It Starts Small

As we start this new journey in 2025, we are going to look deep within the Word of God. We will focus our hearts on the teachings He gives us. These teachings are found throughout the New Testament letters written to the believers by the disciples. We start this journey with Paul’s letters. Paul wrote 13 or 14 of the letters in the New Testament.

Romans
1 and 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 and 2 Timothy
Titus
Ephesians
Philemon
Colossians

The 14th book of Hebrews has some debate in circles as to who wrote the book.

So who is Paul?

Paul’s legacy is important when understanding the importance of Jesus and his mission. The curious would find more to grapple with in the writings of Paul. There is more intrigue in them than in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John combined. The Gospels talk about Jesus’s life. Paul’s letters describe his own life. He lived it in real-time in Christ’s wake.

Paul provides a rare first-person point of view. He shares how Jesus impacted his life’s work. He also reveals his intimate thoughts and beliefs both about Jesus and from Jesus personally.

Paul or Saul?

Was Paul his real name or Saul? Yes. In Hebrew, Paul’s name was Saul. In Greek, Saul was often changed to Paul. There is no real given reason why.

This is important to understand. In some Christian circles, the name change was intentional because Paul converted from Judaism to Christianity. The idea is that the name Saul possibly served as a reminder. It symbolized his previous role as a relentless persecutor of the Christians.

There is a problem with this theology. There is no verse in God’s Word to substantiate or indicate that God changed Paul’s name. Examples of this can be found when Abram was changed by God to Abraham (Genesis 17:5).

Who Was Paul in the Bible? Some Background 

According to the Apostle Paul himself, he “was circumcised on the eighth day. He was a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews. As to the law, he was a Pharisee. As to zeal, he was a persecutor of the church. As to righteousness under the law, he was blameless.” (Philippians 3:4-6)

The author of the Book of Acts was the same writer of the Gospel of Luke, according to most scholars. This author revealed Paul was a “Jew from Tarsus, Cicilia, and a citizen of an important city” (Acts 21:39). Paul could speak both Greek and Hebrew.

Luke gave several biographical nuggets regarding Paul’s background. He was “brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law” (Acts 22:3). Paul declared himself a Jewish-born Roman citizen (Acts 22:28). 

Who Is Paul in the Bible: A Comprehensive Picture

We consider the entirety of the New Testament. In doing so, we form a comprehensive picture of Paul. He emerges as a remarkably impressive character. However, it is important to exercise caution. We must critically evaluate our sources. There is a significant time gap between the earliest writings of Paul and his later works. This includes especially the Book of Acts. Some argue it could be renamed as the Book of Paul’s Acts.

What was the first Christian theologian’s personality like?

If I were to answer the question, who was Paul in the Bible?  He is a character with many facets. Despite this, he probably would not be well-liked if he were in the pulpit today.

What Paul had to say about Jesus, the Church, the scriptures, and the Spirit was exceptional. Paul’s writings convey him as an intelligent, hot-tempered, insecure, and stubbornly opinionated speaker and teacher. There were likely few others as zealous for the message of Jesus as Paul.

But Paul didn’t always have the best “bedside manner” regarding conflict resolution. At times Paul was confrontational (Galatians 2:11), and at other times tender-hearted (Philippians 1:8), making his demeanor slightly unpredictable.

We only get Paul’s side of things through his letters. However, he did not react favorably to those who doubted his authority as an apostle. Instead, Paul repeatedly emphasizes his qualifications as a messenger of Jesus, highlighting the hardships he endured to spread the Gospel. For example, he feverishly defended his ministry in 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Romans 5:3.

In 2 Corinthians 10, fieriness aside, what stands out to me about Paul was his wonder and gratitude. At times, he showed supreme confidence and borderline arrogance regarding the message he felt dutifully bound to proclaim.

I confess it is not easy to piece together the entirety of his story. He writes with an unparalleled blend of urgency. Many attribute his boldness to his supernatural visionary revelation. This occurred when he encountered Jesus the Christ on “the road to Damascus” (Acts 9). 

Paul’s encounter With Jesus

I find Paul’s decision to dedicate himself to the propagation of the Gospel highly intriguing. His unwavering dedication and perseverance are evident. His profound encounters are detailed in 2 Corinthians 12. The life-altering moments depicted in Acts 9 persuade me of his rise to power. This rise was primarily influenced by what he witnessed and experienced rather than solely relying on his words and actions.

³ As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

¹⁸ At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

 Acts 9:3-4, 9, 18-19

No one can answer who Paul was better than Paul.

How Would Paul Describe his Role? 

I have written about Paul before. When I looked to today’s writings I had all these questions to seek answers. I believe the best way Paul would speak about his role is found in the first chapter of Galatians. Paul would keep it simple, he was set apart to proclaim Jesus among the Gentiles.

Period. End of story.

And here we are. Many of us are grateful Gentiles. We are still striving to learn about Jesus and those who first knew and loved him.

Paul will speak about who he is. He will testify that in Christ, we have all we need. But to me, Paul is more. How many this morning can raise their hand and speak their own testimony of walking the road to Damascus? Anyone? I was on a road to hell. In a small quiet encounter with Jesus, everything changed.

We label Paul as being some sort of special person. He was among the “first” Christians. That should make him some how more special than us right? I beg to differ. We are the first. Paul’s real-life reality was given to us so we would know we are not alone. Paul did not just magically know everything when he got his sight back. Paul was you and I in the beginning of our journey.

If you piece Paul’s timeline together, it was 14 years before He ever launched out in obedience to Lord. His first missionary trip was 14 years after meeting Jesus. We do not know much about his time before his first trip. We do know that he studied in the wilderness. Barnabas came alongside him to teach and encourage him. I think we get this idea that Paul was a sinner one day and a missionary the next.

Paul was real like you and I. He struggled. He had trials, tests, and persecutions just as we do. He gives us the raw accounts of these. He is open and candid. He warns us and teaches us. Paul is like the big Christian brother we need that gives us sound advice and wisdom. He is not some dude high on a pedestal. No, he is down in the dirt with the rest of us.

Tomorrow we will dive into Corinth and the believers there. Today we reflect upon the testimony Paul shared over his encounter with Jesus.

Have you every written your encounter with Jesus out? What was your road to Damascus like? How did you encounter Jesus?

© Kimberlee Smith 2026 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.