What would Christianity look like if paul hadn't been one of proponents?

Question

Paul brings back much of the old Judaic law in many cases. He classifies sin where Jesus said Judge not. I actually think Paul is heretical in some cases. What do you think?

Do you really think it would have died? If God had meant it to go on nothing would have stopped not even not having a Paul!

Answer 1

Just the opposite is true, Paul added clarification. Paul rebuked Peter who would not even break bread with the uncircumcised. Peter was only witnessing to Jews .That doesn't coincide with the plan of the Christ. Paul wrote more books of doctrine than any other person in the new testament. Paul also opened up the old testament as the shadow of things to come.

Paul alone shows the flaws in countless denominations. Look at Timothy on the qualification of Priest and the predictions of apostasy.

Too much understanding would be lost without Paul.

For me, he is the most Important author for the meat of the word. Jesus, knew what he was doing. Paul holds the title of the only apostle that Jesus came back to choose. All the apostles after Paul were chosen by lot.

Answer 2

There is no way for us to know what Christianity would look like without Paul being around. No doubt another apostle would've delivered the same message.

That which is recorded in the Bible is inspired by God. It is God's Word, not Paul's. When Paul 'classifies sin' he is doing based on inspiration he received. I can't imagine what about this what classify him as being heretical. Jesus said we should not judge each other -- we all sin and no one knows the full background to another person's circumstances; God and Jesus are the only ones who can judge us perfectly - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't know what God considers sinful.

Not sure what Judaic law you mean he brought back. You'd have to give specifics to support that statement.

The Bible also mentions that there will be lots of talk and foolish questions that we cannot answer. This is one of those questions that we cannot answer nor does it seem there is much benefit to pontificate over what something might be like when there is no chance that it would ever be like that. Paul's existence and impact is in the past and cannot be changed.

Answer 3

Paul has always been a controversial figure. In reading the answers so far, I am reminded of the saying about Paul: that he is too Christian for some, too Jewish for others.

You question is an excellent one and a complex one as well, and as you probably know, the subject of a number of books, essays and debates.

My answer would be that I suspect that Christianity would have a different look or flavor to it without Paul, but this is really hard to say for sure. We have so many of Paul's writings, but very little from the others.

Paul is the one who thinks through and sets down in writing a systematized theology and is the one who sets ups and nurtures new churches. He is the critical link between Jewish converts to the new religion as well as Gentile converts who enter without an understanding or Torah or tradition. Since he lives in the time in the history of Christianity that might be described as "beginning" or "transitional" -I am not sure we can use the term "heretical" -as the concept of heresy comes later once doctrines are more established. Remember, Paul's writings appear before the gospel accounts are written.

What we now know from more recent scholarship is that right from the very beginning there were different types of Christianity being practiced, contrary to the traditional notion of one "pure" strain early on. So, I would guess that without Paul, perhaps one of these other variants might have become more dominant.

Look at the different perspectives, writing styles, and audiences of the gospel writers--has any one of these come to the forefront as primary truth, we would have a different slant on our beliefs. And each gospel writer is a secondary source of Jesus' teaching, and not a primary source, as is Paul.

It is interesting in the end that so many diverse voices come to make up the New Testament -as you point out the ideas of Paul on sin versus the teachings of grace. And no one to date has resolved the issue completely!

Answer 4

Christianity would probably look pretty much the same without Paul.
If Paul turned down his commission to spread the Gospel, God would have found someone else to do it.

Paul's connection to the Old Testament Law is clearly because of his knowledge of it as a "Pharisee of the Pharisees." But please don't forget that as Christians, we have been "grafted in" to the promises given to the Jewish Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Christianity is founded on the Old Testament writings, but as written by God, not as taught by the Scribes and Pharisees.

To say that the writings of Paul are heretical borders on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

I agree: Paul corrupted Christianity.

Without Paul, I think Christianity would look a lot like the Essene sect of Judaism, of which Jesus was a rabbi.

Answer 6

Paul was doing what his Pope, PETER, told him to do...that is answering the questions, correcting the errors and continuing to evangelize the communities that were converted by the Twelve before the death and resurrection of Christ.

Additionally, Christ said, "Judge not"; but spelling out Christian thought, beliefs, and behavior as to what is and isn't sinful is not judging. It's possible to hate the sin and still love the sinner.

Answer 7

The problem is not Paul it is you. Your lack of belif in God is what makes you ask such worthless questions as this Get a relationship with the living God and then He will give you the real answers you seek. As long as you countuie to try to disprove the word of God you will remain the confused mess that you are noe! quit doubting and start believing Grow up!

Answer 8

Without Paul, Christianity might very well be extinct.

It is interesting that you see Paul as a legalist because a lot of the writings of Paul are his defense against the charge that he is antinomian.

Answer 9

I have pondered a lot about this recently and I can see that Christ's teachings and Paul's teachings are very different...The modern Christian church bases their faith on the teachings of Paul, the "grace" message, saved by grace not by works.

Christ teaches a disciple-based doctrine, teaching his disciples to dedicate their entire body, soul, mind, spirit to God and to each other.

My husband and I came out of the church 14 years ago and we no longer call ourselves Christians, but yet, we observe the teachings of Christ. We have gotten a lot of flack from Christians about it....Oh well, we have to do what we feel is right in our hearts.

Answer 10

It's kind of hard to question that Paul was sent by God when he started out killing Christians. His conversion was nothing short of miraculous and his works are proof in themselves that he was on a mission from God. (Paul = early blues brother)