Is there any historical evidence apart from the Bible that Paul, formerly known as Saul, existed?

Question

I'm just curious.
All are welcome to answer, but please, no "it's all a fairy tale" type answers! That just isn't respectful at all.

I am looking for extra-Biblical evidence for it, as I have sought after the same kind of evidence for EVERY person and event in the Bible. That's just the way I am.
As for the remark of "restricting the kind of answers" I receive, is it too much to ask that people are respectful? Why is that so difficult?

Yes, this would mean apart from all the letters that were attributed to being written by him.

Answer 1

There are contemporary accounts (both secular and from the Church fathers) which mention Paul of Tarsus.

You can find accounts and details of Paul's life in the writings of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Epiphanius, St. Jerome, St. Chrysostom, and Theodoret, the well-known text of St. Clement of Rome.

The Roman Eusebius (Hist. eccl., VII, 18) mentions Paul.

We have also the concordant descriptions of the "Acta Pauli et Theelae", of Pseudo-Lucian in Philopatris, of Malalas (Chronogr., x), and of Nicephorus (Hist. eccl., III, 37).

There are even some surviving physical descriptions of Paul - broad-shouldered, slightly bald, "the man of three cubits" having a thick grayish beard and a pleasing and affable manner.

Answer 2

besides the Bible, there are anecdotes by way of Josephus and others, that have been written an prolonged time after Jesus supposedly lived and in fact relate memories approximately Christians and legend approximately Jesus--no longer honestly reporting approximately Jesus. The Talmud additionally makes connection with the Jesus tale however the redacted version is fairly nasty and became into written interior the early middle a while in accordance with anecdotes from Jewish scripture written interior the 1st century BCE. Christianity is in all probability extra of a spiritual circulate that easily began sometime during the 1st century BC and superior into what we extra or much less now comprehend it as sometime during the a million-2d centuries CE. that's perplexing to understand what approximately Jesus is legend and what ought to be historic, however the Gospels are in all probability in general mythical. i do no longer think of this would desire to do away with from the linked fee of the undemanding teachings.

Answer 3

Paul's Trial Before Gallio

"Archeologists have discovered a first century inscription at Delphi, in central Greece, that refers to Gallio as the Roman Proconsul of Greece. The year corresponds to 52 AD, which is also the approximate date of Paul’s trial before Gallio in Corinth."

The Riot at Lystra

"According to Acts, the crowd referred to Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes. Archeological evidence reveals that this Zeus-Hermes combination was the local cult of the city of Lystra. "

Answer 4

The early church fathers mention him; these are men who actually met Paul, or met people who knew him.

Paul's sarcophagus was recently rediscovered at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome, Italy. The Catholic Church is still debating whether or not it will open the sarcophagus and examine the remains. Here's a news report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6219656.stm

Answer 5

Peter Jennings did a very negative story of Paul's journeys, but he showed alot of evidence of Paul's life. Maybe you can look

up :Peter Jennings and the life of Paul"

CBS NEWS.COM?

Sorry you have to go through all the Knuckleheadedness when you ask for
legitimate answer

Some of these answers I'm going to look
into...wish you well!

Answer 6

Paul was supposedly born and raised in the city of Tarsus, a region in SE Asia-Minor (now called Turkey) where Mithras was well known. Biblical scholars are now saying that Paul, the alleged author of 13 out of the 27 (maybe more) books of the New Testament, may have been influenced in his writings by this strong religion of Mithraism. We can see a profound kinship between Mithraism and Christianity.

To quote Danielle - "I firmly believe Paul took the teachings of an Essene rabbi called Jesus and rearranged them to fit the Mithras mythology. There were many wannabe messiahs around the time of Jesus; the man who could establish a religion based on a "real" messiah would be a very powerful and respected man, which Paul apparently wanted to be.

The fact that Paul never met Jesus, and that Jesus never foretold Paul's appearance (unless it was included in his warning about deceivers that would fool "the very elect"), should be proof that Paul had no authority in real Christianity. "

Answer 7

He certainly spent a lot of time writing if he didn't exist.

Whether or not he's "Paul" in the traditional sense, SOMEONE wrote all of his letters.

Answer 8

You mean aside from all the letters he wrote?

Answer 9

The bible isn't historical evidence of anything.And why do you try to restrict the answers to your question,are you afraid of the truth?