What St. Paul Seems to have Basically Believed

St. Paul believed Jesus appeared to him, at least, that is what is written in I Corinthians 15: 8, by himself, supposedly. The story of St. Paul's experience or conversion is written in the Book of Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-19. Briefly, the Scriptures say the following about St. Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus).

3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one (NRSV).

Basically, it wasn’t only St. Paul who had the experience. It says, "the men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one." In I Corinthians 15, St. Paul also said Jesus after his resurrection also “appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters[c] at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.” As I stated at first, St. Paul believed Jesus appeared to him.

St. Paul wrote about 13 books of the New Testament canon. The New Testament only contains 27 books; therefore, St. Paul wrote almost half. St. Paul went from being someone who persecuted Christians of his day to someone who was one of the most influential persons in the spread of Christianity until the present day. He also became a martyr for what he believed. Ultimately, it seems he was convinced without a doubt that Jesus indeed resurrected. Volumes have been written about St. Paul, but understanding why he did what he did, and believed what he believed is not complicated to understand.

References:

NRSV Bible