The Historical Background of St. Paul’s Ministry

Saul of Tarsus, who would later become known as the Apostle Paul, was born in the early part of the first century CE, around 5-10 CE, in Tarsus, a prominent city in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey). Tarsus was a thriving center of culture and commerce, strategically located on the crossroads between the East and West, making it a melting pot of diverse philosophical, religious, and intellectual traditions.
Saul's upbringing in this Hellenistic environment was crucial in shaping his later ministry. It is important to note that although Saul was born into a Jewish family, his upbringing in Tarsus exposed him to Greek thought and the broader Roman world, which would become central to his work as a missionary to the Gentiles.