Paul impacted the development of Christianity more than any other individual except for Jesus himself. Born into a Jewish family under Roman rule in Tarsus, a Greek province of what is modern-day Turkey, Paul's original name was Saul. What historians know of Paul can be gleaned largely through scripture and his own letters, or epistles, which have since been included as books of the New Testament. Although he was born into an already religious family, his life changed considerably after his encounters with Jesus Christ and his teachings. Mainly, Paul went from a detractor of Jesus to a complete believer and subsequently, an apostle and preacher of Christian faith.
Scholars disagree on whether or not Paul actually met Jesus. However, Paul at least claimed to have had a vision of Jesus on route to Damascus; the event was recounted in the book of Acts. After this initial vision of the Christ, Paul experienced a profound shift in his personal consciousness. For example, in Philistines, Paul admits that he had at one time persecuted Christians for their being a sect of Judaism. However, subsequent to his encounter with Jesus, Paul basically converted to Christianity and ceased to persecute believers in Jesus as the Messiah.
Paul's personal transformation was so intense that through his travels throughout the Mediterranean, he preached the gospel of Christ to Roman Gentiles and Jews. Paul's epistles, his letters to nonbelievers, changed the nature of Christianity from a rogue sect of Judaism into a religion in its own right. Paul's preaching landed him in jail and he was himself persecuted. Therefore, Paul's meeting Jesus and his personal conversion to Christianity had a profound impact on his life as well as the lives of others. The story of Paul's life and teachings is summed up in the book of Acts.
Moreover, the Pauline books of the New Testament, including Corinthians and Philippians attest to Paul's theory of the new religion, which was founded more on faith in Christ and his miracles, and less on Jewish laws and rituals. Paul essentially helped to codify Christianity and distinguish it clearly from its Jewish roots.
Works Cited
'St. Paul." New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Online at < http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm>.
