Paul


Saul, who was also called Paul

Paul is a servant of Christ Jesus and was called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. (Romans 1:1)

His story

His time in Thessalonica

Paul preached to the church of the Thessalonians in the boldness in his God after suffering shameful treatment at Philippi. (1 Thessalonians 2:2) He taught them about the day of Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:5) and taught other traditions such as not walking in idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6). He worked day and night to earn his bread so that he may be an example to those among him who was walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition he gave them. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15)

His relationship with Rome

He wrote the epistle Romans to Rome. (Romans 1:1,7) He often intended to come to Rome but was prevented. (Romans 1:13)

His relationship with Onesimus

When Paul was an old man, Onesimus visited him while he was a prisoner for Christ Jesus with Epaphras. He sent Onesimus back to his master Philemon after asking Philemon via epistle to free his bondservant, welcome him as he would welcome Paul, and to charge all his debts to Paul's account to repay. He hoped, through Philemon's prayers, to be sent to him and even asked to have a guest room prepared. (Philemon)

Authorship

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. - 2 Thessalonians 3:17

Pseudepigrapha falsely written under Paul's name

Literary Form

Acts is a small anthology of hero stories about Paul and Peter. Paul also wrote many epistles.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 131-132)