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Paul

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Paul, a key biblical apostle, underwent dramatic conversion and spread early Christianity, often symbolizing transformation, faith, or doctrinal authority in literature.

Detailed Definition
Once a persecutor of Christians, Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus transformed him into Christianity’s greatest missionary. In poetry, he symbolizes radical conversion, zeal, and the universality of the Gospel.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Christian poetry like George Herbert’s “The Collar,” Paul embodies conversion and missionary zeal; In Dante’s "Divine Comedy," Paul appears among virtuous pagans; In W.H. Auden’s “For the Time Being,” Paul’s Damascus road signifies revelation; In T.S. Eliot’s “Ash-Wednesday,” Paul’s thorn echoes spiritual struggle; In modern interfaith poetry, Paul often represents bridge-building; In Tracy K. Smith’s “Watershed,” Paul’s letters inform social ethics.
Additional Notes
Paul, the apostle who spread Christianity after his conversion, represents transformative faith, theological reasoning, and the tension between law and grace; poets engage with his epistles (e.g., “thorn in the flesh”) to explore doubt, revelation, and community—his road to Damascus moment is a key conversion trope in confessional and mystical verse.
Also Known As
Apostle to the Gentiles Saul of Tarsus Missionary of Christ
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