Paul is one of the most important, most controversial, and least understood figures in earliest Christianity. This course addresses many questions concerning his embattled life and work.
- Is Paul the inventor of Christianity or part of a larger movement?
- Is he best understood from the Acts of the Apostles or from his letters?
- Why does he focus on moral character of the community?
- How do his supporters and detractors depict him?
You consider his letters to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and Galatians. You explore his religious commitments as a member of the Pharisaic movement, his persecution of the Christian sect, the experience that changed him into an apostle, and his work as a missionary and church founder.