**TL;DR St Paul was not _the Founder_ of Christianity, but he was the Head of Development** It is true that St Paul was implemental in the [development of Christianity into organised religion](https://humanjourney.us/ideas-that-shaped-our-modern-world-section/the-church-that-paul-built/). However, I do not consider St Paul to be the founder of Christianity because I do not only define Christianity as organised religion, but also as a spiritual concept. As a belief system, I believe that Christianity predates its name: Christianity truly began when its core principles were founded and a group of people initially began following and teaching these principles. Jesus was the [conceptual and spiritual founder of Christianity](https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3155167.pdf). His teachings, as detailed in the New Testament and other contemporary texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls, are the foundations for the religion practiced today. These texts also establish that there were groups of Christians following and practicing Jesus’s teachings long before Paul became involved with Christianity. Paul only became a Christian in [36 AD](https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/paul_1.shtml), which most scholars agree to be 3 years after [Jesus’s crucifixion](https://www.evidenceunseen.com/theology/historical-theology/dating-jesus-death-april-3-ad-33/). Before his conversion on the road to Damascus, he [actively persecuted Christians](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3265475?seq=1) (as referenced in Book of Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2, 22:4-5, 26:9-11, 1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13, 23, and Phil 3:6). In order to persecute this group, the group must have been pre-established: Paul cannot have founded Christianity if there were already Christians in existence. However, Paul undoubtedly played a vital role in growing Christianity into an organised religion, by converting Gentiles. He travelled extensively to [preach to gentiles](https://www.cocsrban.com/eproclaimer/Oct14.pdf) across the Mediterranean, founding small Christian communities in each place and thus setting the path for Christianity as a world religion. Paul also contributed to the growth of Christianity through his theological writings: in fact, Paul was the first to give Jesus’s followers [the name ‘Christians’](https://www.enterthebible.org/Controls/feature/tool_etb_resource_display/resourcebox.aspx?selected_rid=233&original_id=12). However, I do not think that the act of naming equates the act of founding, and therefore consider Jesus to be the founder of Christianity.

**St. Paul was not the founder of Christianity, in the same way as the followers of Confucius were not the founders of Confucianism.** That St. Paul played an important role in early Christianity is, I believe, of both historical and religious consensus: Paul was the author of many epistles in the New Testament Bible, was responsible for the spread the gospel and establishment of many church in Anatolia and Europe. However, does that mean that he is the founder of Christianity? The followers of Confucius, not Confucius himself, composed _The Analects_ and spread Confucianism to every corner in China. The followers of Muhammad, not Muhammad himself, composed the Hadiths and conquered Arabia, Persia, North Africa, and even Spain. The descendants of Abraham, not Abraham himself, composed the Tanakh, created the United Monarchy, and built the Second Temple. Does that mean that Confucius is not the founder of Confucianism, Muhammad not the founder of Islam, Abraham not the founder of Judaism? Paul did spread the gospel and built churches, yet the original idea and fundamental principles of Christianity did not come from him, but from Jesus of Nazareth. Paul converted to Christianity only several years after the crucifixion of Jesus, before which he was active in persecuting Christians. Hence, to claim that Paul is the founder of Christianity is like claiming Constantine, the Roman Emperor, is its founder.