Is Paul The Founder Of Christianity?
The fact that Paul the Apostle was himself a major figure in the
spread of Christianity means that it’s easy to assume he was the founder of the faith. After all, Paul did have a tremendous influence on the growth of Christianity, and his writings form much of what would come to be called the New Testament. But the question of who actually founded Christianity is a complicated one, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as it might first appear.
The answer in many ways depends on how one defines Christianity. If one views Christianity as a religion that began in the 1st century AD – with the teaching, life and death of Jesus Christ – then Jesus would almost certainly be considered the founder. In this view, Paul could be seen as one of the key figures who spread the Christian teaching and helped it to grow and become a major religion.
Historically, it is clear that Christianity was founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Christian religion, and its related churches, have always looked to Jesus as the ultimate personification of their faith and its core beliefs. The early Christ-followers looked to him as an inspiration, teacher, and leader with a unique place among them. Paul’s writings and other early writings, consistently point to Jesus as founder of the faith, and this has remained a consistent core of Christianity even to this day.
But Paul did have an important role to play in the early spread of the faith. His letters, which form much of the New Testament, were crucial in shaping and influencing Christian thought. Paul was instrumental in bringing the Christian faith to churches in the Greco-Roman world, and his vision of a church that was open to all people was a key factor in the spread of the faith. In this sense, Paul can be seen as one of the main evangelists who helped to spread the Christian message beyond Palestine to wider parts of the world.
Paul also had a major impact on the development of the Christian faith in terms of the theology, doctrine and practices that were adopted by many of the early churches. His teachings on faith, grace, and salvation were highly influential for many, and his writings form much of what is today seen as the core doctrines of Christianity. Paul’s influence on Christianity cannot be overstated, and it is no coincidence that his letters form such a central part of the New Testament.
In many ways, it can be said that Paul was a major figure in the spread and growth of Christianity, and his teachings had a huge impact on the faith. But it would be incorrect to say that Paul was the founder of Christianity. While his influence was huge, it was ultimately Jesus who founded the faith and it is his teachings that form the core beliefs of Christianity today.
