St Paul's C.E Primary School

Saint  Paul

Who was Saint Paul?

Saint Paul was a major influence when it came to turning Christianity into a worldwide religion. He was the author of 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Paul is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. He wrote letters (called epistles) which have had enormous influence on Christian theology including:1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans. Our Values based on the Fruits of the Spirit can be found in Galations written by Saint Paul;

Paul was born under  the name of Saul of Tarsus;( c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) but was commonly known as Paul the Apostle. He  was born to Roman Parents in Tarsus town Cicilia. He attended Bible School in Jerusalem from an early age, then studied under a famous Jewish Rabbi, and became an expert of the law.

St. Paul became famous and he worked with the Jewish authorities who made him persecute members of a new group that confessed Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the Messiah. He was sent to seek out this group.

It is on one such trip to persecute this group on the road to Damascus that St. Paul had a strange experience where he relaised he needed to change and was converted to the same Christian group he had been sent to persecute! Paul was struck blind by a bright lightand was to fast for three days. He regained his sight after a Christian, Ananias prayed for him. He then got baptised.

As a Christian apostle he spread the teachings of Jesus.He preached about freedom, equality, dignity, human rights, democracy and the rule of law which links so strongly to our vision at St. Paul's school where we celebrate difference and uniqueness and encourage individuality.

St. Paul was a practical teacher and writer and would always  find different ways his students would understand his teaching much similar to the teachers today at St. Paul's school.

St. Paul was a tentmaker. He enjoyed working with his own hands and learned how to make and sell tents from the time he was a child and into his Youth. He kept his leather-working tools with him as he travelled and set up shop anywhere to make his tents.

St. Paul influenced Martin Luther by showing him the imiportance of being strong in faith and the future of the church will be by those whos fiath is strong.

St. Paul was one of the first generation leaders of the Christian faith and enabled and accelerated the growth of Christianity.

He died in Rome, Italy where he had been imprisoned andis rememberred as a martyred for his faith.