How does Paul relate to the 12 disciples?

Question

There were 11 disciples of Jesus who, after his death, became apostles (sent out to spread the word). Matthias was chosen after Jesus' death to replace Judas Iscariot, making the official number 12.

Paul was not one of the 12, but he was clearly one of the, if not the, most important Apostle. How does he relate to the 12?

What was different about Paul's role and the role of the 12?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The apostles were appointed to spread the gospel to the Jews. God set apart Paul to go outside of Jerusalem to the gentiles. Peter (like Jonah) was very hesitant to do this, but eventually came around with his witness to Cornelius.

Answer 2

As I understand it, Apostles were those who were with Jesus while he was alive. Paul himself had not met Jesus during his life, but he claimed that since he "met" Jesus during his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, he was just as much of an Apostle as anyone, including the twelve. Not everyone seems to have agreed with Paul's proclamation, though. In one of his letters he writes an argument about why he is an Apostle, even if others claim that he's not.

The only difference I can think of between the role of Paul and of the 12 is that Paul was in favor of converting Gentiles rather than just Jews. Of course, after the Council of Jerusalem, it was agreed that Gentiles should be allowed into early Christianity, but I think Paul was probably more likely to focus on Gentiles. I also imagine the 12 would have more authority among most people, since they had actually been taught by Jesus himself.

Paul himself didn't seem to mind confronting the 12 if he felt they were doing wrong, such as when he accuses Peter of being a Judiazer because he refuses to share a meal with Gentile Christians even after admitting that Gentiles should be allowed to become Christians.

Answer 3

Matthias was chosen by the 11 remaining disciples by casting lots. God was telling them, by Paul's selection as an Apostle, that He alone decides who is and isn't an Apostle. And I wouldn't say that Paul was the most important Apostle (and neither would he, by the way), it's just that God intended him to be the Apostle to the gentiles, where the rest we sent to the Jews. Remember the Gospel is for all, for the Jews FIRST, but also to the gentiles, because the word was first revealed to the Jews. They are, still, God's chosen people. We just get to benefit from it.

Answer 4

Paul was know as the Apostle to the Gentiles since he, more than any of the others, took the Gospel to the Gentiles. Most scholars believe that Paul was the true replacement of Judas picked by Jesus. Paul himself defends his status as an apostle several times. Paul is regarded as one of the most important Apostle because so much of the New Testament was written by him.

Answer 5

Peter was the most important Apostle as he was given first place,Paul was indeed an Apostle no greater or lesser than the others,his mission was the same to preach the Good News,we Christians tend to exhalt Paul over the rest becuse he brought the word to pagans.

Answer 6

None of them. He was a complete volunteer. In fact it took a while for the twelve to even accept him. Read the Acts of the Apostles. Matthias is elected by the 11 to replace Judas Iscariot. Several chapters later, Saul/Paul has his miracle just outside of Damascus and converts. He is escorted to Jerusalem to meet the apostles and gets a cool reception. Only after years of missionary work does he get any consideration from the other apostles.

Answer 7

You may notice that Matthias was picked by the casting of lots. Even though he was picked, he is never mentioned again in the canonized scriptures. He is, however mentioned in the appocrypha and in historical writings. He either went to Ethiopia or north to southern russia (Georgia region) He was martyred for the faith and is buried in Georgia. Paul, however was chosen by God to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. He was accepted into the new church in Jerusalem and was sent on his famous missionary journeys by the church in antioch. Very few of the 12 stayed in Jerusalem as they spread the gospel throughout the known world. Peter stayed behind in Jerusalem as leader of the church there til his death and the rest went to all parts of asia to preach to the Jews there. Hope this helps

Answer 8

Paul as soul was a pharasie and hated the christians he went out to kill them. untill Jesus apeared to him as he traveled to demascuse

Acts 9
Saul's Conversion
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"


5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
after much time he became the greatest apostle.

Answer 9

The 12 were sent to the Jewish people. Paul's mission was to the Gentiles.

Answer 10

Paul was not one of the 12, nor was he a replacement. Paul never even met Jesus. He was a, guess you could say, a religious cop, going around and arresting Christians for blasphemy.

Somehow, he literally dominated the early church, and perverted and changed the message of Jesus to one of his choosing, which succeeded probably because what he reshaped it into was more friendly to the government and the established religious leadership of his day. He merely adhered to the principal, "If you can't destroy it from without, infiltrate and subvert from within"