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Pavlos (Paul), as some might know, is related to the Latin *paulus* and the Greek *pavros* meaning "small".
I have been trying to determine if the name was "invented" by the Biblical Saul of Tarsus, or are there historical precedents of Paulus/Pavros/Pavlos used as a name. Any input would be more than welcome!
I have been trying to determine if the name was "invented" by the Biblical Saul of Tarsus, or are there historical precedents of Paulus/Pavros/Pavlos used as a name. Any input would be more than welcome!
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I found a 2. cent BCE Roman general by that name: Lucius Aemilius Paulus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_of_Macedonia
(here spelt with double L for whatever reason)
I guess Paulus was a fairly common byname in ancient Rome.
In the case of the biblical author Paul we do not know whether he himself chose that name to correspond to his Jewish name Saul or maybe his parents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_of_Macedonia
(here spelt with double L for whatever reason)
I guess Paulus was a fairly common byname in ancient Rome.
In the case of the biblical author Paul we do not know whether he himself chose that name to correspond to his Jewish name Saul or maybe his parents.
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Thanks, dude;-)
I really appreciate your help!!!
The theory I heard is that Saul changed his name to Paul when he disembarked in Greece to spread his new religion. The reason he changed his name is that the word saulos (as Saul would be if were Hellenized) had somewhat silly undertones: it is related to the verb "sauloproktiao", which means "walk in a swaggering way, so as to make the hinder parts sway to and fro" (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2393442) -- which is certainly against the Judeochristian spirit!
I really appreciate your help!!!
The theory I heard is that Saul changed his name to Paul when he disembarked in Greece to spread his new religion. The reason he changed his name is that the word saulos (as Saul would be if were Hellenized) had somewhat silly undertones: it is related to the verb "sauloproktiao", which means "walk in a swaggering way, so as to make the hinder parts sway to and fro" (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2393442) -- which is certainly against the Judeochristian spirit!
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"Related" here would mean: phonetically related, not etymologically. Right?
So where did you find this theory?
So where did you find this theory?
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Yup, Shaul (Hebrew form of Saul) changed his name to Paul.
~~ Claire ~~
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~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
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Paul und Saul
I am not familiar with the scientific discussion, but I've done some research. I haven't been able to find any evidence, that Saul actually changed his name to Paul. The bible simply states, that Saul was "also known als Paul". This is found in Acts 13,9, four chapters after Paul's conversion and from then on he is referred to as Paul only. But this does not neccessarily be connected with his conversion. As far as Jewish naming practice is concerned, I found that both was possible: parents giving their children a Jewish name plus a non-Jewish name and adults chosing a non-Jewish name in addition to their given name. Inthe case of Paul it looks like we simply don't know. Or do you have any additional information?
I am not familiar with the scientific discussion, but I've done some research. I haven't been able to find any evidence, that Saul actually changed his name to Paul. The bible simply states, that Saul was "also known als Paul". This is found in Acts 13,9, four chapters after Paul's conversion and from then on he is referred to as Paul only. But this does not neccessarily be connected with his conversion. As far as Jewish naming practice is concerned, I found that both was possible: parents giving their children a Jewish name plus a non-Jewish name and adults chosing a non-Jewish name in addition to their given name. Inthe case of Paul it looks like we simply don't know. Or do you have any additional information?
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Paul and Saul
It appears that Saul was his "circumcision name" and that Paul may or may have not been given to him as a "liaison name" for use with non-Jews.
According to a Catholic encyclopedia site (for what its worth)(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm) he was given both names Saul and Paul at birth, but opted for Paul (Pavlos) because the Greek adaptation of Saul (Savlos) indeed had ludicrous connotations (as I pointed out above).
Poor joke alert: It is possible that Paul had held on to Saul, the spread of Christianity could have failed, at least in areas where Greek was the *lingua* *franca*. In the same vein, had Ralph Lipschitz not changed his name to Ralph Lauren, maybe very few English-speakers would be prorting shirts with polo ponies on them :)
It appears that Saul was his "circumcision name" and that Paul may or may have not been given to him as a "liaison name" for use with non-Jews.
According to a Catholic encyclopedia site (for what its worth)(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm) he was given both names Saul and Paul at birth, but opted for Paul (Pavlos) because the Greek adaptation of Saul (Savlos) indeed had ludicrous connotations (as I pointed out above).
Poor joke alert: It is possible that Paul had held on to Saul, the spread of Christianity could have failed, at least in areas where Greek was the *lingua* *franca*. In the same vein, had Ralph Lipschitz not changed his name to Ralph Lauren, maybe very few English-speakers would be prorting shirts with polo ponies on them :)
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If I read it carefully, the Catholic Encyclopedia does not state anything about the point of time, when Saul received his second name Paul. Of course I have no idea what Deissmann had (!) to say about this (the articles on the site are almost 100 years old). And unfortunately I can't find my source any more telling that Paul could have possibly adopted the name Paul altogether as an adult. But I don't think this really matters. The connection with "strutting" was new to me, though. Thanks!
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