Consider the statement: "The Apostle Paul did more than Jesus of Nazareth to create and define the religion...

Question

...of Christianity during the first 3 decades, from about 30 to 60 A.D. The idea of Chrisitianity as it would spread around the world owes more to Paul than to Jesus." Would you agree or disagree with this statement, and why?

The statement is not my own, and I wanted to know what others opinion was on it?

Answer 1

disagree. for paul could not of done this; Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior was an exceptionally significant figure on a very imperative mission during His first coming.

At the outset, Jesus’ mission written of in the New Testament, was predominantly predicted through prophecy in the Old Testament. Thus we can conclude that one of the reasons why Jesus came to earth and put on flesh was to fulfill prophecy. But what did He teach? What was the purpose of His mission? What prophecies did He fulfill?


Sinners to Repentance

Jesus Christ first revealed He was on a mission (sent by the Father) when He was a young boy at the age of twelve in his hometown of Nazareth (Luke 2:42 & 49).

The foundation of Jesus’ mission was the message He repeatedly conveyed during His delegation on earth which was “repentance.” “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus Christ was on an essential mission to allow mankind the opportunity to convert from our habitual sinful nature into virtuous, just beings. He came to earth to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, teaching the subject of repentance to be the initial provision for eternal salvation.

In Luke 5:32 Jesus states, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” After the death of Jesus, His disciples, beginning with Peter, steadfastly preached the doctrine of repentance to the men and woman of Judea and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Acts 2:38).


Access to the Kingdom of God

Jesus Christ was present on earth preaching the gospel of the Kingdom at a time and location where masses of people, predominately the Israelites, were under the notion they would be saved, and justified by the Law of Moses.

In John 14:6, Jesus candidly professed to the people there is only one manner in which to obtain eternal salvation and access to God the Father, and that way was through Him. By the will of the Father, (John 12:49) Jesus made several declarations He was indeed the Messiah and the world’s “key to salvation.” “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48-51). “I am the vine” (John 14:15). “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…” (John 10:9).

We are not justified by the law, circumcision, or the sacrificing of animals. We are justified by Jesus Christ’s shed blood and by our good deeds according to His will. Specific provisions for eternal salvation can be found in John 3:5, where Jesus taught the disciples one must be baptized by water and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (after one has repented) in order to gain access to the Kingdom of God.


Jesus Came to Die for the World

“For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life” (Romans 5:10)! These are the righteous words form the Apostle Paul, instructing us that indeed we have been reunited with God through the gracious sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ death propitiated God’s wrath against mankind for our multitude of sins (Hebrews 2:17, Romans 3:25). We know by the testament of the apostle Peter (2 Peter 3:9) that it is not God’s will that any souls should perish, but that all should repent and be saved. Therefore Jesus, full of grace and benevolence, ordained by the Father, came down to earth to pay the death penalty (a penalty mankind could not afford to pay, 1 Corinthians 15:3) and to reconcile us to God by purifying our souls with His shed blood (1 John 1:7). “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We can now be justified in the sight of God by the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son (Romans 5:9). Justification is legal acquittal from damnation by God, our judge, in which He pronounces sinners as righteous subsequent to their repentance and acceptance of Jesus as their personal savior.

Jesus came into the world to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). By His amicable sacrifice, through His shed blood, the prophecies of spiritual deliverance consisting of love was fulfilled; as we know “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

Song writer Robert Lowry puts it best in “Nothing But The Blood,” (published in 1876) when he inscribed: “What shall wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Let us bear in mind that Jesus’ mission, although foreseeable, was most certainly not an “easy road” by any stretch of the imagination. As prophesied and thus later fulfilled, Jesus Christ endured many impediments during his illustrious and valiant mission here on earth.

May we walk circumspectly in accordance with Christ and not imprudently allowing His significant mission on earth, including His benevolent sacrifice, to be of no avail to our physical lives at this time, and ultimately our eternal salvation.

Answer 2

Actually Paul's greatest influence are his letters which began to be circulated not any earlier than 50 AD.

While Paul was traveling on his missionary journeys, so were others in other areas - Philip, Peter, John. Thomas to India, perhaps. Simon the Zealot into Africa?

The church in Rome was founded years before Paul wrote the book of Romans or before he traveled there!

So the Holy Spirit was moving in other men's hearts, stirring them to preach in diverse places.

Although I would certainly agree that Paul has had the greatest influence of any apostle, the main influence resulted from the letters that were written and delivered to different churches, not his travels.

If you view the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, then you could say that Paul had a greater - or wider - influence than Jesus. But you cannot - or should not -separate the ministry of Christ from the ministry of the holy Spirit. Jesus Himself was full of the Holy Spirit and performed His ministry as a man under the Spirit's power. Paul was led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, as were the others. It was Christ speaking to them, in them and through them.

Answer 3

Christians believe in Paul's writing because they're in the Bible and, and we have reasons for believing the New Testament is factual truth. This is not something I'm afraid to admit or am ashamed of because I have reasons based on evidence, not that you would ever consider them. Secondly, what Paul teaches the apostles confirmed. This is made evident as you look at other New Testament writings. I would caution anyone to make arguments from the absence of extra-biblical evidence, because many ancient historical documents have been lost; for example, a considerable portion of the Roman historian Tacitus is missing.

Answer 4

I disagree, although Chirst was hardly alive during the timeframe that you mention. While Paul contributed significantly to the writings contained in the New Testament as well as spreading the Gospel to many places, he only preached the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What Christ did, defines Christianity. Furthermore, no matter how great the speaker/writer, it is the comforter, the Holy Ghost, who teaches us all things and brings all things to our rememberance. Without Christ, Paul would not have had the message that he bore. Without the Holy Ghost testifying of the truths he taught, the impact would have been even less. This is God's work, not Paul's.

Answer 5

It's absolutely true. Most of what Christians believe today can be attributed to Paul and his followers, not Jesus. Paul is basically the father of the Christian religion. Jesus' message was something much different from what his followers and even modern Christians believe it to be. If Christianity were restricted to what Jesus stood for Jesus would not be seen as a divine figure, rather a great prophet much like Moses. Jesus was preparing people for the coming of the kingdom of god by god, not by himself. He was an apocalyptic Jew and he believed the end times to be immanent within his lifetime. Paul also believed that the end times were at hand within his generation.

Answer 6

There are a considerable number of references to the personality of Paul (Saul) and their considered opinion is that we should not be calling ourselves Christians, but Paulians .. the argument is rather esoteric since it can never be proved or disproved satisfactorily. What is interesting is that the Romans, who were so brilliant at recording historical events make no mention of a person called Christ, but refer only to Christians.
And remember in your research there are NO capitals in the Roman Alphabet .. the accepted direct translation of "Christ" is Leader and therefore most references are to Jesus of Nazareth .. who strangely enough is never mentioned in the statistical returns or other records as a singular person, whereas Paul (and Peter) are mentioned constantly

Answer 7

Disagree.

It's something JW's say. The Bible says that everything that Jesus did is not written in the Bible. Paul's letters may sound more defining, but that's because he's correcting certain communities on what the true doctrines are.

I bet you're a JW.

Answer 8

I'm afraid it is true. Paul (cranky, arrogant old misogynist that he was and you can tell I don't like him) more or less hijacked the early Church from the friends and family of Jesus and re-made it in accordance with his beliefs.

However, his charismatic leadership did move Christianity from the status of a minor, irritating (and probably not very long-lived given the political and religious climate of the time) Jewish sect into what it has become today.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Jesus did the most, laying the foundation by his death and resurection..

Jesus also existed from all eternity past to future and his work is not limited to a few years so His accomplishments would include the creation of the universe and the redemption of the universe...

I think its pretty obvious that Jesus did immeasuably more... Paul perhaps did more in terms of missions in his day..but he did it with strength Jesus provided, with Jesus guidance and Jesus proayers and intersession

Answer 11

Well, it's pretty true. Look at the "official church doctrines" that come from the epistles vs the gospels. Paul, not Jesus, talks about original sin, role of women in the church, "trinity", etc