Paul is often considered one of the most influential people of all times. He was able to go from being in a very bad state of mind religiously, to completely transforming and being gifted with a second chance by God. God wanted him to pass his message along so everyone would hear. Through his childhood and personality, it is evident that Paul was raised in an atmosphere in which he could thrive in educationally, and exhibit beneficial characteristics like his great knowledge. This was all important and made a difference in the way he was able to pass on the message of the Gospel by using past wisdom and by receiving a good education. Saul’s birthplace in Tarsus was important in the way he was raised because he was surrounded by the business …show more content…
(Hahn 13) Tarsus was known for its mountains lining its boundaries and the short distance away from the coast which was beneficial for trade routes. (Swindoll 5) He seemed to have a pretty nice atmosphere to grow up in, in addition to being surrounded by his parents. Swindoll talks about his peaceful childhood and says, ““Admittedly, when we return to the birthplace and childhood, the setting was not marked by anger and violence.” (Swindoll 4) He was surrounded by his parents who were both Jewish which allowed for a strong religious connection within the family. Acts 21:39 is how he described himself as being “A Jew from Tarsus.” He was proud of where he came from and of the religion he practiced. His family was also well off, and they could provide for him what he needed for a positive future. Money was not an issue in his household. (Webster) Acts 22:2-5 describes Gamaliel being his teacher. When he was sent to school, he had the opportunity to be taught by Gamaliel, who gave him much needed reason and advice. At the time, Saul did not fully understand Gamaliel. Gamaliel was a big influence in …show more content…
He flaunted a natural leader attitude and wanted to always take charge for what he believed in. Saul was very passionate about everything he did. He was amazed by the idea that God was giving him a second chance after how much sin he had committed. Through 2 Cor. 10:10, it is evident that Paul was able to express himself better on pen and paper rather than in front of a large group of people. He is endlessly grateful for God giving him a second chance at life, that he would sacrifice himself and put himself through every obstacle in order to honor God. One of the qualities he displays through verses like 2 Timothy 4:6-8 is determination. He wants to do the best he can in order to make up for his past. He understands that he must not think too much about the past and has to work on himself as a person. He openly admits what he had done wrong in the past and does not falter on any of it. He is grateful for the mercy that was shed on his life, that he would devote his life to Christ and spreading the gospel as the Apostle Paul. Part of the reason he starts to truly understand the Gospel is because he is reflecting back on what has been given to him in ways he might not have even thought of before . His parents, good education, and mentors along the way were blessings sent by God, even though Paul might not have fully understood everything at the time. Saul’s rampage was going on and on and he went as far
Saul is born to an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin, around the same time as Jesus and John. He was a Roman citizen by birth right and a native of Tarsus, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor.Tarsus had become a rich city mainly because of trade. Merchants from Tarsus were well known throughout the Roman empire. The merchants of Tarsus invested in education, public health and city projects.Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed. He spent his youth in the best education Tarsus afford. After his preliminary schooling, Saul was sent to the Jewish school of sacred learning at Jerusalem as a student of the
St. Paul, other known as Saul, never actually lived the life any of us would hope for. As a young child Saul learned to work with his own hands and create tents. Before his conversion to Christianity, he went out and arrested those who believed in Christ. While he was out arresting many, he also persecuted some of the Christians. Also, Saul was one person who approved the stoning of Stephen. Lastly, God appeared to him and he had a conversion of heart.
After that Saul was refered to as Paul. He left his old life and began his mission as a amasador of Christ’s message to all the world, or the world as it was known at that time. He left Jerusalem and began his missionary journeys, at least five of them. He went to Asia minor (modern Turkey), Syria, Greece, Italy, Spain even Britian.Paul trained Timothy and John Mark. He was so dedicated to the calling Jesus put on him that he paid for it spending five years or more in prison for his teachings and faith on multiple occasions. He was whipped bewaten and tortured on more than one occasion. He even lived through a stoning attempt and being shipwrecked. He paid the ultimate price with his life as a martyr at the hands of the Romans.
He was first named Saul, but God had greater plans for him to be a leader to his people so a conversion took place. The conversion of Saul begins while he is on the road to Damascus, "suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [and] he fell to the ground" (Acts 9:3–4), [the light was] "brighter than the sun" (Acts 26:13) and he was then blinded for three days (Acts 9:9). While he was blinded, he heard a voice in Hebrew which translates to "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14–15). After this encounter, Saul’s blindness was cured by one of Jesus’ disciples, Ananias. His blindness was referred to as “something like scales” upon his eyes until he was then baptized. After Saul’s conversion to Christianity, he changed his identity to Paul because he was no longer a persecutor of Christianity named Saul. Saul was now was a believer and follower of Christ named Paul. He became a powerful leader in Acts. One that Christians should consider a role model because he led his people so powerfully and accomplished the future God wanted for him.
Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was raised in a Jewish household, but he also had exposure to Roman culture because his father was also a Roman citizen. After his family relocated to Jerusalem, he became the apprentice of Gamaliel, who was a Hillelites Pharisee member. Paul on the other hand, had become a member of the Shammaites Pharisee, who strictly followed the Jewish law, and believed that those who did not follow the Jewish law were preventing the coming of God’s kingdom. As a member of this Pharisee, Paul too part in the persecution of Christians who were accused of heresy, because he along with the other members believed that they were spreading and supporting a belief in a failed messiah, who we have come to know as Jesus Christ.
There is not much known about Paul during his early life, but it is known that Paul was originally known as Saul, and that he was zealous for Jewish traditions and he intensely persecuted the followers of Jesus. On the road to damascus, Saul had an encounter with the Lord Jesus, roughly 3
Saul was not only educated in the law, he was zealous about keeping it; he was willing to die for it and eager to see that anyone who opposed it died. And as a result of that he had received national fame; everybody knew about Saul of Tarsus.
In conclusion I believe you can basically break down Pauls’ life into two Pauls’. The first Paul is the Paul that was a zealous Pharisee who brutally maltreated the first Christians and their beliefs. Compared to the second Paul whom received
Saul started out his rule well but later, he began to disobey God and started to pursue his own interests. Saul was the one who was supposed to bring the tribes of Israel together, and he did. He was a very powerful man, and a major reason why he was appointed was because of his strength and power. He was the one to lead them through battle and defeat their enemies, the Philistines. That was about it though, he disregarded many of God's demands.
Paul’s missionary methods of spreading the Gospel can best be describe as the foundation for which every believer need to incorporate who has been called into ministry. His mental strength of body and mind goes beyond the concept of failure when it involved executing the assignment that God has command. Acts 9 conveys to the readers the purpose of Saul’s traveling to Damascus. Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, he commissions the high priest for letters that would allow him to enter the synagogues of Damascus to carry out his unwarranted desires. However, his conversion has had a major impact on Christianity. I suggest that Paul knowing the name that he had established for himself in the pass, would eventually succumb to his Apostleship. That being said, Moreau and Winter and Hawthorne writings displays characteristics of Paul’s missionary methods are in harmony.
Paul knew that not only he was being watched as the word spread but his actions and his representation of Christ and everything He stood for. Paul kept his eyes on his purpose, the ability to keep Jesus alive through his believe in knowing that what he was going through was nothing as to what he witnessed Jesus went through to save his soul. Paul kept writing to the church and it observed to me with even more conviction, passion and purpose. Paul when he once known as Saul was feared as far as one land to another but as Paul converted into a believer mad Saul seem like a puppy with just a pen and paper. The lives he saved through his ability to show Christ never left him even when man and religion seemed to have failed only lead more people
Paul was not always a preacher or strong in the Catholic/Christian faith. He was originally a jewish man named Saul and hated the christians demonstrated through the actions of prosecuting them. Later in his life he saw a vision and then was baptized under the name of Paul. He them traveled and spoke of God’s word and how to live a Christ like life. He teaches many how a follower of the faith should act and behave. He built several churches and
Saul’s changes were unbelievable. He was such an evil killer three days ago. No one could imagine that three days later, he became a true believer of Jesus. Jesus purified his soul. This made him act like a savior. All the sins were washed away. He became a faithful follower in Jesus and God. The bible talked a lot about his faith after being healed.
Paul, originally named Saul, didn’t begin as a man of God but ended as an important figure in Christianity. He was born as a Greek-speaking Jew from Tarsus. Paul was a member of the Pharisees and did not believe in God before his faith was converted. From synagogue to synagogue, he went around persecuting Christians. One day, Paul had permission from the high priest to go to Damascus because he wanted to persecute more Christians. However, on the road to Damascus, God gave Paul a vision. A bright light from heaven made him fall while a voice told him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Then, the Lord commanded him to go to the city and do as he said. He was blind for three days; he also did not eat or drink during those days.
Throughout the New Testament we get stories about Paul but not every story that we read in these verses are particularly good. Paul being one of the most influential figures in the beginning of Christianity the only other to beat him in influence was Jesus himself . Of the 27 books of the New Testament, 13 are attributed to Paul. These are the main sources that are at our disposal to really reconstruct Paul’s life. One of the biggest stories of Paul’s early life start as Paul was a young man drafted by his fellow Pharisees to actively investigate and prosecute the early followers of Jesus. He stood by as the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was stoned to death. But while traveling to Damascus in Syria to find and arrest more of Jesus’