A true conversion to Jesus must be accompanied by a deep conviction about oneself: the more we know and love Jesus, the more we know and love ourselves. In the light of our faith in Jesus, our self-knowledge leads us to a deep conviction about God. Thus St. Paul underwent a conversion experience, and that experience changed his view of himself. Whereas he had once been a very fervent Pharisee, he was now an ardent follower of Jesus. Addressing the Corinthians he affirms two important truths about himself. He was now "an apostle of Jesus Christ", and this was "by God's will".

An apostle of Jesus Christ. In other letters Paul considers the relationship between freedom and a spirit of service, between freedom and the obligations that bind us. It is clear that being an apostle of Jesus Christ was the source of all Paul's freedom, energy, courage, dedication, generosity. He was guided by the deep conviction that his vocation to be an apostle came directly from God. Therefore everything he did as an Apostle was according to God's will.