Paul of Tarsus, active in the early to mid-first century, was a successful missionary and church-planter and is the first Christian whose writings survive. Over the course of history, his influence on the movement is so substantial that he has been called the “second founder” of Christianity, eclipsing all other leaders saving perhaps the historical Jesus himself. Paul claimed the title of “apostle,” but he was never one of the Twelve, and while he testified to having an experience with the risen Christ, he never met the historical Jesus. In his career, Paul met with significant opposition from other early Christian leaders, and he may have died thinking he had failed in his mission. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at what we know about the historical Paul and why his interpretation of Christianity became so influential in the end.