Why Understanding History Changes the Way We Read the Bible

"The Bible was lived before it was read."

Imagine reading letters that have shaped Christianity for nearly two thousand years—but knowing almost nothing about the man who wrote them.

Paul wrote letters that encourage believers to stand firm in suffering, forgive one another, rejoice in difficult circumstances, and remember that Christ makes us new. His words have shaped the Christian faith for nearly two thousand years.

But there is a question worth asking: Why should we trust what Paul wrote?

The answer begins long before he ever became a follower of Jesus.

Saint Paul by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1610–1612)

More Than an Apostle

Before he became known as Paul the apostle, he was Saul of Tarsus.

Saul was born into a Jewish family, educated under one of Israel's most respected teachers, Gamaliel, and trained as a Pharisee.

|| Read Acts 22:3 (KJV)

He knew the Law of Moses thoroughly and was passionate about defending what he believed to be true.

Yet there was another side of his life that often surprises readers.

Saul was also a Roman citizen.            

In the Roman Empire, citizenship was a privilege enjoyed by relatively few people. It provided legal protections, allowed him to travel more freely, and eventually enabled him to appeal his case directly to Caesar.

He also grew up in Tarsus, a city influenced heavily by Greek language and culture. While Paul remained devoted to his Jewish heritage, he understood the wider world in which the gospel would spread.

He could speak to Jews in the synagogue and to Gentiles in the marketplaces and public squares of the Roman world. Understanding this background changes the way we read his letters.

God had prepared Paul through his education, citizenship, language, and life experiences long before he called him to preach the gospel.

A Man Who Opposed the Church

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Paul's story is not his education or citizenship.

It is the man he once was.

The book of Acts introduces Saul as someone who actively opposed the early followers of Jesus. When Stephen became the first Christian martyr, those who stoned him laid their garments at Saul's feet. Scripture tells us that Saul approved of Stephen's execution.

|| Read Acts 7:58–8:1 (KJV)

He believed Christians were a threat to God's truth.

Determined to stop the movement, Saul obtained authority to arrest believers wherever he found them. If we only knew this part of his story, we would never imagine him becoming Christianity's greatest missionary.

Everything Changed on the Road to Damascus

While traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians, Saul encountered the risen Christ.

|| Read Acts 9:1–19 (KJV)

That moment changed everything.

The man who once tried to destroy the church became one of its strongest defenders.

The persecutor became the preacher.

The enemy became the missionary.

The man who once carried authority to imprison believers would later spend years imprisoned because he refused to stop proclaiming Jesus.

History gives these events depth. This was not a minor change in opinion. It was a complete transformation of a man's life.

Why Paul's Story Still Matters

Paul often wrote about becoming a new creation in Christ.

|| Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

He urged believers to put off the old self and put on the new. Those words carry tremendous weight because he lived them. When Paul speaks about grace, he knows what it means to receive it.

When he writes about forgiveness, he understands what it means to need it. When he tells believers that God can change a heart, he is speaking from personal experience.

His life became evidence that the gospel has the power to transform even the most unlikely person.

History Gives Scripture Greater Depth

Knowing Paul's background does not change what Scripture says.

It helps us understand why it says it.

History reminds us that these were real people living in real cities under real governments, facing real struggles. The Bible is not disconnected from history—it unfolds within it.

When we understand the world Paul lived in, we begin to appreciate the courage it took to preach Christ throughout the Roman Empire, the sacrifices he made, and the confidence with which he wrote to churches facing persecution. His words become even more powerful because we know the man behind them.

What This Means for Us

Perhaps the greatest lesson from Paul's life is this: Your past does not have to determine your future. Paul never hid who he had been.

Instead, he pointed people to what Christ had done in him.

The same Savior who transformed a persecutor into an apostle still transforms lives today.

The people that minister to us today tell us about Christ and God’s word.

We try and understand their lives; see the people they are and learn from their experiences. Is it not just as important to learn these things about the first authors of Christ’s teachings?

That is why understanding history matters.

It reminds us that the people of the Bible were not legends or fictional characters. They were ordinary men and women whose lives were changed by an extraordinary God. When we understand their world, we often understand God's Word more clearly.

And sometimes, as we discover the story behind the Scripture, we begin to see our own story in a new light.

Continue Your Study

If you'd like to explore more of the historical world of the Bible, The World Behind the Word examines the people, places, and cultures that shaped Scripture, helping readers understand God's Word within its original setting.

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