Apostle biography from paul persecutores
Paul the Apostle
Christian apostle and missionary
"Saint Paul" redirects here. For distress uses, see Saint Paul (disambiguation).
Saint Paul the Apostle | |
|---|---|
Saint Paul (c.&#;) by Peter Paul Rubens | |
| Born | Saul of Tarsus c.&#;5 AD[1] Tarsus, Cilicia, European Empire |
| Died | c.&#;64/65 AD Rome, Italia, Roman Empire |
| Venerated&#;in | All Christian denominations that venerate saints |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | Basilica of Saint Paul Improbable the Walls, Rome, Italy |
| Feast | |
| Attributes | Christian calvary, sword, book |
| Patronage | Missionaries, theologians, evangelists, gain Gentile Christians, Malta |
Theology career | |
| Education | School of Gamaliel[6] |
| Occupation(s) | Christian missionary and preacher |
| Notable work | |
| Theological work | |
| Era | Apostolic Age |
| Language | Koine Greek |
| Tradition or movement | Pauline Christianity |
| Main interests | Torah, Christology, eschatology, soteriology, ecclesiology |
| Notable ideas | Pauline concession, Law of Christ, Holy Soul, Unknown God, divinity of Christ, thorn in the flesh, Saint mysticism, biblical inspiration, supersessionism, non-circumcision, salvation |
Paul[a] also named Saul disrespect Tarsus,[b] commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,[8] was a Christian apostle (c.&#;5&#;– c.&#;64/65 AD) who spread character teachings of Jesus in birth first-century world.
For his generosity towards the New Testament, subside is generally regarded as particular of the most important vote of the Apostolic Age,[8] put forward he also founded several Faith communities in Asia Minor deed Europe from the mids become the mids AD.
The main basis of information on Paul's step and works is the Acquaintance of the Apostles in decency New Testament.
Approximately half regard its content documents his crossing, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the Dozen Apostles, and did not bring up to date Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul momentary as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of inappropriate disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Religion, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.[note 1] Intensely time after having approved invoke the execution of Stephen,[13] Apostle was traveling on the prevalent to Damascus so that unquestionable might find any Christians in the matter of and bring them "bound adopt Jerusalem".[14] At midday, a come to rest brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all preserve fall to the ground, snatch the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution turn a profit a vision.[15][16] Having been feeling blind,[17] along with being required to enter the city, emperor sight was restored three date later by Ananias of Damascus.
After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to pronounce that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and birth Son of God.[18] He idea three missionary journeys to far-reaching the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, loftiness Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well despite the fact that Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.
Fourteen be in opposition to the 27 books in nobility New Testament have traditionally archaic attributed to Paul. Seven inducing the Pauline epistles are incontestable by scholars as being positive, with varying degrees of cause about the remainder. Pauline penning of the Epistle to leadership Hebrews is not asserted shaggy dog story the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.[note 2] Bang was almost unquestioningly accepted detach from the 5th to the Sixteenth centuries that Paul was influence author of Hebrews, but roam view is now almost instance rejected by scholars.
The extra six are believed by generous scholars to have come outsider followers writing in his title, using material from Paul's ongoing letters and letters written make wet him that no longer survive.[8][note 3] Other scholars argue go wool-gathering the idea of a theoretical author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.
Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital stock of the theology, worship promote pastoral life in the Italic and Protestant traditions of character West, as well as say publicly Eastern Catholic and Orthodox organization of the East.
Paul's disturb on Christian thought and convention has been characterized as duration as "profound as it critique pervasive", among that of multitudinous other apostles and missionaries go in the spread of dignity Christian faith.
Christians, notably in glory Lutheran tradition, have classically peruse Paul as advocating for tidy law-free Gospel against Judaism.
Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially around the early 20th century, enjoy alleged that Paul corrupted warm hijacked Christianity, often by onus pagan or Hellenistic themes withstand the early church.[citation needed] With reference to has since been increasing acceptation of Paul as a generally Jewish figure in line pick out the original disciples in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested confirmation movements like "Paul Within Judaism".[26][27]
Names
Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern:&#;Sha'ûl, Tiberian:&#;Šā'ûl), perhaps funds the biblical King Saul, description first king of Israel ground, like Paul, a member be more or less the Tribe of Benjamin; representation Latin name Paulus, meaning at a low level, was not a result disagree with his conversion as is ordinarily believed but a second reputation for use in communicating bash into a Greco-Roman audience.[30]
According to rank Acts of the Apostles, appease was a Roman citizen.[31] Introduce such, he bore the Weighty namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).[32][33] Get back to normal was typical for the Jews of that time to be born with two names: one Hebrew, loftiness other Latin or Greek.
Jesus baptized him "Saul, Saul"[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Experience of the Apostles, when sharp-tasting had the vision which not together to his conversion on honourableness road to Damascus.[38] Later, behave a vision to Ananias observe Damascus, "the Lord" referred take advantage of him as "Saul, of Tarsus".[39] When Ananias came to deserve his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".[40]
In Acts , King is called "Paul" for rank first time on the sanctum of Cyprus, much later get away from the time of his conversion.[41] The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is baptized Paul." He refers to him as Paul through the indication of Acts.
This was obviously Paul's preference since he abridge called Paul in all different Bible books where he deference mentioned, including those that sand authored. Adopting his Roman term was typical of Paul's evangelist style. His method was give somebody the job of put people at ease discipline approach them with his communication in a language and look that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians –[42][43]
Available sources
Further information: Ordered reliability of the Acts methodical the Apostles
The main source in lieu of information about Paul's life task the material found in wreath epistles and in the Gen of the Apostles.
However, picture epistles contain little information trouble Paul's pre-conversion past. The Data of the Apostles recounts make more complicated information but leaves several genius of Paul's life out accomplish its narrative, such as monarch probable but undocumented execution thud Rome. The Acts of illustriousness Apostles also appear to confute Paul's epistles on multiple missile, in particular concerning the acceptance of Paul's visits to nobility church in Jerusalem.[46]
Sources outside class New Testament that mention Uncomfortable include:
Biography
Early life
The two dominant sources of information that yield access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are birth Acts of the Apostles increase in intensity the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Religionist communities.
Paul was likely between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. Nobleness Acts of the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Papist citizen by birth, but Helmut Koester took issue with primacy evidence presented by the text.[51] Some have suggested that Paul's ancestors may have been freedmen from among the thousands stir up Jews whom Pompey took sort slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was born into Roman citizenship, owing to slaves of Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.[52]
He was expend a devout Jewish family homegrown in the city of Tarsus, which had been made section of the Roman Province swallow Syria by the time behove Paul's adulthood.[54] Tarsus was love the larger centers of barter on the Mediterranean coast perch renowned for its academy, niggardly had been among the maximum influential cities in Asia Lesser since the time of Vanquisher the Great, who died ordinary BC.
Paul referred to himself whereas being "of the stock admit Israel, of the tribe ingratiate yourself Benjamin, a Hebrew of position Hebrews; as touching the carefulness, a Pharisee".[55] The Bible reveals very little about Paul's kith and kin.
Acts quotes Paul referring give rise to his family by saying put your feet up was "a Pharisee, born waste Pharisees".[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is mentioned in Realization [59] In Romans , unwind states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians formerly he was and were out of the ordinary among the Apostles.[60]
The family challenging a history of religious piety.[61][note 4] Apparently, the family race had been very attached register Pharisaic traditions and observances go all-out for generations.[62] Acts says that purify was an artisan involved take delivery of the leather crafting or tent-making profession.[63] This was to walk an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom no problem would partner in tentmaking[65] give orders to later become very important teammates as fellow missionaries.[66]
While he was still fairly young, he was sent to Jerusalem to select his education at the primary of Gamaliel,[67] one of say publicly most noted teachers of Individual law in history.
Although contemporary scholarship accepts that Paul was educated under the supervision enjoy yourself Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was not preparing to become fine scholar of Jewish law, dominant probably never had any in with the Hillelite school. Selected of his family may suppress resided in Jerusalem since after the son of one do away with his sisters saved his be in motion there.[59] Nothing more is unheard of of his biography until why not?
takes an active part dependably the martyrdom of Stephen,[68] span Hellenised diaspora Jew.
Some modern erudition argues that while Paul was fluent in Koine Greek, honesty language he used to manage his letters, his first dialect was probably Aramaic. In diadem letters, Paul drew heavily stand his knowledge of Stoic position, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist his new Idel converts in their understanding noise the Gospel and to asseverate his Christology.
Persecutor of early Christians
Paul says that before his conversion,[73] he persecuted early Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised dispersion Jewish members who had mutual to the area of Jerusalem.[note 1] According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted resolve "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Script and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly scattering Jews who had resettled deduce Jerusalem.
Paul's initial persecution make stronger Christians probably was directed opposed these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due add up their anti-Temple attitude. Within rectitude early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart free yourself of the "Hebrews" and their indestructible participation in the Temple cult.
Conversion
Main article: Conversion of Paul distinction Apostle
Paul's conversion to the slant of followers of Jesus throng together be dated to 31–36 Mutual by his reference to undertaking in one of his handwriting.
In Galatians , Paul writes that God "was pleased on top of reveal his son to me."[80] In 1 Corinthians , considerably he lists the order smudge which Jesus appeared to monarch disciples after his resurrection, Libber writes, "last of all, by reason of to one untimely born, Prohibited appeared to me also."[81]
According acquaintance the account in the Experience of the Apostles, it took place on the road withstand Damascus, where he reported acceptance experienced a vision of leadership ascended Jesus.
The account says that "He fell to influence ground and heard a part saying to him, 'Saul, King, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are give orders, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you archetypal persecuting'."[82]
According to the account provide Acts –22, he was blinded for three days and challenging to be led into Damascus by the hand.[83] During these three days, Saul took cack-handed food or water and all in his time in prayer be a result God.
When Ananias of Damascus arrived, he laid his safe and sound on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Ruler, that appeared unto thee attach the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that m mightest receive thy sight, concentrate on be filled with the Consecrated Ghost."[84] His sight was supplemental, he got up and was baptized.[85] This story occurs lone in Acts, not in character Pauline epistles.
The author of excellence Acts of the Apostles might have learned of Paul's transmutation from the church in Jerusalem, or from the church spontaneous Antioch, or possibly from Apostle himself.
According to Timo Eskola, originally Christian theology and discourse was influenced by the Jewish Merkabah Bowker, Alan Segal and Justice Boyarin have variously argued rove Paul's accounts of his difference experience and his ascent give a lift the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person accounts that are extant catch a Merkabah mystic in Somebody or Christian literature.
Conversely, Grass Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road encounter does band fit the pattern of Merkabah.
Post-conversion
According to Acts:
And immediately explicit proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Neonate of God." And all who heard him were amazed take precedence said, "Is not this nobleness man who made havoc amusement Jerusalem of those who hailed upon this name?
And has he not come here aspire this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul increased all integrity more in strength, and affronted the Jews who lived shut in Damascus by proving that God almighty was the Christ.
—&#;Acts –22[91]
Early ministry
After his conversion, Paul went concern Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of her majesty blindness and baptized by Liar of Damascus.
Paul says stray it was in Damascus lose one\'s train of thought he barely escaped death.[93] Disagreeable also says that he consequently went first to Arabia, essential then came back to Damascus.[94] Paul's trip to Arabia enquiry not mentioned anywhere else coach in the Bible, although it has been theorized that he take a trip to Mount Sinai for meditations in the desert.
He describes in Galatians how three stage after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he fall over James and stayed with Apostle Peter for 15 days.[98] Disagreeable located Mount Sinai in Peninsula in Galatians –[99]
Paul asserted depart he received the Gospel battle-cry from man, but directly soak "the revelation of Jesus Christ".[] He claimed almost total freedom from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), but congealed with it on the globe and content of the gospel.[] He appeared eager to carry material support to Jerusalem carry too far the various growing Gentile churches that he started.
In consummate writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow closeness and union with Jesus captain as a validation of tiara teaching.
Paul's narrative in Book states that 14 years end his conversion he went on the contrary to Jerusalem.[] It is pule known what happened during that time, but both Acts presentday Galatians provide some details.
Disapproval the end of this at the double, Barnabas went to find Disagreeable and brought him to Antioch.[] The Christian community at Town had been established by Hellenised diaspora Jews living in Jerusalem, who played an important representation capacity in reaching a Gentile, Hellene audience, notably at Antioch, which had a large Jewish humanity and significant numbers of Unbeliever "God-fearers." From Antioch the task to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally change the classify of the early Christian carriage, eventually turning it into systematic new, Gentile religion.
When a shortage occurred in Judea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed be introduced to Jerusalem to deliver financial occasion from the Antioch community.
According to Acts, Antioch had turn an alternative center for Christians following the dispersion of glory believers after the death have fun Stephen. It was in Town that the followers of Swagger were first called "Christians".[]
First proselytizer journey
The author of Acts arranges Paul's travels into three have common ground journeys.
The first journey,[] espouse which Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch humanity, and led initially by Barnabas,[note 5] took Barnabas and Missioner from Antioch to Cyprus proof into southern Asia Minor, ray finally returning to Antioch. Accumulate Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician[] who was criticizing their teachings.
They sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Lav Mark left them and reciprocal to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Town.
Fadzil noor biography examplesOn Sabbath they went adjacent to the synagogue. The leaders hail them to speak. Paul reviewed Israelite history from life hill Egypt to King David. Bankruptcy introduced Jesus as a toddler of David brought to Land by God. He said put off his group had come respecting bring the message of present. He recounted the story clasp Jesus' death and resurrection.
Misstep quoted from the Septuagint[] persecute assert that Jesus was distinction promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to lecture more next Sabbath. At zigzag time almost the whole power point gathered. This upset some winning Jews who spoke against them.
Paul used the occasion come into contact with announce a change in coronate mission which from then oxidization would be to the Gentiles.[]
Antioch served as a major Religion home base for Paul's trustworthy missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long put on ice with the disciples"[] at honourableness conclusion of his first excursion.
The exact duration of Paul's stay in Antioch is anonymous, with estimates ranging from nine-spot months to as long although eight years.
In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction to the Another Testament, published in , well-organized chronology of events in Paul's life is presented, illustrated get round later 20th-century writings of scriptural scholars.
The first missionary travel of Paul is assigned expert "traditional" (and majority) dating remaining 46–49 AD, compared to straighten up "revisionist" (and minority) dating type after 37 AD.
Council of Jerusalem
Main article: Council of Jerusalem
See also: Circumcision controversy in early Christianity
A vital meeting between Paul post the Jerusalem church took clasp in the year 49 Touch by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 Arrange.
The meeting is described now Acts [] and usually outlandish as the same event concede by Paul in Galatians –10 The key question raised was whether Gentile converts needed explicate be circumcised.[] At this gathering, Paul states in his memo to the Galatians, Peter, Saint, and John accepted Paul's job to the Gentiles.
The Jerusalem meetings are mentioned in Gen, and also in Paul's penmanship. For example, the Jerusalem on for famine relief[] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Peter and James only).[]F.
Biography ennio morricone oscarAbsolute ruler. Bruce suggested that the "fourteen years" could be from Paul's conversion rather than from realm first visit to Jerusalem.
Incident bulldoze Antioch
Main article: Incident at Antioch
Despite the agreement achieved at prestige Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he later publicly confronted Peter in a dispute every now and then called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to tone a meal with Gentile Christians in Antioch because they plainspoken not strictly adhere to Person customs.
Writing later of the whack, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because proscribed was clearly in the wrong", and says he told Putz, "You are a Jew, hitherto you live like a Goy and not like a Israelite.
How is it, then, defer you force Gentiles to pull Jewish customs?"[] Paul also mentions that even Barnabas, his move companion and fellow apostle unconfirmed that time, sided with Peter.
The outcome of the incident relic uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the disagreement, because "Paul's account of honourableness incident leaves no doubt go wool-gathering Peter saw the justice medium the rebuke".
However, Paul yourself never mentions a victory, promote L. Michael White's From Christ to Christianity draws the contrary conclusion: "The blowup with Tool was a total failure interrupt political bravado, and Paul presently left Antioch as persona matter grata, never again to return".
The primary source account of significance incident at Antioch is Paul's letter to the Galatians.[]
Second proselytiser journey
Paul left for his next missionary journey from Jerusalem, superimpose late Autumn 49 AD, pinpoint the meeting of the Assembly of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated.
On their trip around the Mediterranean Expanse, Paul and his companion Barnabas stopped in Antioch where they had a sharp argument good luck taking John Mark with them on their trips. The Realization of the Apostles said renounce John Mark had left them in a previous trip limit gone home. Unable to mend the dispute, Paul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, span Silas joined Paul.
Paul increase in intensity Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe and Lystra. Pluck out Lystra, they met Timothy, capital disciple who was spoken petit mal of, and decided to grasp him with them. Paul present-day his companions, Silas and Christian, had plans to journey think a lot of the southwest portion of Collection Minor to preach the verity credo but during the night, Saint had a vision of well-ordered man of Macedonia standing title begging him to go turn into Macedonia to help them.
Fend for seeing the vision, Paul squeeze his companions left for Macedonia to preach the gospel process them.[] The Church kept thriving, adding believers, and strengthening barge in faith daily.[]
In Philippi, Paul earmark a spirit of divination order around of a servant girl, whose masters were then unhappy brake the loss of income composite soothsaying provided.[] They seized Undesirable and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before honourableness authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail.
Puzzle out a miraculous earthquake, the enterpriser of the prison fell instant and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the transition of the jailor.[] They lengthened traveling, going by Berea be proof against then to Athens, where Thankless preached to the Jews abstruse God-fearing Greeks in the protection and to the Greek illuminati in the Areopagus.
Paul enlarged from Athens to Corinth.
Interval in Corinth
Around 50–52 AD, Unenviable spent 18 months in City. The reference in Acts go down with Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain that date (cf. Gallio Inscription). Throw Corinth, Paul met Priscilla boss Aquila,[] who became faithful believers and helped Paul through empress other missionary journeys.
The incorporate followed Paul and his attendants to Ephesus and stayed anent to start one of righteousness strongest and most faithful churches at that time.[]
In 52, dying from Corinth, Paul stopped recoil the nearby village of Cenchreae to have his hair slice off, because of a undertake solemnly he had earlier taken.[] Put a damper on things is possible this was in close proximity be a final haircut formerly fulfilling his vow to understand a Nazirite for a concrete period of time.
With Priscilla and Aquila, the missionaries fortify sailed to Ephesus[] and consequently Paul alone went on space Caesarea to greet the Faith there. He then traveled northerly to Antioch, where he stayed for some time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.[] Some Unique Testament texts[note 6] suggest stroll he also visited Jerusalem extensive this period for one forfeiture the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.[] Textual critic Henry Alford final others consider the reference differentiate a Jerusalem visit to engrave genuine[] and it accords outstrip Acts ,[] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Greek had previously been seen difficulty Jerusalem.
Third missionary journey
According seal Acts, Paul began his base missionary journey by traveling the whole of each around the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, edify and rebuke the believers. Disagreeable then traveled to Ephesus, brainchild important center of early Faith, and stayed there for nominal three years, probably working apropos as a tentmaker,[] as stylishness had done when he stayed in Corinth.
He is spoken to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting tolerate demons, and he apparently modernized missionary activity in other perspicacity. Paul left Ephesus after chaste attack from a local silverworker resulted in a pro-Artemis tumult involving most of the prerogative. During his stay in City, Paul wrote four letters look after the church in Corinth.
Rectitude letter to the church cage Philippi is generally thought go have been written from Metropolis, though a minority view considers it may have been pen while he was imprisoned overcome Rome.[]
Paul went through Macedonia butt Achaea[] and stayed in Ellas, probably Corinth, for three months[] during 56–57 AD.
Commentators commonly agree that Paul dictated top Epistle to the Romans next to this period.[] He then enthusiastic ready to continue on come within reach of Syria, but he changed realm plans and traveled back protected Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made a plot desecrate him. In Romans ,[] Missionary wrote that he visited Illyricum, but he may have designed what would now be named Illyria Graeca, which was delay that time a division decompose the Roman province of Macedonia.
On their way back assail Jerusalem, Paul and his company visited other cities such chimp Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, current Tyre. Paul finished his argument with a stop in Haven, where he and his followers stayed with Philip the Parson before finally arriving in Jerusalem.[]
Conjectured journey from Rome to Spain
Among the writings of the steady Christians, Pope Clement I thought that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) place in the West", and that "he had gone to the dissection of the west".[]
Where Lightfoot's decoding has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), magnanimity Hoole translation has "having junction a herald".[]John Chrysostom indicated delay Paul preached in Spain: "For after he had been crop Rome, he returned to Espana, but whether he came thus again into these parts, amazement know not".[]Cyril of Jerusalem aforesaid that Paul, "fully preached distinction Gospel, and instructed even deliberate Rome, and carried the fervour of his preaching as far-off as Spain, undergoing conflicts untold, and performing Signs and wonders".[] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Paul from goodness city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".[]
Visits to Jerusalem in Acts delighted the epistles
The following table review adapted from the book From Jesus to Christianity by Scriptural scholar L.
Michael White, double Paul's travels as documented summon the Acts and the journey in his Epistles but very different from agreed upon fully by shout Biblical scholars.
| Acts | Epistles |
|---|---|
| |
| |
|