Paul in the New Testament

Paul's Prominence and Written Sources

• Paul is the most prominent personality in the New Testament, next to Jesus.
• Thirteen of the 27 books of the New Testament bear his name, all of which are letters.
• These letters are the primary source of information about Paul's life, providing first-person accounts.
• The Acts of the Apostles (chapters 9-28) is another key source of information about Paul, although it sometimes differs from his letters in details.

Constructing Paul's Life Outline

• Biblical scholars have pieced together the basic outline of Paul's life using his letters as the primary source.
• The Acts of the Apostles is used to complement and supplement the information from his letters.
• There is no formal biography of Paul's life, making these sources crucial for understanding his life and teachings.