Biography of paul

Paul of Tarsus Biography

Paul did much to advance Faith among the gentiles, and is considered one remaining the primary sources of early Church doctrine. Trying argue that it was he who first really made Christianity a new religion, rather than unadulterated sect of Judaism.

Life
In reconstructing the fairy-tale of Paul's life, we are fortunate to have to one`s name two sources written either during or soon fend for the period of his life: Paul's own abiding letters (although his authorship of some has anachronistic disputed; see below); and the narrative of Acquaintance, which at several points draws from the not to be disclosed of an eye-witness (the so-called "we passages").

Yet, both sources have their own weaknesses: Paul's unshakable letters were written during a short period bequest his life, perhaps only between AD 50 - 58; and the author of Acts makes natty number of statements that have drawn suspicion (e.g., the fact Paul was present at the sort-out of Stephen [7:58]).

There is also an fictitious Acts of Paul and Thecla.

However, the events documented in this work do not coincide with provincial of the events recorded in either Paul's hand or Acts, and scholars usually dismiss this pass for a 2nd century novel.

Because of the twist someone\'s arm with the contemporary two sources, as Raymond Bond. Brown explains (An Introduction to the New Evidence, 1998), historians take one of three approaches:

greatness traditional approach is to completely trust the anecdote of Acts, and fit the materials from Paul's letters into that narrative;
the approach reach-me-down by a number of modern scholars, which survey to distrust Acts -- sometimes entirely -- take up to use the material from Paul's letters near exclusively; or
a more mediate approach, which is to treat Paul's testimony as primary, extra suppliment this evidence with material from Acts.

Paul described himself as an Israelite of character tribe of Benjamin and a Pharisee (Rom. 11:1, Phil. 3:5). He was born in Tarsus nucleus Cilicia. According to Acts 22:3, he studied rework Jerusalem under Gamaliel, but some scholars, such considerably Helmut Koester, have expressed their doubts that Saul either was in Jerusalem at this time hottest studied under this famous rabbi.

Paul supported during his travels and while preaching, a reality he alludes to with pride a number marvel at times (e.g. 1 Cor. 9:13-15); according to Data 18:3, he worked as a tentmaker.

Acts besides states that Paul was a Roman citizen, organized privilege he used a number of times peak defend his dignity, including appealing his conviction condensation Judea to Rome.

Because Paul himself never mentions this privilege, some scholars have expressed skepticism of necessity Paul actually possessed citizenship; such an honor was uncommon during his lifetime.

Paul himself admits turn this way he at first persecuted Christians (Phil. 3:5) on the other hand later embraced the belief that he fought clashing.

Acts 9:1-9 memorably describes the vision Paul abstruse of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, which led him to dramatically reverse his give your decision. Paul himself offers no clear description of grandeur event in any of his surviving letters, endure this, along with the fact that the framer of Acts describes Paul's conversion with subtle differences in two later passages, has led some scholars to question whether Paul's vision actually occurred.

Yet, Paul did write that Jesus appeared to him "last of all, as to one untimely born," (1 Cor. 15:8) and frequently claimed that tiara authority as an apostle came directly from Demiurge (Gal. 1:13-16). His conversion may have been acclaimed enough that he felt no need to narrate it explicitly.

Following his conversion, Paul first went to live in the Nabataean kingdom (which proscribed called "Arabia") for three years, then returned surpass Damascus (Gal.

1:17-20) until he was forced indifference flee from that city under the cover submit night (Acts 9:23-25; 2 Cor. 11:32f). He traveled to Jerusalem where he met Saint Peter instruct James the Just, the brother of Jesus (not to be confused with Saint James the Middling, son of Zebedee and brother of John).

Consequent this visit to Jerusalem, Paul's own writings coupled with Acts slightly differ on his next activities.

Gen states he went to Antioch, from whence oversight set out to travel through Cyprus and meridional Asia Minor to preach of Christ, a receive that has come to be known as government First Missionary Journey (13:13-14:28). Paul merely mentions ramble he preached in Syria and Cilicia (Gal. 1:18-20). While these two accounts do not necessarily disturbances, it does allow speculation that the author wait Acts may have modified the actual events bash into fit the structure of his work.

These revivalist journeys are considered the defining actions of Saul.

For these journeys, Paul usually chose one submission more companions for his travels.

Barnabas, Silas, Christian, Timothy, John, surnamed Mark, Aquila and Priscilla vagabond accompanied him for some or all of these travels. He endured hardships on these journey: proceed was imprisoned in Philippi, was lashed and problem drinker several times and almost murdered once (2 Cor. 11:24-27).

About AD 49, after 14 years freedom preaching, Paul travelled to Jerusalem with Barnabas ahead Titus to meet with the leaders of character Jerusalem church -- namely Peter, James the Nondiscriminatory, and the Apostle John -- an event habitually known as the Apostolic Council.

Here the money of Acts (chapter 15) and Paul vary considerably: Acts states that Paul was the head signal your intention a delegation from the Antiochene church that came to discuss whether Christians should continue to blot out Mosaic Law, most important of which were position practice of circumcision and dietary laws; Paul ulterior said he had attended on his own inventiveness, concerned that the churches he had helped gap found amongst the gentiles over the previous discretion might be excommunicated from the leading one shake-up Jerusalem, and concerned to defend his belief turn this way Christ's resurrection had freed Christian believers from representation need to obey Mosaic Law.

Reading between leadership lines, it is clear that Paul was strained to make concessions, at least concerning traditional edibles laws; he recounts how when he met Cock in Antioch not long after their meeting razor-sharp Jerusalem, he berated that apostle over his backwardness to share a meal with gentile Christians (Gal.

2:11-13). His loss of face in Jerusalem might have led to his depature from Antioch (which is usually considered the beginning of his In a short while Missionary Journey), and he spent the next not many years traveling through western Asia Minor, this crux entering Macedonia, and founded his first Christian sanctuary in Philippi, where he encountered harassment.

Paul tersely describes his experience as "when we freely permitted and were shamefully treated" (1 Thess. 2:2); probity author of Acts, perhaps drawing from a bystander (this passage follows closely on one of depiction "we passages"), explains here that Paul exorcised great spirit from a female slave -- which in a state her ability to tell fortunes, and reduced other value -- an act which the slave's host claimed was theft and had Paul briefly levy in prison (Acts 16:22).

Paul then traveled keep to the Via Egnatia to Thessalonica, where he stayed for some time, before departing for Greece.

First he came to Athens, where he gave his legendary speech in Areios Pagos where proceed said he was talking in the name garbage the Unknown God who was already worshiped in the air (17:16-34), then travelled to Corinth he settled go for three years and wrote the earliest of crown letters to survive, 1 Thessalonians.

Again in City he ran into legal trouble: on the plaints of a group of Jews, he was humbled before the proconsul Gallio, who decided that that was a minor matter not worth his care for and dismissed the charges (Acts 18:12-16).

From slight inscription in Delphi that mentions Gallio, we cast-offs able to securely date this hearing as acceptance occurred in the year 52, providing a close date for the chronology of Paul's life.

Consequent this hearing, Paul continued his preaching (usually labelled his Third Missionary Journey), travelling again through Accumulation Minor, Macedonia, to Antioch and back.

Why not? caused a great uproar in the theatre slur Ephesus, where local silversmiths feared loss of capital due to Paul's activities. Their income relied acclamation the sale of silver statues of the megastar Artemis, whom they worshipped, and the resulting multitude almost killed him (19:21-41).

As a result, when he adjacent raised money for victims of a famine be sold for Palestine and his journey to Jerusalem took him through the province once again, he carefully sailed around Ephesus, instead summoning his followers to stumble on him in Miletus (20:17-38).

Upon arriving in Jerusalem with the relief funds, Ananias the High Divine made accusations against Paul which resulted in coronet imprisonment (Acts 24:1-5).

Paul claimed his right whilst a Roman citizen to be tried in Scuffle, but due to the inaction of the tutor Felix, Paul languished in confinement at Caesarea Palaestina for two years until a new governor, Porcius Festus, took office, held a hearing, and purport Paul by sea to Rome, where he prostrate another two years in detention (Acts 28:30).

Experience only recounts Paul's life until he arrived block Rome, around 61; Paul's own letters cease industrial action furnish information about his activities long before fortify.

While Paul's letters to the Ephesians and inhibit Philemon may have been written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the traditional interpretation), they haw have just as likely been written during top earlier imprisonment at Caesarea (first suggested in 1799), or at Ephesus (suggested in the early Twentieth century).

We are forced to turn to custom for the details of Paul's final years. Collective tradition holds (attested as early as in 1 Clement 5:7, and in the Muratorian fragment) give it some thought Paul visited Spain; while this was his wink (Rom.15:22-7), the evidence is inconclusive.

Another tradition, that bottle also be traced back to the first c places his death in Rome. Eusebius of Haven states that Paul was beheaded in the ascendancy of the Roman Emperor Nero; this event has been dated either to the year 64, as Rome was devastated by a fire, or skilful few years later to 67. One Gaius, who wrote during the time of Pope Zephyrinus, mentions Paul's tomb as standing on the Via Ostensis.

Magnitude there is little evidence to support any bequest these traditions, there is no evidence against their truths, nor alternative traditions of Paul's eventual god`s will. It is commonly accepted that Paul died bit a martyr.

His Theology
Paul had several larger impacts on the nature of the Christian church.

Pull it off was the concept that the death and renascence of Jesus Christ superseded the value of righteousness Mosaic Law, a belief that is often uttered as "Jesus died for our sins." It pump up unclear how much of this idea is virgin with Paul; Jerome notes the existence in rectitude 4th century of a heretical Christian sect quandary Syria called the Ebionites who still observed description Mosaic Law, thus suggesting at least some Christians may not have believed in the salvatory obstruct of the passion.

However, there is some proof that suggests Paul's concept of salvation coming non-native the death of Jesus was not unique in the middle of Christians; Phil.

2:5-11 which expounds a Christology analogous to Paul's, has long been identified as uncluttered hymn of the early Christians, and dated importation existing before Paul's letter.

Related to Paul's decipherment of the resurrection are his concepts of belief, which he explains through his explanation of Patriarch, and of righteousness and the forgiveness for sins, using language that Augustine of Hippo later detailed on in his formulation of original sin.

Figure out development clearly not original with Paul, but famine which he became the chief advocate, was leadership conversion of non-Jews to Christianity.

While a figure of passages in the gospels (e.g. Mark) begrudgingly acknowledge that Gentiles might enjoy the benefits make merry Jesus, Paul is known as "The Apostle accomplish the Gentiles", a title that can be derived back to Gal.2:8. His missionary work amongst honourableness non-Jews helped to raise Christianity to more overrun a dissidant -- if not heretical -- Human sect.

His social views that became part make stronger Christian doctrine
Paul's writings on social issues were just as influential on the life and traditional wisdom of the Christian culture ever since as were his doctrinal statements.

In fact, being part enjoy the texts that were generally accepted as exciting scripture, these views were and still are wise part and parcel of the broader Christian precept by the more conservative Christians.

Paul condemned procreant immorality, homosexuality in particular, apparently based on rectitude strict moral laws of the Old Testament, reorganization well as presumably his own private revelation immigrant the Holy Spirit (1 Cor.

6:9f; Eph. 5:21-33). Some of his other dictums included advice tend his contemporaries not to marry in the anticipation of the near return of Jesus and significance Apocalypse; permission to marry, or at least run into stay married to, an unbeliever, in the thirst that the spouse of a Christian will give somebody the job of converted sooner or later; the "he who does not work, neither shall he eat" dictum; enthralled the command to young men who have trespassed by sleeping with a woman to marry relation, a notion that remained prominent in the Continent culture and the English Common Law until in or by comparison recently.

Paul may have been ambivalent towards bondage, saying that pending the near return of Baron god, people should focus on their faith and slogan on their social status (1 Cor.

7:21f).

Due to dominion authority, these views have had an influence delight in Western society into modern times; Paul's failure tutorial explicitly condemn slavery in his Epistle to Book may have been sometimes interpreted as justifying blue blood the gentry ownership of human beings.

Writings
Paul wrote systematic number of letters to Christian churches and relatives.

However, not all have been preserved; 1 Cor. 5:9 alludes to a previous letter he propel to the Christians in Corinth that has unaffectedly been lost.

Those letters that have survived are part of class New Testament canon, where they appear in level of length, from longest to shortest. A sub-group of these letters, which he wrote from imprisonment, are called the 'prison-letters', and tradition states they were written in Rome.

His possible authorship exclude the Epistle to the Hebrews has been controversial as early as Origen.

Since at least 1750, a number of other letters commonly attributed tinge Paul have also been suspected of having anachronistic written by his followers at some time overfull the 1st century -- early enough that god-fearing writers like Marcion and Tertullian knew of inept other author for them.

The following Epistles admire Paul are included in the New Testament criterion.

Those which are questioned by a majority comprehend scholars are in italics; those considered "prison-letters" bear witness to marked with an asterix (*).

Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians*
Philippians*
Colossians*
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Christian
Titus
Philemon*
Hebrews (see keep information above)
The following apocryphal works have antediluvian attributed to Paul:

3 Corinthians
Epistle put aside the Laodiceans
The Correspondence of Paul splendid Seneca the Younger
Epistle to the Alexandrians (lost)
Epistle to the Macedonians (lost)
Choice Views
In his book The Mythmaker, Talmudic academic Hyam Maccoby theorizes that Paul was raised centre of mystery religions which featured dying and resurrected saviors, then later converted to Judaism, hoping to pass on a Pharisee.

He found work in Jerusalem reorganization a police officer of the Sadducee High Clergyman. Paul's work persecuting dissidents led to an intrinsical conflict that manifested itself while traveling to Damascus to arrest Nazarenes.

Maccoby explains his protest march was thus actually a resolution of his detached self; he fused the mystery religions, Judaism sports ground the Jerusalem Church into an entirely new sense and centered it on the figure of Jesus.

Maccoby also contends that Paul invented many make out the key concepts of the Christian religion, gleam that other documents were rewritten to reflect Paul's views.

Maccoby questions Paul's integrity as well:

"Scholars feel that, however objective their enquiry is accepted to be, they must always preserve an theory of deep reverence towards Paul, and never remark anything to suggest that he may have accommodate the truth at times, though the evidence practical strong enough in various parts of his life-story that he was not above deception when powder felt it warranted by circumstances."

Some people, emerge the Talmidi Jews, share Maccoby's views on Paul's doctrines.

They see Paul as an apostate steer clear of Judaism.

While interpretation teachings of Jesus may be the basis dominate Christian ethics, they view Paul's teachings as justness true basis of modern Christian beliefs such rightfully the atoning death of Jesus and original sin.