Apostle Paul
Formerly a persecutor, Paul encounters the risen Christ, receives baptism, proclaims the gospel, undertakes extensive missions, suffers for the churches, and writes apostolic letters.
Why it matters
Paul's conversion and mission connect resurrection witness, ecclesial reception, Scripture, doctrine, and the expansion of the Church among the nations.
Scripture
- Acts 7:58-8:3 — Saul participates in persecution after Stephen's death.
- Acts 9:1-30 — Saul encounters Christ, is baptized, joins the disciples, and begins preaching.
- Acts 13:1-28:31 — Acts follows Paul's missions, trials, and journey to Rome.
- 1 Corinthians 9:1 — Paul appeals to having seen Jesus the Lord and to his apostolic work.
- 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 — Paul describes the risen Christ's appearance to him and the grace given for apostolic labor.
- Galatians 1:11-24 — Paul recounts his former life, revelation of Christ, and early movements.
- 2 Corinthians 11:21-33 — Paul recounts sufferings endured in ministry.
Primary sources
Paul writes:
Paul's own letter describes the gospel about Christ's death and resurrection as received tradition that he handed on.
what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures
Passage context and translation
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached and explicitly introduces its death, burial, resurrection, and appearance claims as material he had received and handed on.
After the excerpt
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve