Paul’s Enslavement – The Early Life of Saul the Zealot

The book has been published by Hendrickson Publishers and is available on Amazon: Click here to order

Why does Paul talk so much about slavery and freedom in his letters to the early church? Maybe because he himself had once been enslaved. Paul’s Enslavement: The Early Life of Saul the Zealot reveals an aspect of the apostle seldom discussed: Paul’s slavery.

Discover a groundbreaking perspective on the apostle Paul that will transform your understanding of his writings and ministry. Drawing from early church tradition and historical evidence, Paul’s Enslavement presents a compelling case that Paul was once a slave—a formative experience that shaped his identity and theology in profound ways.

Evidence from the days of the early church indicates that the apostle Paul was once enslaved and that he and his family originated in Gischala, one of several Galilean cities that rebelled against Rome after they seized control of Palestine. Josephus referred to these rebels as “Zealots.” The Romans sacked the rebel towns and sold the residents on the burgeoning slave markets.

The traumatic experiences of his former life never left the apostle. Following his conversion to the Christian faith, Paul continued to speak from the perspective of his past, both as a Zealot and slave. This is reflected in several of his letters—particularly, Galatians where he makes several revealing statements. Paul’s Enslavement not only enriches our theological understanding but also serves as a redemptive exploration of Paul’s writings. His life story continues to captivate Christians, and this book provides an unexplored yet essential dimension of that story, helping shed new light on his passionate appeals for justice and freedom in epistles like Galatians and Philemon.