Paul David Knipp was born and raised in Lawrence County Ohio, the son of a steelworker and a nurse. He graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1993.

After High School, Paul went to Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in secondary education in comprehensive social studies.

After College, Paul taught five years in the Rock Hill School System. During his time teaching, Paul earned a Master's degree in educational administration from the University of Akron, graduating in 2001.

In 2003, Paul embarked on a career change. He along with his wife April and oldest child relocated to the Commonwealth of Virginia to attend law school. Paul graduated from Regent University School of Law, a non-denominational Christian law school, in 2006.

Paul was admitted to practice law in 2006 in Ohio and began his private law practice in 2007. Paul is also admitted to practice in West Virginia (2007) and Kentucky (2009). Paul accepted a position as an assistant prosecutor in Jackson County Ohio in 2018, a position he held until his appointment to be Lawrence County's Auditor.

In 2009, Paul was elected to the first of three terms to the Rock Hill Board of Education, where he served until being appointed to be Lawrence County Auditor in October 2019.

Paul and his wife April were married in 1998, they have three children. They are active Members of Mamre Baptist Church in Kitts Hill, Ohio.