'Paul, Apostle of Christ' Is a Moving and Well-Crafted Biblical Drama

Paul, Apostle of Christ is a biblical drama film from Affirm Films, the studio behind some of the most popular Christian films out there like Fireproof and Facing the Giants.  It’s headlined by James Faulkner, who is most known for playing Randyll Tarly in Game of Thrones, and Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Passion of the Christ and John Reese in Person of Interest (a show that I have been meaning to finish but haven’t yet).  At first, I thought that Caviezel was going to play Paul.  But, apparently, he’s Luke, and the titular role was Faulkner’s.

The film is set during Paul’s last days.  Nero has accused the Christians of causing the Great Fire of Rome, and this leads to the severe persecution of Christians in the area.  Christians who are caught are either turned into human torches that light the night-time streets or are slaughtered for entertainment in Nero’s circus.  Meanwhile, Paul is imprisoned inside the Mammertine Prison, where he is flogged regularly and is set to be executed soon.  At the behest of other believers, Luke sneaks into Rome so that he may meet Paul and record what most likely be his final words for the early church.

If you are a Christian, it’s impossible not to be moved by Paul, Apostle of Christ.  And it’s not because it indulges a Christian’s vanities, which is something that Christian films commonly does.  Rather, it’s because it earnestly captures an essentially and historically valid facet of Christianity – the unwavering faith and loving heart that are kept upheld even when undergoing the severest of horrors and pain imaginable to man.  Furthermore, its main character is not a fictional person who  experiences ideal, romanticized scenarios that will lead to the resounding affirmation of his Christian (sometimes, actually pseudo-Christian) worldview – which, in turn, will make us feel good about our own Christian (sometimes, actually pseudo-Christian) worldview.  No, nobody as shallow as that.  Its main character is a well-depicted Apostle Paul, who is arguably only second to Jesus as the most important historical figure of Christendom.

It’s a film that gives a somewhat comprehensive feel of what Paul’s life had been about.  Though it’s set during his last days, it also makes flashbacks to earlier parts of his life, which impeccably ties up to the theme of his arc.  It’s extremely compelling to see Paul being haunted by memories of the Christians he had persecuted prior his conversion, implying that this was what was on his mind when he referred to himself as “the worst of sinners” as well as when he mentioned the “thorn in the flesh” that regularly afflicted him.  He recognized that he was unworthy of mercy, and yet he comforted himself that God’s grace was sufficient for him.

There are certainly details in the plot that are the result of imagination.  Creative license has always been a given for the medium, even if its story is based on facts and actual events.  Besides, there are only a few definite information from Scripture and historical records about this stage in Paul’s life.  So employing fictional elements is a narrative necessity.

However, what bothered me a bit is the usage of Scripture as part of the dialogue.  In general, this technique is typically fine.  But the manner it was done in the film gives off the impression that the passages mentioned were collected and compiled by Luke, and not consciously and specifically constructed by Paul for particular epistles.

On the other hand, an instance where Scripture-recitation-in-the-narrative proves powerful is at the end.  Serving as voice-over while Paul walks to his execution is his letter to Timothy, spoken in his voice.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith…”  A truly beautiful, poignant cinematic moment.

Paul, Apostle of Christ is not flawless, but it’s absolutely superior to many faith-based movies of recent memory.  It lacks much of the lazy craftsmanship, melodramatic manipulations, and diluted witnessing that have unfortunately plagued the genre.  Instead, not only does it make genuine efforts of artistry, but most importantly, it has a genuinely profound message to share.