Kukamba zoona, masiku ano palibe amene akudziŵa bwino mmene Paulo anali kuonekela. Zithunzi za Paulo zimene zimapezeka m’zofalitsa zathu n’zongoyelekezela cabe, ndipo si zozikidwa pa umboni wodalilika wa zinthu zakale.

Komabe, pali maumboni ena amene amatipatsa cithunzi ca mmene Paulo anali kuonekela. Mwacitsanzo, magazini ya Zion’s Watch Tower ya March 1, 1902, inafotokozako umboni wina. Inati: “Pokamba za maonekedwe a Paulo: . . . buku lochedwa ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla [Macitidwe a Paulo ndi Tekla],’ lolembedwa ca m’ma 150 A. D, limafotokoza bwino maonekedwe a Paulo, mogwilizana n’zimene anthu anali kukhulupilila kwa nthawi yaitali. Bukuli limakamba kuti Paulo anali ‘wamfupi, wadazi, wamatewe, woumbika bwino, wa nsidze zambili, ndi wa mphuno yotalikilapo.’”

Pokamba za bukuli, dikishonale yochedwa The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (ya mu 1997) inati:“N’zosakayikitsa kuti buku lakuti ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla’ lili na mfundo zina zolondola zokhudza mbili yakale.” Kwa zaka mahandiledi kucokela pamene bukuli linalembedwa, anthu ambili anali kulidalila. Umboni wa zimenezi ni wakuti mipukutu 80 ya Cigiriki ya bukuli ikalipo, komanso pali mipukutu ya bukuli m’zitundu zina. Conco, zinthunzi za Paulo m’zofalitsa zathu n’zogwilizana ndi maumboni ena akale okhudza maonekedwe ake.

Komabe, tisaiŵale kuti pali zinthu zina zofunika kwambili zokhudza Paulo kuposa maonekedwe ake. Olo kuti iye anali wakhama pa utumiki wake, anthu ena otsutsa anali kukamba kuti ‘iyeyo akakhala pakati pawo anali kuoneka wofooka ndipo nkhani zake zinali zosagwila mtima.’ (2 Akor. 10:10) Koma kumbukilani kuti Paulo anakhala Mkhristu pambuyo poona Yesu m’masomphenya panjila. Tingacitenso bwino kukumbukila zimene Paulo anacita monga “ciwiya [ca Khristu ] cocita kusankhidwa cotengela dzina [la Yesu] kupita nalo kwa anthu a mitundu ina.” (Mac. 9:3-5, 15; 22:6-8) Komanso, ganizilani mapindu oculuka amene tingapeze ngati tiŵelenga mabuku a m’Baibo amene Yehova anauzila Paulo kulemba.

Paulo sanadzitame pa zimene anacita asanakhale Mkhristu, ndipo sanakambeko ciliconse cokhudza maonekedwe ake. (Mac. 26:4, 5; Afil. 3:4-6) Iye anakamba modzicepetsa kuti: “Ndine wamng’ono kwambili mwa atumwi onse, ndipo si ine woyenela kuchedwa mtumwi.” (1 Akor. 15:9) Pambuyo pake analemba kuti: “Ine, munthu wocepa pondiyelekeza ndi wocepetsetsa wa oyela onse, ndinapatsidwa kukoma mtima kumeneku kuti ndilengeze kwa mitundu ina uthenga wabwino wonena za cuma copanda polekezela ca Khristu.” (Aef. 3:8) Uthenga umene Paulo anali kulengeza ni umene uli wofunika ngako kuposa maonekedwe ake.