My thoughts exactly.

When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, he incorporated local myths of a young god-man who died and rose again. He is associated with Life, Bread, and the Sun. This is part of the liturgical cycle based on the spiritual musings of an agricultural people. Stories of Tammuz, Mithras, and probably many other local deities were incorporated into his life story, the better to persuade the rubes.

Paul was a Roman citizen who changed from persecutor to proselytizer when he fell off his horse. His entire theology is a spin-off from Roman practice, where a commoner could become a citizen by making the right offerings in the local pagan temple. A careful read of the Book of Actis will show that the people who knew Jesus didn't think highly of Paul.