1 man wrote half the New Testament...?

Question

Paul, who had never met Jesus personally, wrote 15 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Oh yeah before he did that, he hunted down Christians and took them to jail, where they would be tortured and killed.

That's like me writing a book about Elvis, after I spent my life as a bounty hunter for Elvis impersonators at Abu Ghraib.

I'm not even gonna get into the Gospels, cause they were written like a century after Jesus died, by guys who never even knew him.

So why would anyone believe that?

Answer 1

This question does not need an answer, just a reminder...they did not exactly have a state of the art computer and Microsoft Word to keep daily track of Jesus life. He was a little busy saving the world. RMmom

Answer 2

Is this a question or a rant?

The gospels were not written a century after Jesus died. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) were written within 30 years after his death. One (Matthew) was written by one of his disciples. Mark is believed to have been written by John Mark who was acting as Peter's secretary. Luke, a Greek, states quite clearly in his introduction, that his purpose is to write down an account of his investigation into the occurences of Jesus's life. This puts Luke on par with other historians of the time like Josephus and Pliny.

The Gospel of John was written sometime later, but it was written by John who was an eyewitness to the events. There is independent confirmation avaliable that John lived to past 90 years age.

As for Paul - well if you are counting number of documents, then yes, he wrote more than half, but it you are counting words or pages, then no, he wrote far less than half - his letters were shorter than either the gospel accounts, Luke's record of the "Acts of the Apostles" or John's visionary "Revelation".

We all know that people can have changes of heart. That's what Luke says happened to Paul, and what Paul himself writes about several time in his letters. He acknowledges his prior animosity. So your Elvis/Abu Ghraib example is really neither here not there.

Furthermore, Paul didn't write a gospel account. He wrote letters - letters that *interpret* various questions that were coming up in the early church. There is a significant difference between the two kinds of writing that even if you disagree with the contents, intellectual honesty demands you should take into account.

Answer 3

Actually, scholars believe the gospels were written within what would have been the natural life of Jesus...within 50-70 years of his death, so this century stuff is ludicrious, do your research. 2nd, Paul had a conversion experience that was pretty impacting with the risen Jesus and that is why he changed from persecuting Christians to teaching them and leading them. Paul wrote the letters to various churches in the new Christian world which then became canonized into the Bible. He was a good writer, blessed by God. Why not put his letters into a book so all can read them?

I believe this because, historically, it is supported by other writings. I believe in science and I believe in history, and those two realsm of knowledge support Christianity.

Answer 4

You do realize that Paul was an incredibly devout and zealous Jew, then he saw God. <---- Yes, that's right, he saw God and changed his ways. Surprise. Then he went to Rome to defend Christianity with Peter and was martyred for it.

Did you know that there are thousands of New Testaments in their original languages from all over the world and almost all of them are identical. And when there are differences they are almost always extremely minor (Jesus Christ for Jesus for instance). This is two garbage arguments that Muslims spread around like lies. It is amazing that there are so many professionals looking at the Bible from various religions and atheists and agnostics and they all agree that the text is original, but some Muslims would rather be shown to be ignorant or even choose to be ignorant than be corrected. I hate this argument, because it is a lie. Thank you.

Answer 5

I'm responding more for others than for you.

Paul was the biggest persecutor of christians true. He also met Christ on the road to Damascus and converted. Paul HIMSELF said he was the biggest of sinners but after His conversion he was transformed. He performed miracles. He recieved divine protection over and over. He survived a deadly poisonous snake bite without flinching. He survived I beleive 4 shipwrecks where God intervened. He was beaten and stoned and left for dead in a heap and lived to stand up and walk back into the same town that tried to kill him and continued to preach the truth of Christ Jesus. I don't doubt Paul's motives. He knew where he came from and where he was going AND the apostles accepted him as one of their own. So you need to do a bit more reading. Paul would have agreed with you had he been here that he was the chief of sinners. Your not telling us anything new. The manuscript evidence surviving came from a couple centuries after Christs death but there are many all giving witness to an unseen long since gone original source. Archeology alone supports what is said in scripture and so does prophecy. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Answer 6

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! SAUL DID PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS BUT ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS HE ENCOUNTERED AN ANGEL AND CHANGED HIS NAME TO PAUL. PAUL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT HE BUILT UP CHURCHES EVERYWHERE AND HELP THEM STAY STRONG.

THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW JESUS?????? IS THAT WHY IN THE GOSPELS THE DISCIPLES SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT BEING WITH JESUS AND WITNESSING HIS MIRACLES.AS FAR AS 15 OF THE 27 YES HE DID BUT SOME OF THOSE BOOKS ARE NO MORE THAN 2 PAGES!!!! TELL ME WHICH ONES HE WROTE.

YOU ARE SHOWING YOUR IGNORANCE PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS TOGETHER THE GOSPELS WERE NOT WRITTEN CENTURIES AFTER. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLYCARP OR IRENAEUS OF LYON. IF YOU DID YOU WOULD SEE WHERE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR HISTORY ALL MESSED UP!!!!

Answer 7

The Gospels were actually written within 30 years of the crucifixion by people who knew Jesus personally. Historians have confirmed this. And even if you don't find the gospels reliable(although they were written seperately by different people and still are non contradictory) you can always look at Josephus, the Jewish historian who accurately wrote about Jesus.

Answer 8

Paul's conversion (A.D.35) While Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest and imprison believers there, the ressurected and glorified Chris appeared to him with blinding radiance. Christ's words "It is hard for you kick against the goads" Indicate that God had already begun His convicting work eariler.

Like an ox kicking against a goad in te hand of ath eox driver, Paul had been resisting devine guidance and leadership resulting in his own harm and pain. At the appearance of Christ, Saul immedately surrendered to his authority and went into the city to await further orders.

There his blindness was healed and he recieved the Holy spirit and accepted bleivers baptism. No doubt Ananias shared with Paul the message that the Lord had given him vision: "This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and th esons of Israel. I will certainly show hm how much he must suffer for My name!"

Paul spent a few days with the desciples in Damascus.to continue with His missionary Travels.

Your statement of Paul never meeting Jesus personally is false. He infact did meet Jesus face to face, but because of Jesus bright radiance, Paul could not look at Him.

Answer 9

You raise good questions, but for some Christians (like me), The Bible, despite its imperfections, is a book that connects us to God and to Jesus' teachings. Unlike many Christians, I do not believe The Bible is literal word of God, for reasons you shared as well as many others.

But that does not mean The Bible is worthless; look around, and you see billions of people who find deep connections with God through reading and study this imperfect book.

One of my favorite movies is Gandhi. The director did not know him, and all the key actors were English, not 100% Indian/Hindu. And yet, that movie connects us with the spirit and teachings of a great man. The Bible does the same.

peace

Answer 10

you are full of crap.
Paul was a zealous Pharisee, he was supposed to hunt down Christians. He did personally meet Jesus on the Damascus road. And who do you suppose tutored him for 3 years in the wilderness?
Matthew, Mark ,and Luke were written between 55-65, and John around 85.
You keep making up lies and posting them. What is your problem-are you gay and hate God?