Unveiling Paul: Sha'ul/Saul, Paul - One Man, Two Names, One Mission

As we explore the life of the Apostle Paul, we often encounter two names: Sha'ul (or Saul) and Paul (or Paulus). The popular belief is that YaHWaH changed his name after his conversion. However, this is a misconception. As a Roman citizen from Tarsus, he had both names from birth: Saul was his Hebrew name, and Paul was his Latin/Roman name.

In the Greco-Roman world, it was common for Jews to have both a Hebrew name and a Greek or Roman name. Paul, a Hellenistic Jew, was no exception. In Acts 13:9, we see that "Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit..." This verse indicates that Paul was known by both names.

The name Paul (Paulus) means "small" or "humble." However, this does not suggest that he or his father lacked humility. In the Roman Empire, a name rarely reflected a baby's personal traits or was used as a moral commentary on the parents.

As a Roman citizen, Paul would have had a traditional three-part name (a tria nomina): a first name (praenomen), a clan name (nomen), and a family branch name (cognomen). "Paulus" was his cognomen, which was passed down from father to son.

The Origin of the Word: Centuries earlier, the name Paulus likely originated as a physical description for an ancestor who was short of stature, or a younger brother (the "smaller" one in the family). Over generations, the literal meaning faded, turning the word into a rigid, elite political label in the Roman Empire.