Paul the Apostle (5–66)
Born 5 CE, died 66 CE.
Paul (born Saul of Tarsus; c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD), commonly known as Paul the Apostle or Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first century AD. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally regarded as one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age, and he also founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD. The main sources of information on Paul's life and works are Paul's letters and the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. Approximately half of their contents document his travels, preaching, and miracles. While he was not one of the Twelve Apostles and did not know Jesus during his lifetime, Paul was a contemporary of Jesus and personally knew eyewitnesses of Jesus such as his closest disciples (Peter and John) and brother James since the mid 30s AD, within a few years of the crucifixion (c. 30–33 AD). He had knowledge of the life of Jesus and his teachings. Paul argued over issues such as the circumcision of gentiles, while his exalted Christology was taken for granted and widely accepted in the early church.
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