How old was Saint Paul when he was beheaded?

Answer 1

Catholic tradition as well as writings of early Church fathers hold that Paul was martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the mid 60s AD. Ignatius of Antioch, about the year AD110, writes that Paul was a martyr. Pope Saint Clement I writes of Paul's martyrdom in his Epistle to the Corinthians , Chaper V, dated about AD96. Neither author speaks of the manner of Paul's death but the Church has always held that he was beheaded, which would have been the normal manner of execution for a Roman citizen. In the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome is located the tomb of Paul. The sarcophagus is inscribed in Latin saying, "Paul apostle martyr" and contains bone fragments dated to the first or second century AD.

Paul would probably have been in his mid 60s when he died. It is impossible to give a precise age as neither the date of Paul's birth nor of his execution are recorded.

Answer 2

There is no evidence that St Paul was ever beheaded. Although it does appear that he was imprisoned, there is no available evidence that he was even executed. Some suggest that after his trial, he travelled to Spain as he appears to have intended. He may even have died peacefully of old age. This is supported by Clement of Rome: (1 Clement 5:5): "By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance. After that he had been seven times in bonds, had been driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached in the East and in the West, he won the noble renown which was the reward of his faith." The last part of this neutral translation is sometimes given by Catholic scholars as "and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects," but even this leaves Paul in Spain when he died, not Rome.