The conversion of Paul is one of the seminal events of Western Civilization. Paul influenced Christianity; Christianity influenced Western Civilization. Why would Paul not use his extraordinary gifts (intellect) and opportunity (education and stature) to his “advantage”? And, what exactly was that advantage? It was to spread the teachings of Jesus. Certainly, Paul did not do this for money, he was already wealthy and there was no money in the poverty of Christianity. Nor could he have done it for personal aggrandizement for he was ultimately beheaded by Nero. The process of elimination leads to the conclusion that Paul taught the message of Jesus for the simple purity of the message: The salvation of humanity through Jesus’s message to love thy neighbor.

Paul gave up his stature, his fortune, and his life in the pursuit of Christ’s purity. One may disagree with his style in the promulgation of that message, but one should not dispute that it was the revelation of Jesus Christ, not Socrates, not Plato, not Aristotle, nor any other Greek or Roman philosopher, which inspired Paul to devote and forfeit his own life in his pursuit of the redemption of humanity. That redemption was sorely needed then, and is needed exponentially more so today.