Paul wrote or influenced almost half of the New Testament. You want to discard almost half of the New Testament? Christ approved the prophetic church in Philadelphia in Rev. 3: because "[you] have kept My word (v.8)," Paul's theology was not Neo-Platonic. It was a revelation of the mystery that was in the Old Testament Scriptures, but was not understood by the Old Testament saints. And he DID meet the living Christ. And he did not "steamroll James." It's only recorded that he met James twice. I agree there's more, much more, than you learned in catechism, but you're missing the mark on what you think you learned.
Ummm, there's recorded evidence he beat James up at one meeting.
Many of the Pauline letters are not even attributed to Paul. So yeah, let's toss them and balance it out a bit.
What do you yet out of carrying water for a guy who admits in his own writings to being a liar and a Herodiam and whose teachings directly contradict those of the Christ he claimed to speak for? 🤔
Many of the ACTUAL disciples didn't like or trust Paul.
Check out some of scholar James Tabors videos. They're long but good. You'll come away wondering why Paul inserted himself into Christianity so hardcore.
Whatever "evidence" is "recorded" is not in the Bible. Neither Peter, nor James mention it. Peter calls Paul's writings "Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16)."
All of Paul's 13 letters begin with an introduction by Paul himself.
I don't know what Bible you are reading, but Paul does NOT "admit to being a liar, or Herodian."
Paul's teachings did not contradict those of Christ. Do you have an example?
There is no Biblical record that ANY disciples didn't like or trust Paul. Peter recommended his writing as Scripture even AFTER Paul rebuked him for not being faithful to the gospel.
It appears that James Tabors has led you astray. I have no interest in listening to his nonsense.
I guess you never read any of Acts when the early church members and other disciples were distrustful of Paul. 😆 not surprised.
Just because the letters start with an introduction by Paul doesn't mean he wrote them lol. If I started this reply with "I am Knotnow and I write to you..." it wouldn't mean you wrote it eithee.
Paul also says "to the jews I am as a jew, to the gentiles as a gentile." Duplicitous at best, deceptive at worst.
Tabor is only one example of a scholar who has a healthy perspective on Paul. There are many others. I myself wondered for years what it was about Paul I didn't like and it is only recently that I've come to realize it's that he is a boastful, lying, arrogant psychopath who puts words into the mouth of Christ and does things to elevate his own status.
He regularly claims things in opposition to Christ then claims if we don't believe him we won't get into heaven. Come now.
The Didache, the earliest manual of the Christian church, offers a decidedly non Pauline perspective on many things. Take a look at that once. Oh wait, you'll say it "led me astray and you're not interested in the teachings of the early church" because it doesn't support your Pauline perspective.
OF COURSE, the early church was distrustful of Saul; until he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, he was PERSECUTING them. However, later they glorified God because of him. Peter, John, and James, pillars of the church in Jerusalem, gave to Paul and to Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (Gal. 2:9) acknowledging his apostleship equal to Peter's.
Your second paragraph is absurd. The letters were written contemporaneously. Do you think the recipients couldn't verify Paul had written them? Sosthenes was a one with Paul in writing 1 Corinthians, Timothy was with him in writing 2 Corinthians, and all the brothers who were with him when he wrote to the Galatians, Timothy was with him in writing Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philemon, and was the recipient of the 2 letters addressed to him. Do you really think they were confused as to who wrote the letters?
Big objection: Paul NEVER wrote about getting into heaven. He preached the gospel of God, which was concerning God's Son coming out of the seed of David according to the flesh, and being designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead (Rom. 1:1-4). This is the fulfillment of God's promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-14. According to Paul's gospel, Christ is revealed in us (Gal. 1:16), lives in us (Gal. 2:20), conforming us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29) as Christ is formed in us (Gal. 4:19). This is the salvation of our soul, which is the end of our faith (1 Pet. 1:9).
The early church, at the end of the age of the apostles, was in degradation. As John wrote, the leading church in Ephesus left their first love (Rev. 2:4). John, who had accepted Paul, said many deceivers had gone out in the world (2 Jn. 7), and Diotrephes refused to receive John (3 Jn.9). And all in Asia had rejected Paul (2 Tim. 1:15). Reminder, Paul was accepted by Peter, John, and James, and Peter called Paul's writings "Scripture."
Paul wrote or influenced almost half of the New Testament. You want to discard almost half of the New Testament? Christ approved the prophetic church in Philadelphia in Rev. 3: because "[you] have kept My word (v.8)," Paul's theology was not Neo-Platonic. It was a revelation of the mystery that was in the Old Testament Scriptures, but was not understood by the Old Testament saints. And he DID meet the living Christ. And he did not "steamroll James." It's only recorded that he met James twice. I agree there's more, much more, than you learned in catechism, but you're missing the mark on what you think you learned.
Ummm, there's recorded evidence he beat James up at one meeting.
Many of the Pauline letters are not even attributed to Paul. So yeah, let's toss them and balance it out a bit.
What do you yet out of carrying water for a guy who admits in his own writings to being a liar and a Herodiam and whose teachings directly contradict those of the Christ he claimed to speak for? 🤔
Many of the ACTUAL disciples didn't like or trust Paul.
Check out some of scholar James Tabors videos. They're long but good. You'll come away wondering why Paul inserted himself into Christianity so hardcore.
Whatever "evidence" is "recorded" is not in the Bible. Neither Peter, nor James mention it. Peter calls Paul's writings "Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16)."
All of Paul's 13 letters begin with an introduction by Paul himself.
I don't know what Bible you are reading, but Paul does NOT "admit to being a liar, or Herodian."
Paul's teachings did not contradict those of Christ. Do you have an example?
There is no Biblical record that ANY disciples didn't like or trust Paul. Peter recommended his writing as Scripture even AFTER Paul rebuked him for not being faithful to the gospel.
It appears that James Tabors has led you astray. I have no interest in listening to his nonsense.
Final thought: be more Berean, fren. Don't just accept what you've been told. Examine it. That's all. God bless 🙌
Think for yourself, fren.
I guess you never read any of Acts when the early church members and other disciples were distrustful of Paul. 😆 not surprised.
Just because the letters start with an introduction by Paul doesn't mean he wrote them lol. If I started this reply with "I am Knotnow and I write to you..." it wouldn't mean you wrote it eithee.
Herodian research:
https://taylormarshall.com/2015/08/was-saint-paul-related-to-herod-7-reasons-paul-was-herodian.html
Paul also says "to the jews I am as a jew, to the gentiles as a gentile." Duplicitous at best, deceptive at worst.
Tabor is only one example of a scholar who has a healthy perspective on Paul. There are many others. I myself wondered for years what it was about Paul I didn't like and it is only recently that I've come to realize it's that he is a boastful, lying, arrogant psychopath who puts words into the mouth of Christ and does things to elevate his own status.
He regularly claims things in opposition to Christ then claims if we don't believe him we won't get into heaven. Come now.
The Didache, the earliest manual of the Christian church, offers a decidedly non Pauline perspective on many things. Take a look at that once. Oh wait, you'll say it "led me astray and you're not interested in the teachings of the early church" because it doesn't support your Pauline perspective.
I'm curious what Bible YOU are reading 🤣
OF COURSE, the early church was distrustful of Saul; until he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, he was PERSECUTING them. However, later they glorified God because of him. Peter, John, and James, pillars of the church in Jerusalem, gave to Paul and to Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (Gal. 2:9) acknowledging his apostleship equal to Peter's.
Your second paragraph is absurd. The letters were written contemporaneously. Do you think the recipients couldn't verify Paul had written them? Sosthenes was a one with Paul in writing 1 Corinthians, Timothy was with him in writing 2 Corinthians, and all the brothers who were with him when he wrote to the Galatians, Timothy was with him in writing Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philemon, and was the recipient of the 2 letters addressed to him. Do you really think they were confused as to who wrote the letters?
Big objection: Paul NEVER wrote about getting into heaven. He preached the gospel of God, which was concerning God's Son coming out of the seed of David according to the flesh, and being designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead (Rom. 1:1-4). This is the fulfillment of God's promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-14. According to Paul's gospel, Christ is revealed in us (Gal. 1:16), lives in us (Gal. 2:20), conforming us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29) as Christ is formed in us (Gal. 4:19). This is the salvation of our soul, which is the end of our faith (1 Pet. 1:9).
The early church, at the end of the age of the apostles, was in degradation. As John wrote, the leading church in Ephesus left their first love (Rev. 2:4). John, who had accepted Paul, said many deceivers had gone out in the world (2 Jn. 7), and Diotrephes refused to receive John (3 Jn.9). And all in Asia had rejected Paul (2 Tim. 1:15). Reminder, Paul was accepted by Peter, John, and James, and Peter called Paul's writings "Scripture."