Would we ever have heard of Christianity were it not for Paul?

Question

Isn't it ironic that a man who never met Jesus was his #1 fan and was responsible for writing so much of the New Testament?

He popularized Christianity, codified it, politicized it, defined it. With so much of the early church being formed by Paul, is it unfair to say that Chrisitianity is as much about Paul's take on life as it is about the philosophy of Jesus?

I notice many are saying Paul *did* meet Jesus. Well, Jesus was dead when Paul converted so I contend that he didn't really meet Jesus. Either he hallucinated or else he conveniently made it all up after the fact. Which is easier to believe?

Answer 1

In all likelihood without Paul Christianity would have stayed a small Jewish sect and would have died out over the next few hundred years like the other Jewish sects did.

*oh please people Paul never met Jesus, it was a vision for crying out loud. Your entire faith rests on a man that halucinated.

Answer 2

Well I dont know if Paul actually met Jesus or not.

But other than that I think you've made an accurate observation about Paul and how he affected, and continues to affect Christians to this day.

Note: Micheal H. Hart has a book for the Top 100 people who influenced mankind and Jesus is not the first. His reasons are explained here. And Paul has a lot to do with it.

Answer 3

Almost certainly not.

The early Jerusalem Church, led by James the Just, was an exclusively Jewish thing. It was, in fact, the same entity as the Essene community, the two were inextricably entwined. It had it's basis in restoring the 'Law of Moses', to be followed to the letter, and the repulsion of the occupying forces of the Roman Empire, in today's terms the were Jewish Fundamentalist Freedom Fighters.

Paul was, in fact, the leading 'enforcer' of the Sanhedrin, ands was noted for his zeal in rooting out all adherents of this new, and dangerous sect. It may even have been Paul who led the arrest in Gethsemane.

All later versions of the story have been 'sanitised' to project Paul as a true 'convert', when in fact, he was most likely the figure known as the 'Great Liar' in the Qumran documents. All of the leadership held him in great suspicion, and rightly so. There were several times that Paul had to be rescued from angry crowds by Roman troops, and that, in itself, is a very telling item, why would the Romans think it necessary to send their forces to rescue a renegade Jewish rabblerouser, and it was most definitely not because he was a Roman citizen, that only conferred on him the right to trial in Rome.

Paul started out being the chief persecutor of the Essene Sect, he conned them into allowing him to join it, and become one of the first 'moles' in this section of human history. He destroyed the sect from within, including having James the Just murdered in the temple in 68 ad. And then he realised what a potent instrument your own private religion could be, so he hijacked it for his own ends.

Paulianity.

Answer 4

Paul did meet Yahshua on the road to Damascus. Paul was taught personally by Yashua according to Paul himself.

Yes if God hadn't used Paul He would have used another to spread His message. Gentiles were already hearing the Gospel and accepting Yahshua before Paul. Cornelies come to mind. I'm not sure he ever even met Paul. The Samaritans were not Jewish but Gentile and Jesus himself and Phillip
took the message to them. The ethiopian eunich was evangelized by Philip.

Paul did not start the church nor popularize it. Paul did not preach in Jerusalem nor in Asia Minor to which he was forbidden to go. And yet John writes letters to the church in Babylon. There were tens of thousands of christians in Jerusalem when Paul went back for his last visit.

Paul's take on life by the way was that of a Strict Pharisee a jewish sect by his own admittion at the time of his trail. Christainty in the early years and even in Paul's time was not considered a differant religion than Judism but mearly a sect of the same. You are misinformed

Did someone tell you that Paul started the church or did you come to that conclusion all by yourself?

gratvul: It was mass hallucination then because everyone heard Him speak in Hebrew to Paul.

All: Peter states that many of the writings are hard to understand and unwise men twist what he says to their own destruction. The fault of odd ball ideas about christianity is not Pauls. It's the individuals who twist his words and teach others those twisted veiws

Answer 5

Paul did have an encounter with Jesus. He was Saul, a persecutor of Christians, feared, a murderer. When he neared the city of Damascus, Jesus spoke to him and there was a great light, rendering Saul blind. Saul was led to a man named Ananias who by God's will placed his hands on Sau, and said" Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

This horrid man was converted right then and there and knew that Jesus was the true and living God.

Answer 6

I think Christianity would have been much truer if it has not been for Paul. Paul states: (Galatians 1:12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What if this revelation was wishful thinking?

Answer 7

Paul was chosen by Jesus to preach to the Gentiles.

Acts 9

Answer 8

If it hadn't been Paul, God would have used someone else...He met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Nothing causes true conviction faster than personally encountering the Truth.

Answer 9

Paul did meet Jesus on the road to Damascus.

If you are going to make a statement which in turn is the basis for your question, first make sure your statement is correct.

Answer 10

You're mistaken. Paul did met Jesus. On the road to Damascus.