As one of the most prolific writers of the Bible and a major leader in the formation of the early church, Saint Paul is often considered the greatest influencer after Jesus in the history of Christianity. He also remains one of the more controversial figures—celebrated by some for his work in spreading the Christian message and criticized by others for promoting what they consider to be a lofty, complex version of it. What we do know, however, is that Paul played an unarguably significant role in the growth of the church, bringing Jesus's message far beyond previous reach.