Saint Paul at The Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon

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Paul the Apostle (c. 5 - c. 67), commonly referred to as Saint Paul, was also known by his native name Saul of Tarsus. He is recognized as a significant apostle who preached the gospel of Christ to the world during the 1st century. As one of the most influential figures of the Apostolic Age, he founded numerous churches in Asia Minor and Europe between the mid-30s and mid-50s AD. Paul utilized his dual status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister effectively to both Jewish and Roman audiences. According to writings in the New Testament, Paul was initially dedicated to persecuting early disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem. However, during his journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, Paul encountered the resurrected Jesus in a blinding light. After being struck blind for three days, Paul's sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus, and he began preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God. Approximately half of the book of Acts focuses on Paul's life and works. Out of twenty-seven books in the New Testament, fourteen are traditionally attributed to Paul. Seven undisputed epistles are widely accepted as authentic, while varying degrees of argument surround the remainder. The authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews is not claimed by the Epistle itself and was already questioned in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It was almost universally accepted from the 5th to the 16th centuries that Paul wrote Hebrews, but this view is now largely rejected by scholars. The other six epistles are believed by some scholars to have been written by followers using material from Paul's surviving letters and letters no longer extant. Other scholars argue that the concept of pseudonymous authorship raises significant problems. Today, Paul's epistles continue to play a vital role in shaping theology, worship, and pastoral life within the Catholic and Protestant traditions of the West and the Orthodox traditions of the East. His influence on Christian thought and practice has been characterized as profound and pervasive, alongside that of other apostles and missionaries involved in spreading the Christian faith. Augustine of Hippo developed Paul's idea that salvation is based on faith rather than "works of the law." Martin Luther's interpretation of Paul's writings influenced his doctrine of sola fide.