figure within Christianity, we actually don’t know a great deal about his life. c. 33–36 Converted on the way to Damascus; spends three years in Arabia; returns to Damascus to preach Jesus as Messiah Birth & Education. Until about the midpoint of his life, Paul was a member of the Pharisees, a religious party that emerged during the later Second Temple period. In his own day, although he was a major figure within the very small Christian movement, he also had many enemies and detractors, and his contemporaries probably did not accord him as much respect as they gave Peter and James. His accomplishments are astonishing given the rudimentary (by today's standard) level of transportation and other difficulties that exist in the first century. Although the exact date of his birth is unknown, he was active as a missionary in the 40s and 50s of the 1st century ce. Paul carries out at least five evangelistic journeys, visits more than 50 cities in his travels and preaches the gospel to Emperor Caesar and his entire household. In later art, Paul is often depicted Piecing together a chronology of the Apostle Pauls life is not as easy as the maps in the back of your Bible might make it seem. Even before he was a believer, his actions were significant. The apostle Paul spent his life proclaiming the risen Christ Jesus throughout the Roman world, often at great personal peril (2 Corinthians 11:24–27). 1:1 he is only called a "brother" when Paul refers to himself as "an apostle of Christ". (It was fairly easy for a bright, ambitious young boy to memorize the Bible, and it would have been very difficult and expensive for Paul as an adult to carry around dozens of bulky scrolls.) From this it may be inferred that he was born about the same time as Jesus (c. 4 bce) or a little later. Chronological Table of the Apostle Paul's Life. c. 12 to 15 A.D. They accepted nonbiblical “traditions” as being about as important as the written Bible; Paul refers to his expertise in “traditions” (Galatians 1:14). c. 20–30 Studies Torah in Jerusalem with Gamaliel; becomes a Pharisee. He had permission from the High Priest to persecute those found worshiping the Lord (Acts 9:1, 2). Timothy performs many of the functions of an apostle in the commissioning of Paul in 1st and 2nd Timothy, though in those epistles Paul refers to him as his "son" in the faith. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 4. Thence to Tarsus. Paul’s arrest and treatment in Jerusalem. A strict Pharisee who was educated at the feet of Gamaliel, we first find him in Jerusalem, where he was present at and consented to the death of the Christian martyr Stephen. Thus, about half of the New Testament stems from Paul and the people whom he influenced. St. Paul the Apostle, original name Saul of Tarsus, (born 4 bce?, Tarsus in Cilicia [now in Turkey]—died c. 62–64 ce, Rome [Italy]), one of the leaders of the first generation of Christians, often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. The Apostle Paul, who started as one of Christianity's most zealous enemies, was hand-picked by Jesus Christ to become the gospel's most ardent messenger. In Romans 15:16–17 Paul seems to interpret the “offering of the Gentiles” symbolically, suggesting that it is the prophesied Gentile pilgrimage to the Temple of Jerusalem, with their wealth in their hands (e.g., Isaiah 60:1–6). Paul wrote about A.D. 50. Paul's citizenship saves him from scourging (Acts 22:22-29) Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30 - 23:10) Jesus tells Paul that he will bear witness of him in Rome The plot against Paul's life (Acts 23:12-22) His birthplace, Tarsus, was a major city in eastern Cilicia, a region that had been made part of the Roman province of Syria by the time of Paul’s adulthood. Although he held that Jews and Gentiles alike were called to be transformed into one new humanity in Christ, his missions were largely focused on the conversion of Gentiles, and Christianity would eventually become a largely Gentile religion. Whatever his reasons, Paul’s persecutions probably involved traveling from synagogue to synagogue and urging the punishment of Jews who accepted Jesus as the messiah. the first 21 years of Paul’s 32-year ministry, but would not include the last 11 years of his life and work. What little is known about Paul the Pharisee reflects the character of the Pharisaic movement. But as the Gentiles joined the church, Paul noticed that Peter still treated Gentile Christians differently in order to … Two of the main cities of Syria, Damascus and Antioch, played a prominent part in his life and letters. Paul would not have to change his message, but he would take up a collection for the Jerusalem church, which was in need of financial support (Galatians 2:1–10; 2 Corinthians 8–9; Romans 15:16–17, 25–26), though Paul’s Gentile churches were hardly well off. Life. The birth name of Paul is actually Saul. Paul's letters carry many common Greek aspects of letter writing. During his ministry he resurrects at least one person from the dead and is resurrected himself after being stoned to death. But as the character in a narrative, good historical work demands that we always start with primary sources: Paul’s words in Paul’s own letters.This second source gives us the clearest access to his life and thought. In his childhood and youth, Paul learned how to “work with [his] own hands” (1 Corinthians 4:12). It is believed that Paul was born around 3 A.D. b. Circumcision admitted him to the covenant of his fathers. God also heals him of his blindness. He never lost his fierce intensity, but from then on it was channeled for the gospel. In The Apostle Paul Biography we will give a good idea of what his life was all about. The 4th and final year of the 3rd missionary journey. Moreover, he knew how to dictate, and he could write with his own hand in large letters (Galatians 6:11), though not in the small, neat letters of the professional scribe. After his conversion, the same zeal and single-minded dedication Paul had against Christianity transforms into a hyperactive-like quest to spread the gospel worldwide. These events lead to his total repentance and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. His birth in a Roman "free city" grants him Roman citizenship, a privilege he will exercise later in life. Conversion of Saul of Tarsus ( Acts 9 ). . The Apostle Paul I make no personal claim to the word or work of God, any or all of this book may be copied and freely distributed; to His Majesty The Lord Jesus Christ be all the Honor and ... A. Paul’s Pre-Christian Life 1. The authorship of the others is debated and may have come from followers writing in Paul’s name. After seeing Stephen's life taken, he leads the first great wave of persecution against the early church. His letters are written in Koine, or “common” Greek, rather than in the elegant literary Greek of his wealthy contemporary the Jewish philosopher Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, and this too argues against the view that Paul was an aristocrat. Part 1. During Paul’s time, this was a city which enjoyed no taxation. c. 30–33 Persecutes followers of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem and Judea. His amazing ministry lasts thirty-five years until his death at the age of sixty-six. Acts 20:19. a. Althoug… By his own account, Paul was the best Jew and the best Pharisee of his generation (Philippians 3:4–6; Galatians 1:13–14), though he claimed to be the least apostle of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:22–3; 1 Corinthians 15:9–10) and attributed his successes to the grace of God. A. D. 36-39. He could travel with a few leather-working tools and set up shop anywhere. He is circumcised on the eighth day, in compliance with the law of God (Leviticus 12:3, Philippians 3:5). It was agreed that Peter would be the principal apostle to Jews and Paul the principal apostle to Gentiles. Paul was from the Israelite tribe of Benjamin. It is during his trip to Damascus that the pivotal event in the life of Paul occurs. The Apostle Paul sets incredible precedence for minsters throughout the ages. The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, the Letter of Paul to the Colossians, the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, both Letters of Paul to Timothy, the Letter of Paul to Titus, and the Letter to the Hebrews are of uncertain authorship. However, in 2 Cor. Image from. "For you heard of my (Paul is speaking) former conduct when I was in Judaism, how I was excessively persecuting the church of God and was destroying it; And I was advancing in Judaism far beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Two of the main cities of Syria, Damascus and Antioch, played a prominent part in his life and letters. A massive change came into Paul’s life through his experience on the Damascus road, and turned him from being a killer of Christians into being a lover of Christ and his people. It is possible that Paul believed that Jewish converts to the new movement were not sufficiently observant of the Jewish law, that Jewish converts mingled too freely with Gentile (non-Jewish) converts, thus associating themselves with idolatrous practices, or that the notion of a crucified messiah was objectionable. We have two sources of information pertaining to Paul’s biography. . In our last lesson, we will tie everything together with a basic timeline of the Bible that shows its story flow. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 are attributed to Paul, and approximately half of another, Acts of the Apostles, deals with Paul’s life and works. Author of. How bad were the persecutions of Paul against the early New Testament church? Later Christian tradition favours the view that he was executed there (1 Clement 5:1–7), perhaps as part of the executions of Christians ordered by the Roman emperor Nero following the great fire in the city in 64 ce. His Pharisaic zeal for God's law and dedication to stopping the early spread of Christianity knew no bounds. Arts and Science Professor of Religion, Duke University. Paul was born in the city of Tarsus, capital of the province of Cilicia. Preaching about a Messiah was not uncommon in Paul's time. One of the apostles in the early church. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 or 14 (an East-West difference) are traditionally attributed to St. Paul. His surviving letters, however, have had enormous influence on subsequent Christianity and secure his place as one of the greatest religious leaders of all time. He was born between the years 5 and 10 a.C, in Tarsus of Cilicia and is known as “The Apostle of the Gentiles” “The Apostle of the Nations” or simply “The Apostle”. Before becoming the great missionary evangelist, Paul was known as Saul the persecutor of the Christian church. Former name Saul. Paul towers as one of the all-time giants of Christianity. It is known that St. Paul was imprisoned in Rome and wrote several of his epistles (letters) during his captivity there. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 6. The Apostle Paul’s Birth & Education c. A.D. 6 Born a Roman citizen to Jewish parents in Tarsus (in modern eastern Turkey) c. 20–30 Studies Torah in Jerusalem with Gamaliel; becomes a … He was born into a Jewish family in the city of Tarsus. c. A.D. 6 Born a Roman citizen to Jewish parents in Tarsus (in modern eastern Turkey). Paul’s personal encounter with Jesus changed his life. I've heard it said, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." It is doubtful that his family was wealthy or aristocratic, but, since he found it noteworthy that he sometimes worked with his own hands, it may be assumed that he was not a common labourer. Narrated by Ben Kingsley. He was converted to faith in Jesus Christ about 33 ce, and he died, probably in Rome, circa 62–64 ce. Disobedient members of synagogues were punished by some form of ostracism or by light flogging, which Paul himself later suffered at least five times (2 Corinthians 11:24), though he does not say when or where. Paul the Apostle, formerly known as Saul, took a dramatic turn on the Road to Damascus. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Inevitably,one must alsomake certainassumptions oncertain other matters. It is assumed that Paul died a martyr’s death in the mid-to-late AD 60s in Rome. Spent time In Prison (Several Times) Wrote most of the New Testament. Paul spent much of the first half of his life persecuting the nascent Christian movement, an activity to which he refers several times. Paul's birth occurs in the city of Tarsus to an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). Obviously, what Paul the Apostle became, as a true champion of God the Father’s way of salvation, of God’s authority then (as now), is of utmost importance to us all. 5. Paul fought the good fight, even the greatest of fights; he fought for the gospel of … Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 15 Facts about the Apostle Paul. The apostle Paul, whose life was cut short by the Romans in 68 A.D., is easily the most influential Christian in the New Testament short of Jesus himself. Paul’s motivations are unknown, but they seem not to have been connected to his Pharisaism. The conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul the Apostle, commonly known as Saint Paul and also known by his Hebrew name Saul of Tarsus, was a Christian apostle (although not one of the Twelve Apostles) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. Paul traveled tirelessly through the ancient world, taking the message of salvation to the Gentiles. He is considered one of Jesus’ most important disciples, even though he never got to know him personally. He is personally taught by Jesus, for three years, while living in Arabia. He persecuted & killed Christians before being converted. Only 7 of the 13 letters, however, can be accepted as being entirely authentic (dictated by Paul himself). ( … The Apostle Paul was not about to let the Resurrection be buried. Thus, the list would not include: 1. He was probably born about A.D. 6 and probably died about A.D. 64—which means he may have died at about age 58, an old age given the times and the hard life he lived. Our past doesn't define us. The Apostle masterfully combines careful adherence to biblical text, detailed research, and a storyteller's gift to create a book equally relevant for both casual readers fascinated by Paul's life and serious biblical scholars. 3. The seven undoubted letters constitute the best source of information on Paul’s life and especially his thought; in the order in which they appear in the New Testament, they are Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Letters considered “Deutero-Pauline” (probably written by Paul’s followers after his death) are Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Thessalonians; 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are “Trito-Pauline” (probably written by members of the Pauline school a generation after his death). After he received a vision ( Acts 10:9–16 ), Peter was one of the first apostles to specifically advocate for sharing the gospel with Gentiles. Where Paul is from. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The early religious training Paul receives comes from the best Rabbinical school in Jerusalem.