by Juan Rendon

Paul was a diaspora Jew, meaning he was a Jew that lived outside of Palestine. Paul was born in Tarsus, which is modern day Turkey. Tarsus was a large and prosperous city of the Roman Empire and the capital city of the region and Roman province of Cilicia. It is situated close to the Mediterranean Sea at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and was on a road leading over high passes from Asia Minor to Syria. Although it is insignificant today, in Paul's time Tarsus's favorable location for trade and commerce had made it a flourishing city. Tarsus was also particularly renowned as a center of Greek culture. From all indications Paul was well educated in the secular system offered in Tarsus and also in Judaism as a student of the renowned rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem (Acts 23:3).

We first meet Paul around the year 35 A.D. in his pursuit of persecuting the new Christian Church. Armed with orders from the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, Paul set out for Damascus to arrest and jail all those who were followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul had a remarkable experience of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. The risen Jesus appeared to Paul and asked Paul to stop persecuting him. (Acts 9:1-19). Paul speaks of this encounter as a "call" or "commission" from Jesus to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Because of this experience Paul considered himself an "apostle," one who has been called and sent by the Christ himself for a special mission. His mission was to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Paul traveled extensively establishing Christian churches in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. Paul was martyred during his imprisonment in Rome, probably around 62-64 A.D. This was during the Christian persecutions conducted by the Roman Emperor Nero (54-68 A.D.).

Paul the Roman Citizen
Paul lived during a time in history that is called the Pax Romana (Roman Peace).This meant that travel on the extensive Roman roadway system and the shipping commerce on the Mediterranean was fairly safe. Paul took advantage of the Roman transportation system in his extensive apostolic journeys of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when some people wanted to harm or kill Paul, he used his Roman citizenship to demand a trial in Rome and the protection of Roman soldiers.

Paul the Greek
Having grown up in Tarsus, Paul's life was heavily influenced by Greek culture. In Paul's day, Koine (κοιν?) Greek (common Greek) was the main language. Paul was obviously conversant in it for he wrote all his letters using this language. Along with language came the impact of Greek culture. Hellenistic language and culture had a huge impact on life in Paul's day.

the Year of St. Paul

by Juan Rendon

Put on the Armor of God

On Unity and Variety of Gifts

A Prayer to the Apostle Paul

Glorious St Paul,
Most zealous Apostle,
Martyr for the love of Christ,
Give us a deep faith,
A steadfast hope,
A burning love for our Lord
So that we can proclaim with you
‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’
Help us to become apostles
Serving the Church with a pure heart
Witnesses to her truth and beauty
Amidst the darkness of our days.
With you we praise God our Father
‘To Him be the glory, in the Church and in Christ
Now and for ever’.

Amen.