Paul was a disciple of Jesus and a vessel chosen by God, whom many believers, pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and theologians look up to.
Everyone wants to emulate his faith, devotion, and loyalty to Jesus, his passion for evangelism to unbelieving souls, and his love for the saints.
Although Paul lived 2,000 years ago and his letters were written 2,000 years ago, his attitude toward life and teachings remain very relevant today.
The more I read it, the more it feels like a letter sent to us.
If we set aside our preconceived notions and preconceptions and read the Pauline epistles and Acts with an open mind, we will be able to encounter Paul in a new way.

While preparing the script for “From Paul” and this book, I also examined the Bible more closely and took the time to read other books, learn from them, and organize them.
I feel that there is still much to realize, learn, and emulate in the future.
Nevertheless, I hope that through this record, readers will deeply understand who Paul was and what made him live that way, and that they will inherit and practice Paul's gospel, faith, devotion, and evangelistic passion.
Therefore, I pray that this book will be used to restore and grow the Korean church and the global church, which are in desperate need of revival, and to expand the kingdom of God that Paul dreamed of on this earth.

---From the "Prologue"

Saul was convinced that arresting and executing believers in Jesus was serving God.
Since it is clear that Jesus, who was crucified according to the words of Deuteronomy, was cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:23), I was convinced that those who proclaimed such a Jesus as the Messiah were also committing the sin of blasphemy.
They persecuted the saints mercilessly, believing that God would naturally be pleased to destroy them.

---「2.
From "The Monster Among Sinners"

Just as the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, he would have led Saul into the wilderness to overcome the power and temptations of Satan (Mark 1:12).
Because, like Jesus, Saul's suffering was prophesied (Mark 8:31, 9:12-13; Acts 9:16; 2 Corinthians 11:24-28).
Just as the word of God came to John the Baptist while he was spending time with God in the wilderness, so too must Saul have been given a new, mysterious word about God's providence in the Arabian wilderness (Rom. 16:25-27; Eph. 3:1-4; Col. 1:25-27).
The Hebrew word for wilderness, 'midbar', comes from 'dabar', meaning 'to speak'.
The wilderness was also a place where God spoke to His specially appointed servants.

---「4.
From "High-Intensity Preparatory Training"

The establishment of the Antioch church was a remarkable event that expanded the gospel, which had been limited to Jerusalem and the Jews, to the diaspora and the Gentiles.
It was the moment when the globalization of Christianity began.
It was the first time that Jesus' command to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15) was actually put into practice.
Even though the apostles heard the Great Commission directly, they failed to carry out the mission to the Gentiles. However, after the martyrdom of Stephen, the gospel spread to various cities, including Azotus and Caesarea, through the scattered lay believers (Acts 8:4-25, 40; 9:31-32, 42; 10:1-48).
Even now, the role of lay people in world evangelization is very large and substantial.

---「6.
From “A New Dimension of Ministry”

As Paul crossed the high and arduous mountain range, he must have meditated on the words of Isaiah 52:7:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” This verse is later quoted in Romans.
“As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:15).
Paul crossed this mountain because he thought that there were people in the region of Galatia who would be saved by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus.
Since they could not believe in Jesus and call on His name without hearing, I took heavy steps toward that place to tell them the name of Jesus and the story of His love.

---「8.
From “The Light that Brings Salvation to the Gentiles”

It is amazing how God works.
Only then did Paul and his companions understand why the Holy Spirit had prevented them from going to Asia or Bithynia.
The 'No' to preach the gospel in Asia was part of a larger 'Yes' that was to be revealed.
There are times when the Holy Spirit sees a future 'yes' but says 'no' now.
Even if you say 'no' now, you may say 'yes' later.
At one time, God blocked the way for the gospel to be preached in Asia, but during the third missionary journey, He allowed them to serve in Ephesus for three years.

---「12.
From “Mission Fields Found Following Fantasy”

Paul declared two thousand years ago that there is no difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free, or between male and female (Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
So Priscilla served with many female co-workers, including Phoebe, Euodia, Syntyche, Lydia, Mary, the mother of Rufus, and Julia.
He also appointed Thecla as an evangelist.
In the gospel that says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, Paul recognized the equality of all people.
Thus, he was also an ideological revolutionary who led a transformation to create a society where everyone is equal in Jesus.
Paul was convinced that such a society was possible through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

---「16.
From "Missionary Forward Base, Ephesus"

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus—to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
Perhaps, I have poured out my soul, heart, and love more firmly than in any sermon I have ever preached before.
This is a very touching farewell speech.
The elders must have been holding their breath so as not to miss a single word of the apostle's words.

---「18.
From "To Jerusalem, Prepared for Death"

Paul had always anticipated death while serving, so he would have calmly accepted his brother with the assurance of eternal life and the hope of heaven.
Martyrdom was his choice.
He was martyred because of his determination not to deny Jesus and the message he brought.
So he left the capital of the empire and entered the city of God.
After completing the toil of this earth, we are free from suffering and receive a crown in heaven.
But on that day the saints in Rome were filled with sorrow at the loss of their great apostle and greatest evangelist.

---「21.
From “Jesus’ Workers Who Won Through Martyrdom”

Paul did not just preach the gospel with words.
Rather, it resonated more deeply with life and preached.
He urged the elders of Ephesus, the saints of Corinth, and the church of Thessalonica to live lives worthy of the gospel, recalling his own life of holiness, purity, selflessness, and service.
So he exhorted them, “Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
I hope we can emulate and practice his faith, loyalty, spirit, and life.
Of course, it may be daunting to try to emulate Paul, since no one has been comparable to him in the past two thousand years.
But I want to start taking small steps towards change, starting from small areas.
Thus, I pray that Paul's life and teachings will be revived and put into practice in local churches, missions, seminaries, and the lives of believers around the world.
We need a lot of little Pauls.

---From the "Epilogue"