Biography of Saint Paul
Saint Paul he was an influential figure in the early development of Christianity. His writings and epistles form a key section of the New Testament; Saint Paul helped codify and unify the direction of the emerging religion of Christianity.
In particular, Saint Paul He emphasized the role that salvation is based on faith and not on religious customs. Saint Paul he was both a Jew and a Roman citizen.
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In his early life, he participated in the persecution of Christians. However, on the road to Damascus, he underwent a conversion and became a committed Christian.
Early life
Saint Paul, also known as Saul, was ethnically Jewish, coming from a devout Jewish family. He too was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus, Cilicia, southern Turkey.
He grew up in Jerusalem and was raised by Gamaliel, one of the leading authorities in the Jewish religious establishment (Sanhedrin).
In addition to learning religious scriptures, he also studied the Greek philosophers and was well acquainted with the Stoic philosophers, who advocated a virtuous acceptance of life as a path to happiness. In his daily life, he was a tentmaker.
During his early life, Saint Paul was a Pharisee, a group of Jewish people who administered the law.
He admitted to having participated «beyond measure» in the persecution of Christians. This included participating in the stoning of Stephen, a Christian.
Acts 7: 58-60; 22:20. One of the reasons why St. Paul was so critical of the new sect that followed Jesus Christ was the fact that he was horrified that Jesus died on the cross as a «criminal death.» He couldn’t take that with the way a Messiah would be treated.
conversion to christianity
Around AD 31-36, Saint Paul recounts how he turned from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted follower. However, on the road to Damascus, he reported that he was blinded by a vision of Jesus Christ.
He heard the voice of Jesus Christ and asked Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul replied: “Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus whom you persecute: [es] hard for you to kick against punctures.»
For three days after the vision, he remained blind and undertook a fast. Later, a Christian, Ananias of Damascus, healed his blindness.
After her vision and healing, she proclaimed the divinity of Jesus Christ and dedicated her life to spreading the Christian message.
Saint Paul explained that he was a servant of Jesus Christ and that his unexpected conversion to an ardent Christian was due to the Grace of God and not reason or intellect.
Additionally, Saint Paul became involved in doctrinal disputes among the early followers of Christ.
Similarly, Saint Paul taught that the old religious rites, such as circumcision, were no longer necessary.
Saint Paul taught that faith in the redeeming power of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save sinners, was the essence of Christianity.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles too: seeing him is one God, who will justify circumcision by faith and uncircumcision by faith.
Romans 3: 19-31.
Saint Paul also denied the idea that the Jews were a special people, due to their lineage from Abraham.
The teachings of Saint Paul helped move the first sect of Judaism into the separate religion of Christianity. Before Saint Paul, followers of Jesus Christ were still associated with Judaism.
Saint Paul successfully argued that Gentiles (non-Jews) could be directly converted to Christianity and did not have to become Jews first.
He launched into missionary work. Over the next few years, he traveled to Damascus and later to Jerusalem.
He made several mission trips around the Mediterranean basin, where he sought to spread the teachings of Jesus and offer support to the fledgling Christian community.
He visited many places, such as the island of Cypress, Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, all in Asia Minor.
Later, he traveled west to Spain. He established churches at Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. He later made Ephesus the central place of his missionary activity.
During a visit to Athens, he delivered one of his most memorable and well documented speeches; became known as the Areopagus sermon Acts 17:16-34. Saint Paul was appalled by the number of pagan gods on display. Speaking to the crowd he criticized their pagan worship.
“While I was walking and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you ignore what you worship, and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.»
His missionary work was often difficult and dangerous, often receiving an unwanted response. He supported himself financially by continuing to work as a tentmaker.
teachings of saint paul
Saint Paul was instrumental in deciding that Christians did not require earlier Jewish practices such as circumcision and the dietary law.
He taught that Jesus Christ was a divine being, and salvation could be achieved by faith alone.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.»
Romans 3: 19-31.
He was a key theologian in the doctrine of the atonement. Paul taught that Christians are freed from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Arriving in Jerusalem in AD 57, he was involved in a controversy over his rejection of Jewish customs. He was arrested and held in a prison in Caesarea for two years. Since he could claim rights as a Roman citizen, he was finally released.
He spent his remaining years writing letters to the early church and acting as a missionary. Details about his death are uncertain. But, tradition suggests that he was beheaded.
The Conversion Festival is celebrated on January 25. In the Western world, some of his writing has achieved iconic status for its poetry and power.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but I have no love, I have made myself sound like a brass or like a cymbal. And although I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and although I have all faith, to be able to remove mountains, but not love, I am nothing. «
Saint Paul I Corinthians
Within the 27 books of the New Testament, seven books are signed by Saint Paul and are considered his writings: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Another book of seven may have had commentaries by Saint Paul, but the authorship is uncertain.
Establishes a conservative view of the role of women in society. His views on the treatment of women. Her views were influential in the church adopting a male hierarchy in positions of power.
But I do not suffer for a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be silent. Timothy 2:9–15
Because Adam was formed first, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
However, it should be noted that the letter to the Romans was delivered by a woman, Phoebe, the first known deacon of the Christian church. A more inclusive view of St. Paul’s women is found in Galatians 3:28.
«There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.»
Although Saint Paul played an important role in influencing early Christianity, he has been criticized for distorting the original message of Jesus Christ.
At the time there were different interpretations and there was no consensus on aspects of the new religion.
He placed greater emphasis on the ideas of original sin, atonement, and the role of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in offering redemptive power.
Saint Paul is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, and public workers. His feast is June 29 when he is honored with Saint Peter.
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