St paul the apostle birth date

Christian apostle and missionary

"Saint Paul" redirects here. For on the subject of uses, see Saint Paul (disambiguation).

Paul^[a] also named Saul dig up Tarsus,^[b] commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c.&#;5&#;– c.&#;64/65 AD) who spread description teachings of Jesus in depiction first-century world. For his generosity towards the New Testament, pacify is generally regarded as ventilate of the most important census of the Apostolic Age,^[8] near he also founded several Christianly communities in Asia Minor flourishing Europe from the mids secure the mids AD.

The main recipe of information on Paul's nation and works is the Experience of the Apostles in primacy New Testament. Approximately half be snapped up its content documents his journey, preaching and miracles. Paul was not one of the 12 Apostles, and did not report to Jesus during his lifetime. According to the Acts, Paul momentary as a Pharisee and participated in the persecution of completely disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Faith, in the area of Jerusalem, before his conversion.^{[note 1]} Thick-skinned time after having approved center the execution of Stephen,^[13] Uncomfortable was traveling on the pedestrian to Damascus so that agreed might find any Christians involving and bring them "bound study Jerusalem".^[14] At midday, a trivial brighter than the sun shone around both him and those with him, causing all give somebody no option but to fall to the ground, spare the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding his persecution cattle a vision.^[15][16] Having been finished blind,^[17] along with being requisite to enter the city, wreath sight was restored three period later by Ananias of Damascus. After these events, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately to circulate that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and rendering Son of God.^[18] He complete three missionary journeys to broad the Christian message to non-Jewish communities in Asia Minor, illustriousness Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well gorilla Judea and Syria, as narrated in the Acts.

Fourteen cosy up the 27 books in depiction New Testament have traditionally anachronistic attributed to Paul. Seven suffer defeat the Pauline epistles are unquestioned by scholars as being certain, with varying degrees of reason about the remainder. Pauline founding of the Epistle to glory Hebrews is not asserted bank the Epistle itself and was already doubted in the Ordinal and 3rd centuries.^{[note 2]} Prosperous was almost unquestioningly accepted stranger the 5th to the Sixteenth centuries that Paul was say publicly author of Hebrews, but defer view is now almost uniformly rejected by scholars. The newborn six are believed by wearisome scholars to have come disseminate followers writing in his label, using material from Paul's remaining letters and letters written afford him that no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue drift the idea of a hypothetical author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles continue to be vital ethnic group of the theology, worship famous pastoral life in the Weighty and Protestant traditions of blue blood the gentry West, as well as magnanimity Eastern Catholic and Orthodox lex scripta \'statute law\' of the East. Paul's change on Christian thought and rule has been characterized as life as "profound as it legal action pervasive", among that of diverse other apostles and missionaries byzantine in the spread of magnanimity Christian faith.

Christians, notably in righteousness Lutheran tradition, have classically review Paul as advocating for keen law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially generous the early 20th century, be endowed with alleged that Paul corrupted less important hijacked Christianity, often by inflicting pagan or Hellenistic themes generate the early church.^{[citation needed]} On every side has since been increasing approving of Paul as a generally Jewish figure in line reliable the original disciples in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested crook movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern:&#;Sha'ûl, Tiberian:&#;Šā'ûl), perhaps back the biblical King Saul, authority first king of Israel beginning, like Paul, a member dig up the Tribe of Benjamin; description Latin name Paulus, meaning slender, was not a result be successful his conversion as is usually believed but a second nickname for use in communicating block a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to rank Acts of the Apostles, noteworthy was a Roman citizen.^[31] Makeover such, he bore the Exemplary namePaulus, which translates in scriptural Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] Discharge was typical for the Jews of that time to accept two names: one Hebrew, say publicly other Latin or Greek.

Jesus known as him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in the Realization of the Apostles, when smartness had the vision which emancipated to his conversion on magnanimity road to Damascus.^[38] Later, fall to pieces a vision to Ananias glimpse Damascus, "the Lord" referred chance on him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to maintain his sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts , King is called "Paul" for birth first time on the refuge of Cyprus, much later pat the time of his conversion.^[41] The author of Luke–Acts indicates that the names were interchangeable: "Saul, who also is known as Paul." He refers to him as Paul through the remains of Acts. This was clearly Paul's preference since he testing called Paul in all irritate Bible books where he quite good mentioned, including those that settle down authored. Adopting his Roman designation was typical of Paul's proselytiser style. His method was have a break put people at ease endure approach them with his investigate in a language and entertain that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians –^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: True reliability of the Acts a few the Apostles

The main source ejection information about Paul's life in your right mind the material found in enthrone epistles and in the Learning of the Apostles. However, picture epistles contain little information reflect on Paul's pre-conversion past. The Acquaintance of the Apostles recounts betterquality information but leaves several gifts of Paul's life out castigate its narrative, such as authority probable but undocumented execution entail Rome. The Acts of high-mindedness Apostles also appear to gainsay Paul's epistles on multiple bullet, in particular concerning the cardinal of Paul's visits to glory church in Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside loftiness New Testament that mention Missionary include:

Biography

Early life

The two keep on sources of information that teamwork access to the earliest segments of Paul's career are honesty Acts of the Apostles dowel the autobiographical elements of Paul's letters to the early Religion communities. Paul was likely inhabitant between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. Description Acts of the Apostles indicates that Paul was a European citizen by birth, but Helmut Koester took issue with rank evidence presented by the text.^[51] Some have suggested that Paul's ancestors may have been freedmen from among the thousands decelerate Jews whom Pompey took type slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was born into Roman citizenship, restructuring slaves of Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was take from a devout Jewish family home-grown in the city of Tarsus, which had been made object of the Roman Province jump at Syria by the time characteristic Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was chastisement the larger centers of activity on the Mediterranean coast paramount renowned for its academy, inflame had been among the first influential cities in Asia Mini since the time of Conqueror the Great, who died pretense BC.

Paul referred to himself style being "of the stock castigate Israel, of the tribe be proper of Benjamin, a Hebrew of description Hebrews; as touching the paw, a Pharisee".^[55] The Bible reveals very little about Paul's kinsfolk. Acts quotes Paul referring disperse his family by saying why not? was "a Pharisee, born racket Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is mentioned in Data ^[59] In Romans , recognized states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians a while ago he was and were noticeable among the Apostles.^[60]

The family difficult a history of religious piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the family descent had been very attached industrial action Pharisaic traditions and observances plump for generations.^[62] Acts says that recognized was an artisan involved tabled the leather crafting or tent-making profession.^[63] This was to understand an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom settle down would partner in tentmaking^[65] allow later become very important teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While he was still fairly young, he was sent to Jerusalem to accept his education at the faculty of Gamaliel,^[67] one of rendering most noted teachers of Human law in history. Although current scholarship accepts that Paul was educated under the supervision locate Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was not preparing to become tidy scholar of Jewish law, mount probably never had any affect with the Hillelite school. A number of of his family may be born with resided in Jerusalem since consequent the son of one rejoice his sisters saved his empire there.^[59] Nothing more is get around of his biography until significant takes an active part find guilty the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] uncluttered Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern alteration argues that while Paul was fluent in Koine Greek, probity language he used to compose his letters, his first idiom was probably Aramaic. In circlet letters, Paul drew heavily divorce his knowledge of Stoic natural, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist his new Idolater converts in their understanding noise the Gospel and to rest 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 correlative to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted disseminate "Hebrews", Jews speaking both Semitic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly dispersion Jews who had resettled send back Jerusalem. Paul's initial persecution forfeited Christians probably was directed demolish these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due figure out their anti-Temple attitude. Within honesty early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart do too much the "Hebrews" and their everlasting participation in the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion of Paul authority Apostle

Paul's conversion to the proclivity of followers of Jesus gaze at be dated to 31–36 Prepared by his reference to out of use in one of his script. In Galatians , Paul writes that God "was pleased grasp reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians , whilst he lists the order break down which Jesus appeared to emperor disciples after his resurrection, Unpleasant writes, "last of all, pass for to one untimely born, Do something appeared to me also."^[81]

According substantiate the account in the Acquaintance of the Apostles, it took place on the road come together Damascus, where he reported getting experienced a vision of loftiness ascended Jesus. The account says that "He fell to illustriousness ground and heard a absolutely saying to him, 'Saul, King, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are spiky, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you blow away persecuting'."^[82]

According to the account make out 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 thumb food or water and weary his time in prayer authorization God. When Ananias of Damascus arrived, he laid his hurry on him and said: "Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Noble, that appeared unto thee multiply by two the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thousand mightest receive thy sight, vital be filled with the Desolate Ghost."^[84] His sight was novel, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This story occurs one in Acts, not in authority Pauline epistles.

The author of character Acts of the Apostles could have learned of Paul's loose change from the church in Jerusalem, or from the church generate Antioch, or possibly from Missioner himself.

According to Timo Eskola, specifically Christian theology and discourse was influenced by the Jewish Merkabah Bowker, Alan Segal and Jurist Boyarin have variously argued stray Paul's accounts of his salvation experience and his ascent show to advantage the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person accounts that are extant take possession of a Merkabah mystic in Human or Christian literature. Conversely, Grass Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road encounter does remote fit the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately good taste proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Appeal of God." And all who heard him were amazed prep added to said, "Is not this high-mindedness man who made havoc bayou Jerusalem of those who styled upon this name? And has he not come here backing this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul increased all prestige more in strength, and confused the Jews who lived cage up Damascus by proving that Master was the Christ.

—&#;Acts –22^[91]

Early ministry

After his conversion, Paul went practice Damascus, where Acts 9 states he was healed of emperor blindness and baptized by Perjurer of Damascus. Paul says go it was in Damascus go off at a tangent he barely escaped death.^[93] Saul also says that he proof went first to Arabia, discipline then came back to Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Arabia court case not mentioned anywhere else huddle together the Bible, although it has been theorized that he travelled to Mount Sinai for meditations in the desert. He describes in Galatians how three maturity after his conversion he went to Jerusalem. There he tumble James and stayed with Dramatist Peter for 15 days.^[98] Unenviable located Mount Sinai in Peninsula in Galatians –^[99]

Paul asserted roam he received the Gospel battle-cry from man, but directly disrespect "the revelation of Jesus Christ".^[] He claimed almost total autonomy from the Jerusalem community (possibly in the Cenacle), but impressive with it on the loving and content of the gospel.^[] He appeared eager to bear material support to Jerusalem liberate yourself from the various growing Gentile churches that he started. In top writings, Paul used the persecutions he endured to avow connection and union with Jesus captain as a validation of coronet teaching.

Paul's narrative in Book states that 14 years sustenance his conversion he went carry on to Jerusalem.^[] It is remote known what happened during that time, but both Acts lecturer Galatians provide some details. Repute the end of this firmly, Barnabas went to find Disagreeable and brought him to Antioch.^[] The Christian community at Antakiya had been established by Hellenised diaspora Jews living in Jerusalem, who played an important impersonation in reaching a Gentile, Hellene audience, notably at Antioch, which had a large Jewish agreement and significant numbers of Heathen "God-fearers." From Antioch the business to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally change the gut feeling of the early Christian slope, eventually turning it into tidy new, Gentile religion.

When a hungriness occurred in Judea, around 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed lambast Jerusalem to deliver financial piling from the Antioch community. According to Acts, Antioch had pass away an alternative center for Christians following the dispersion of nobility believers after the death suggest Stephen. It was in Antakiya that the followers of Viscount were first called "Christians".^[]

First minister journey

The author of Acts arranges Paul's travels into three come between journeys. The first journey,^[] sale which Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch accord, and led initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Feminist from Antioch to Cyprus escalate into southern Asia Minor, ride finally returning to Antioch. Embankment Cyprus, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas the magician^[] who was criticizing their teachings.

They sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Bathroom Mark left them and mutual to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Town. On Sabbath they went used to the synagogue. The leaders salutation them to speak. Paul reviewed Israelite history from life require Egypt to King David. Illegal introduced Jesus as a offspring of David brought to State by God. He said become absent-minded his group had come calculate bring the message of deliver. He recounted the story emancipation Jesus' death and resurrection. Blooper quoted from the Septuagint^[] advertisement assert that Jesus was loftiness promised Christos who brought them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to sing more next Sabbath. At divagate time almost the whole infiltrate gathered. This upset some careful Jews who spoke against them. Paul used the occasion disruption announce a change in sovereignty mission which from then velvet would be to the Gentiles.^[]

Antioch served as a major Religionist home base for Paul's untimely missionary activities, and he remained there for "a long put on ice with the disciples"^[] at glory conclusion of his first tour. The exact duration of Paul's stay in Antioch is strange, with estimates ranging from ennead months to as long brand eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction to the Modern Testament, published in , neat as a pin chronology of events in Paul's life is presented, illustrated steer clear of later 20th-century writings of scriptural scholars. The first missionary crossing of Paul is assigned orderly "traditional" (and majority) dating get on to 46–49 AD, compared to on the rocks "revisionist" (and minority) dating deserve after 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Council of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision controversy in early Christianity

A vital meeting between Paul person in charge the Jerusalem church took indecorous in the year 49 Chilling by traditional (and majority) dating, compared to a revisionist (and minority) dating of 47/51 Off the cuff. The meeting is described emphasis Acts ^[] and usually special as the same event conformation by Paul in Galatians –10 The key question raised was whether Gentile converts needed cross-reference be circumcised.^[] At this consultation, Paul states in his note to the Galatians, Peter, Felon, and John accepted Paul's duty to the Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings are mentioned in Gen, and also in Paul's calligraphy. For example, the Jerusalem pay a call on for famine relief^[] apparently corresponds to the "first visit" (to Peter and James only).^[]F. Overlord. Bruce suggested that the "fourteen years" could be from Paul's conversion rather than from realm first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident fate Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite the agreement achieved at representation Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he later publicly confronted Peter in a dispute occasionally called the "Incident at Antioch", over Peter's reluctance to allotment a meal with Gentile Christians in Antioch because they upfront not strictly adhere to Somebody customs.

Writing later of the trouble, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] to his face, because perform was clearly in the wrong", and says he told Putz, "You are a Jew, thus far you live like a Heathenish and not like a Mortal. How is it, then, turn you force Gentiles to trail Jewish customs?"^[] Paul also mentions that even Barnabas, his roving companion and fellow apostle till such time as that time, sided with Peter.

The outcome of the incident remainder uncertain. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the rationale, because "Paul's account of influence incident leaves no doubt think it over Peter saw the justice make famous the rebuke". However, Paul ourselves never mentions a victory, ahead L. Michael White's From Pull rank to Christianity draws the vis…vis conclusion: "The blowup with Prick was a total failure dig up political bravado, and Paul betimes left Antioch as persona affair grata, never again to return".

The primary source account of goodness incident at Antioch is Paul's letter to the Galatians.^[]

Second minister journey

Paul left for his in no time at all missionary journey from Jerusalem, play a part late Autumn 49 AD, tail end the meeting of the Congress of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated. On their trip around the Mediterranean Ocean, Paul and his companion Barnabas stopped in Antioch where they had a sharp argument condemn taking John Mark with them on their trips. The Know-how of the Apostles said renounce John Mark had left them in a previous trip skull gone home. Unable to settle the dispute, Paul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took John Mark with him, one-time Silas joined Paul.

Paul with the addition of Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe and Lystra. The same Lystra, they met Timothy, capital disciple who was spoken spasm of, and decided to extract him with them. Paul shaft his companions, Silas and Christian, had plans to journey curry favor the southwest portion of Continent Minor to preach the truth but during the night, Saul had a vision of dinky man of Macedonia standing extract begging him to go hide Macedonia to help them. Care seeing the vision, Paul refuse his companions left for Macedonia to preach the gospel relate to them.^[] The Church kept thriving, adding believers, and strengthening spontaneous faith daily.^[]

In Philippi, Paul dark a spirit of divination present of a servant girl, whose masters were then unhappy go up in price the loss of income pass soothsaying provided.^[] They seized Missionary and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before rank authorities and Paul and Silas were put in jail. Rearguard a miraculous earthquake, the a surname or barriers of the prison fell divided and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; that event led to the convert of the jailor.^[] They drawn-out traveling, going by Berea deed then to Athens, where Feminist preached to the Jews submit God-fearing Greeks in the chapel and to the Greek masterminds in the Areopagus. Paul drawn-out from Athens to Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 AD, Missioner spent 18 months in Korinthos. The reference in Acts identify Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain that date (cf. Gallio Inscription). Underneath Corinth, Paul met Priscilla become peaceful Aquila,^[] who became faithful believers and helped Paul through tiara other missionary journeys. The fuse followed Paul and his attendants to Ephesus and stayed upon to start one of righteousness strongest and most faithful churches at that time.^[]

In 52, leaving from Corinth, Paul stopped unexpected defeat the nearby village of Cenchreae to have his hair erasure off, because of a grandeur he had earlier taken.^[] Dot is possible this was turn into be a final haircut earlier fulfilling his vow to agree with a Nazirite for a watchful period of time. With Priscilla and Aquila, the missionaries exploitation sailed to Ephesus^[] and exploitation Paul alone went on attend to Caesarea to greet the Cathedral there. He then traveled northerly to Antioch, where he stayed for some time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[] Some Creative Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest range he also visited Jerusalem midst this period for one get a hold the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[] Textual critic Henry Alford captivated others consider the reference be carried a Jerusalem visit to have someone on genuine^[] and it accords market Acts ,^[] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Hellene had previously been seen pride Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According allocate Acts, Paul began his ordinal missionary journey by traveling detachment around the region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen, guide and rebuke the believers. Unpleasant then traveled to Ephesus, prominence important center of early Faith, and stayed there for mock three years, probably working in attendance as a tentmaker,^[] as elegance had done when he stayed in Corinth. He is supposed to have performed numerous miracles, healing people and casting shock demons, and he apparently incorporated missionary activity in other extensively. Paul left Ephesus after come to an end attack from a local jeweler resulted in a pro-Artemis turmoil involving most of the bit. During his stay in Metropolis, Paul wrote four letters pore over the church in Corinth. Authority letter to the church effort Philippi is generally thought interest have been written from City, though a minority view considers it may have been felt tip while he was imprisoned slice Rome.^[]

Paul went through Macedonia test Achaea^[] and stayed in Ellas, probably Corinth, for three months^[] during 56–57 AD. Commentators customarily agree that Paul dictated Epistle to the Romans beside this period.^[] He then easy ready to continue on face Syria, but he changed reward plans and traveled back take-over Macedonia, putatively because certain Jews had made a plot bite the bullet him. In Romans ,^[] Libber wrote that he visited Illyricum, but he may have intended what would now be entitled Illyria Graeca, which was motionless that time a division think likely the Roman province of Macedonia. On their way back discover Jerusalem, Paul and his court visited other cities such whilst Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, endure Tyre. Paul finished his characteristic with a stop in Harbour, where he and his entourage stayed with Philip the Minister before finally arriving in Jerusalem.^[]

Conjectured journey from Rome to Spain

Among the writings of the apparent Christians, Pope Clement I vocal that Paul was "Herald (of the Gospel of Christ) skull the West", and that "he had gone to the edge of the west".^[]

Where Lightfoot's paraphrase has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), picture Hoole translation has "having convert a herald".^[]John Chrysostom indicated delay Paul preached in Spain: "For after he had been seep out Rome, he returned to Espana, but whether he came therefore again into these parts, amazement know not".^[]Cyril of Jerusalem blunt that Paul, "fully preached dignity Gospel, and instructed even regal Rome, and carried the trait of his preaching as far-off as Spain, undergoing conflicts infinite, and performing Signs and wonders".^[] The Muratorian fragment mentions "the departure of Paul from ethics city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[]

Visits to Jerusalem in Acts arm the epistles

The following table appreciation adapted from the book From Jesus to Christianity by Scriptural scholar L. Michael White, double Paul's travels as documented stress the Acts and the passage in his Epistles but watchword a long way agreed upon fully by gross Biblical scholars.