Paul of Samosata was a bishop and ducenarian procurator of the third quarter of the 3rd century AD, a protégé of Zenobia of Palmyra.
Accusations
He was accused of humble origin (the term used: “beggar”), of being an upstart, and of sudden wealth from illegal exactions. When Aurelian arbitrated who would keep the bishop’s post, he declared himself neutral: he would confirm whoever received the most letters from the other bishops.
Doctrine
He was a forerunner of adoptionism (Jesus would have been adopted by God because of his behavior). The accusations against him are an early example of odium theologicum: combating a theological error by attacking the defender’s private life.
Legacy
The Paulicians of the 7th century claimed to follow the doctrines of Saint Paul or of Paul of Samosata. They survived through their military organization and were deported to Bulgaria.
See also
- Mani, a contemporary, with a doctrinal crossing
- Paulus of Alexandria, a functional homonymy: two Pauls in the same period and geography