CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIFE OF ST. PAUL

By Boulanger

Translated From The French Of Boulanger

"Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad."
Acts, chap. 26, ver. 24.

1823

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.

CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIFE OF ST. PAUL

CHAPTER I. Is the Conversion of St. Paul a proof in favour of the Christian Religion?

CHAPTER II. Opinions of the first Christians upon the Acts of the Apostles, and upon the Epistles and Person of St. Paul.

CHAPTER III. Of the Authority of the Councils, of the Fathers of the Church, and of Tradition

CHAPTER IV. Life of St. Paul, according to the Acts of the Apostles

CHAPTER V. St. Paul styles himself the Apostle of the Gentiles—Causes of his Success.

CHAPTER VI. Paul preaches in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece

CHAPTER VII. Preaching of St. Paul at Corinth and Ephesus

CHAPTER VIII. The Apostle gets into embarrassments at Jerusalem, and is sent to Rome

CHAPTER IX. Reflections on the Life and Character of St. Paul

CHAPTER X. Of the Enthusiasm of St. Paul

CHAPTER XI. Of the Disinterestedness of St. Paul

CHAPTER XII. Of the imperious Tone and political Views of St. Paul

CHAPTER XIII. Of the Humility, of St. Paul

CHAPTER XIV. Of the Zeal of St. Paul; Reflections on this Christian Virtue

CHAPTER XV. Of the Deceptions or Apostacy of St. Paul

CHAPTER XVI. St. Paul's Hypocrisy

CHAPTER XVII. St. Paul accused of Perjury, or the Author of the Acts of the Apostles, convicted of Falsehood.

CHAPTER XVIII. Examination of St. Paul's Miracles

CHAPTER XIX. Analysis of the writings attributed to St. Paul

CHAPTER XX. Of Faith, in what this Virtue consists

CHAPTER XXI. Of the Holy Ghost, and Divine Inspiration

CHAPTER XXII. Of the Inspiration of the Prophets of the Old Testament

CHAPTER. XXIII. Of the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, or their Divine Inspiration

CHAPTER XXIV. General reflections on the foundations of Christian Faith, and on the Causes of Credulity

CONCLUSION.

INTRODUCTION.

EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO M. L. N.

Sir, In our last conversation you appeared to me, very much smitten with St. Paul and his works; you recommended me to reperuse his writings; assuring me that I should there find arguments well calculated to shake incredulity and confirm a Christian in his faith.

Although the actions of this celebrated Apostle, related in the Acts, and his doctrine contained in his Epistles, were already perfectly known to me, yet to conform myself to your desires, and give you proofs of my docility, I have again read those works, and I can assure you that I have done it with the greatest attention. You will judge of that yourself, by the reflections I send you; they will at least prove to you that I have read with attention. A superficial glance is only likely to deceive us or leave us in error. The passions and the prejudices of men prevent them from examining with candour, and from their indolence they are often disgusted with the researches necessary for discovering truth; that has also been with so much care veiled from