History of Religion - Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul used his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to advantage in his ministry to both Jewish and Roman audiences. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul, and approximately half of the Acts of the Apostles deals with Paul's life and works. Among the many other apostles and missionaries involved in the spread of the Christian faith, his influence on Christian thought and practice has been characterized as being as profound as it is pervasive Augustine of Hippo developed Paul's idea that salvation is based on faith and not ;works of the law. Martin Luther's interpretation of Paul's writings influenced Luther's doctrine of sola fide.