Is it possible that by quoting Paul instead of Jesus, you have completely missed being a "real" Christian?

Question

Jesus said, "If you do not forgive others, your father in Heaven will not forgive you."

Paul said nothing about that. And, Jesus said nothing about you getting to Heaven if you follow Paul's letters to his friends and empire builders.

smiles

Do you think you are going to Heaven by misinterpreting what it means to believe in Jesus? If you believe in someone, you don't just believe they exist, you follow their instructions. -John 3:16 -

Sorry for preaching. But, it seemed someone needed to remind the "Church Christians" of the flaw in their logic.

Dear Barbara, By your logic, quoting Aaron would be quoting the word of God. -- Do you know what Aaron said, when Moses was getting the 10 commandments?

Dear "dispes" - I am sorry if I have offended you.

Answer 1

I'm not Christian(as it's understood), but John and Paul are two of my favorite writers in the Bible. I don't notice any contradictions that matter to me. They seem to fill in each others gaps, so to speak. John's gospel is my Holy Grail,
'...this cup is the new testament in my blood...', and to me, Paul is the Comforter the Christ said would
come after him.(in spite of any distortions in his writings)

Answer 2

I think that's a really great question. Paul (when he was Saul) persecuted those who followed Christ; he never even MET Christ. So why should Christians look to the stuff he wrote?

Because Paul went from killing Christians to becoming one of them. He suffered greatly in the name of Christ, being persecuted by the very group of people he used to be a part of. Even the people who are farthest from believing in Jesus can relate to Paul.

And you're right - Jesus said nothing about getting into heaven if we follow Paul's letters; but if we have the intimate thoughts contained in the letters Paul wrote to his friends and churches he helped start, we can essentially see what he went through, what he did, and which parts worked the best. Why wouldn't you want to use other people's experiences to help you on your own journey?

And of course Paul wrote about the things Jesus did and said. One of my favorite passages is in Titus 3, where Paul is writing to Titus about how we shouldn't judge others, because, "at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures." He goes on to say that, without the grace and mercy of God, we (Christians) would still be the way nonbelievers are.

So, no, I don't think that by quoting Paul you're missing the point of being a Christian, but obviously Paul's letters are not the only standard you should use - first and foremost it should be what Jesus Christ said.

Answer 3

I too think there is too much reliance on the Pauline letters in various sects of Christianity (not all of them). As you say, Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies and to do well by them, because ANYONE could do well by their friends. Paul IMO was not the best messenger of that philosophy - a Roman soldier who, even though he converted, never knew Jesus as a person and never lost his harsh outlook or his love of conflict with everyone around him.

I feel he missed the forest for the trees. Too much concentration on details, telling people how they should live, and demanding things of people. I find the Pauline gospels an artifact of their harsh time and their harsh writer, and am personally less impressed by large portions of them than I am by large portions of other parts of the Bible.

Answer 4

I have some problem with some of Paul's letters also. I do believe he was spiritually inspired like many spiritually inspired people of this day and time. I believe he did share a lot of positive things.

However, my faith is in the red letters of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I have complete faith in the red letters. The rest I read as if I was listening to a modern preacher... I take what I believe and leave the rest.

Answer 5

undergo in innovations that historic evidence is extremely diverse than the gospels contained in the bible. there have been very almost 40 diverse gospels that have been by no ability coated contained in the bible. Even the gospels of judas. there have been additionally gnostic textual content cloth. Excuse my spelling if thats incorrect. those have been written supposively in the time of the existence of jesus and depict him as greater human guffawing and enjoying and pleased, the gospels that have been chosen for use, mathew, mark, luke, and john have been all writen over 60 years after jesus supposively died. All that's up contained in the air by way of fact to actual historians there's no account of any on named jesus christ truly contemporary. people decrease back then have been taxed heavily and checklist conserving became truly truly tight. Jesus being a chippie would have had to pay those taxes and there is no documentation of him being alive. Christ is likewise latin for the anointed one. christ is a call no longer a attractiveness.

Answer 6

Well, of course Jesus didn't say anything about Paul..as Saul was converted over to Christ on the road to Damascus to murder Christians...and was hence forth named Paul instead!
So, Jesus couldn't say anything about Paul...as Paul didn't come into the picture until way after the Crucifixion and raising of our Lord.

However, in good faith, I am a Gospel follower. Jesus first, everything after.

After all, we are called "Christians" for a reason...

God Speed....and please, email me and tell me more about the "Paul's letters to his friends and empire builders" K? I am curious where this is going...

Answer 7

No. "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord" as the old song goes. Paul shares in that Spirit. It is no use trying to judge him. The gospels were not written down immediately. Everyone thought that Christ was returning "before this generation has passed on". I think that the gospels weren't written until 40 or 50 years after the destruction of the temple. Paul's letters were written before that. Weird, huh?

Answer 8

Friend you aren't fit to kiss pauls feet. Stop trying to dicredity Paul. He did above all the apostles or disiples before and after Him. Paul before his conversion had high society status but when he became a christian he would say that everything he gained before from the world,he counted as dung. Paul is valid. He had such a love and longing to know and teach the Word of God. He is unmatched as a apostle of God.

Answer 9

I agree wholeheartedly. It isn't that Paul was a bad guy, I'm sure he wasn't. But, I suspect that maybe he got a little overzealous with preaching his own beliefs rather than sticking with the core ideas of Christ. I am anti-church (organized religion) for that very reason. I can't trust anyones words but Christs.

Answer 10

Yes, I think so...Paul could very well have been a covert Roman spy. His take on the church and teachings were very different and startling even in the half truth which is printed in the bible.