Paul (Saint Paul) — Encyclopedia, New Testament and Historical Studies

Paul (Saul) is a case of having many narrative letters as well as being narrated in the Acts — encyclopedias often mention this tension. Wikipedia — Paul the Apostle is lengthy: scholarly perspectives, dating of letters, relationship with Jerusalem; Britannica — Saint Paul, the Apostle summarizes the biography of the Great Apostle, apostle to the Gentiles, legacy; New Advent — St. Paul (if the URL changes, search for it) provides the Catholic framework. Note: Bible Gateway — Acts 9 (Great Apostle); Galatians 1 (narrative). Scholarly articles on sites like Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (often cited in Wikipedia) emphasize: do not flatten the Acts and letters into a single biography.

Acts and Letters

Acts 7–9: from the perspective of Stephen and Saul; chapter 9: transformation; 13–28: the apostles' journey to Rome. The main letters: Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon, etc. (the order of dating is debated — Wikipedia has a table). Studying the character of Paul through a complete letter (for example, Romans) is better than just a brief encyclopedia entry.

Source Analysis and Methodology

Wikipedia often separates the section “Pauline letters” (authentic authorship, pseudepigrapha); Britannica gathers Western cultural heritage; New Advent emphasizes the apostle saint and feast days. In academic research, a distinction is made between Paul in Acts (as told by Luke) and Paul in letters (his own voice) — two layers that do not completely overlap. Exercise: compare Acts 22 (self-narrative before the crowd) and Galatians 1:11–24; note two overlapping points and one differing emphasis.