St. Paul, the Apostle?

Question

So, I have this idea I've been tossing around in my head for a while and I'd like to get some opinions.

I think that Christians place too much emphasis on the writing of Paul. I think that Christians like that Paul has laid out specific guidelines and practices and people like specifics. Whereas, the Gospel and the words of Jesus are a little more vague and promt the reader to look inward for the answer and really think about the topics. And people aren't willing to put that kind of effort into it, they'd rather turn to Pauls letters to ancient churches and do what he was telling them to do. Never mind that those churches existed 2000 years ago and seem to clearly be dated. Whereas, Jesus teachings are timeless.

I think at best, Paul was just a nice guide trying to guide the churches of the time in the right direction. He never meant to be the voice for all Christianity.

what do you think?

Neil, you just basically said "Paul says his word is inspired by God, so it's true"

Answer 1

I think that this is a very interesting question!
I, myself, have thought something like that.
But, many Paul´s writings are imbibed in Jesus words and reinforce it and somewhat clarifies it.
Remember what Jesus said to Ananias in Acts 9:15!
I´m posting it and will come back with the versicle, O. K.?

In time: "And the LORD said to him (to Ananias): Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;..."

So, I would say that part of his writings were God´s inspired to guide the churchs of the time and some are, as you nicely put, God´s inspired to be "timeless", to all periods and eras.

Answer 2

Firstly can I say that as a Christian I believe as the previous answer that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."2 Timothy 3:16. If it's there then it's there for a reason...

I can certainly see where you are coming from regarding the epistles to the various churches, could I suggest that what we see here is Paul expounding upon the teachings of Jesus and giving them practical applications in life, if we read the Sermon on The Mount Matthew 5,6,7 we see the complete charachter of a Christian or how a Christian should be with many practical example given and Paul is simply following on from this.

Now when reading the Bible it is true that somethings we come across are indeed culturaly based such as the wearing of head covering for women etc, so why is it in the Bible? we need to look beyond the practical side and see what is behind these statements, it is a mark of respect and recognition of authority this is what the Bible is teaching here, another example is when the Bible teaches us that if someone sues us for our coat, let him have our cloak also (Matthwew 5:40). What if you don't have a cloak, so obviously it is talking about our attitude here.

The big problem lies in that it can be difficult to distinguish between the two and many different errors can be made by doing so, use the principle of letting the Bible interpret itself i.e. search for other similar scriptures, simillar teaching and do not take one single scripture on it's own and form an idea or principle.

JB

Answer 3

Before you read one of paul's letters, you must first ask yourself why those letters where written and what where the problems of the churches to whom the letters where written.

Once you know these things, it is obvious that those churches had the same problems our churches have today. Paul, being their protector who was loving and caring (and also not afraid to speak what was right) was a great shepherd, and can therefore help any church very much!!!

for example, the church in corinthiens where very proud, and refuse to give up their sin, they used the gifts God gave them to belittle other believers. When they had communion the rich would eat together and leave the poor hungry!

Paul tells them that it is not right and guides them so they might understand why it is not right. this church als had a way of thinking they where so clever, thinking that the one group in the church know less...they started different denominations within the church an paul says, it is not right! God only has one church, don't divide yourselves!!

I think that if modern christians would take paul's writing more serious, the modern churches would not have half the problems they had today!
and remember that the bible is divinely inspired, God PLANNED for Paul letters to be there TO guide us.

Answer 4

I think that St. Paul, along with all the writers of the bible have to be taken in context with what all the rest of the bible is saying. His writings may seem narrow and directed at just a small group, but the things he says have a much larger scope. He links what he says to the teachings of Jesus as well as their importance in light of Old Testament scripture.

I would suggest that you read various authors who discuss the Pauline teachings to get a broader idea of what he was saying and why.

Also, bear in mind, Paul was alive when Jesus was teaching, although he was not a believer at that time. He also sat under the teaching of the apostles who were with Jesus. In other words this is a man who lived alongside Jesus and his apostles. He was himself a learned man for his time and understood the scriptures. After his conversion Paul learned of Jesus' words from Jesus' own apostles and certainly must have heard Jesus speak more than once.

I would take Paul's word for what Jesus taught over any modern teacher just for the fact that he was there as a witness.

I think you have a more specific question in mind though...

Answer 5

I think that Paul was the thirteenth Apostle he was chosen to replace Judas.
He was chosen by Jesus Himself.
He was used to spread the Gospel and Christianity throughout the world.
He was highly educated. He had insights into the law of the Jews that no one else except the very educated did.
I believe that God wrote great things through Paul. He was the Apostle that was the most instrumental in the spread of Christianity. He probably was the greatest of the Apostles.
He is the one that wrote---
Gal 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
Justification by faith, not works. Works was the way it was done in the old testament. The above verse id probably the greatest revelation of God to us.
I could go on and on. In my opinion he was the mostest.

Answer 6

I see that you have some idea that Paul was more specific than Jesus was? or that he might not be as kind?
Speaking to different people that have different views would be hard to do, you would make some happy and some might be confused, others might even oppose.
Christ Jesus never spoke to people directly with out using an illustration, where as he spoke to his Apostles in a direct manner. See Mathew 13:34. Luke 8:10.
If you believe the Bible to be the true word of God then you must realize that He(God Almighty) has control as to what he wants in his written word.
The problem today is that people think they can worship or serve the way they want and that would be acceptable?
For this very reason that is why we have so many different professed religions? See Mathew 15:9, Mark 7:7
Paul also spoke to people in a way that supported Christ teachings, but he had a hard job because many of these people that called themselves spiritual brothers were bringing their bad habits and practices into the congregations with them.
To serve your God in a way that would be acceptable to him we would need to follow Paul's words (2 Corinthians 13:5-14) 5 Keep testing whether YOU are in the faith, keep proving what YOU yourselves are. Or do YOU not recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with YOU? Unless YOU are disapproved. 6 I truly hope YOU will come to know we are not disapproved. 7 Now we pray to God that YOU may do nothing wrong, not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that YOU may be doing what is fine, though we ourselves may appear disapproved. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We certainly rejoice whenever we are weak but YOU are powerful; and for this we are praying, YOUR being readjusted. 10 That is why I write these things while absent, that, when I am present, I may not act with severity according to the authority that the Lord gave me, to build up and not to tear down. 11 Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with YOU. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the holy ones send YOU their greetings. 14 The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sharing in the holy spirit be with all of YOU.
So how would you help a person to adjust to right thinking if they thought that its ok to use just the parts or thoughts of the bible that they wanted to? See 2 Tim 3:16,
(Romans 10:2-4) 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; 3 for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness.
The same problem is present today as in Paul's day, people look to their churches for guidence and get alot of fellowship and entertainment, but little spiritual Instruction.
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Answer 7

The Romans were well known for assimilating anything that they could not beat militarily. They recognized that Christianity had grown so large that they could not possibly stamp it out.

So they did the same thing that they always did when they found themselves in this position. Paul was roman, one of the first roman undercover agents if you will to gain prominence in the Christian hierarchy. His job was to subvert the faith correct the teachings so they were more palatable to roman tastes and take over and control as much of the leadership as possible. His cover story about being blinded and thrown from his horse was designed to play right into the Christian idea of a forceful Jesus that was the defender of the faith.

He was accepted by most of the Christian world and eventually trumped Peters wishes on many issues. Apparently everyone thought that Jesus had made a mistake in selecting Peter to take care of running the faith because Paul was and is still taken quite seriously.

Christianity is barely recognizable today if you compare it to what Jesus actually taught. If you read closely you can still see occasional glimpses of Jesus’ teaching in and among the nonsense that was overlaid on it by Paul and others. The roman conquest of Christianity took quite some time, but was completed in the 4th century around the time of the council of Nicea when the current bible was compiled.

Constantine also had one of these miraculous encounters with Jesus that lead to his conversion, but oddly continued to worship roman gods in private right up to his death. In public of course he was a true Christian.

The new faith that replaced the one Jesus entrusted peter with was called the universal, or Catholic Church. It is better known as the Roman Catholic Church. I guess you could call that a hint.

A truly brilliant plan actually. Made possible by the efforts of a roman double agent named Paul who called himself an apostle, but never actually met Jesus. For his loyalty and meritorious service he was later killed to cover up the truth.

Love and blessings
Don

Answer 8

The Bible is to be taken as a whole, not chopped to bits like people keep doing with it. It is only in more modern times that the books have chapter and verses and people try to pick and choose what suits them, quoting verses out of context or choosing to ignore certain things or take certain things way to far. Either you believe the Bible as the word of God or you do not. Either you put the teachings into practice or you do not. There are plenty of specifics throughout the entire Bible.

Answer 9

Jesus appeared to Paul, an enemy of the early Christians. The fact that HE was changed, and charged by Christ to be his apostle to the gentiles, which Paul did, until he was martyred, proves what he was. His message is consistant with what Jesus taught, and confirms it. The fact that Paul was accepted by Peter and Luke, who wrote about him in Acts, shows that the ones who were proclaiming the Gospel accepted and that he met THEIR expectations of the Gospel. If someone wants to argue semantics about Paul, you can endlessly debate. The fact that he died for the Gospel, and worked for it selflessly, is proof enough for me.

Answer 10

In the book of Acts (not written by Paul, but Dr. Luke), Paul was clearly chosen by our risen Lord to be a witness of His. Paul writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit set out guidelines of the Church,and of holy living. When he is speaking from his own opinion,he tells us it is his own opinion.I believe this is one of the main reasons he was chosen, to write these letters.