1) Technically, he hijacked Jesus' reformist brand of Judaism and perverted it into Christianity.
2) Yes
3) See #1
Overall, pretty good analysis
2007-05-05 07:22:32
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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No.
You are confusing historical time periods. Judaism before Paul was more heavily 'pagan' than Paul's form of Christianity. Read Philo, for example. Jewish synagogues in the early centuries of the modern era were typically adorned with icons of Sol Invictus surrounded by the symbols of the Zodiac. Jewish theologians maintained Hellenistic/Gnostic emanationism, the pagan view of the afterlife, the principle of the Logos as the intrinsic principle of the Universe, the pagan doctrine of angelic offspring in the earlier eras of man, etc.
The only reason people think that Paul 'hijacked' Christianity is because they don't understand the role of first century Judaism in the wider Hellenistic culture of the day.
Ironically, the more distinctly "Jewish" writings of the New Testament are more overtly 'pagan.' References abound to early Jewish Gnsotic writings such as the Book of Enoch and the Assumption of Moses. The Book of Revelation is almost a handbook on the Eleusinian Mysteries. The letters of Peter include pagan ideas like union with the divine energeia of God.
In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Jewish Jesus describes the pagan underworld in great detail, and in complete contrast with the traditional Jewish view (which was best evidenced among the Saduccees).
2007-05-05 14:30:25
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answer #2
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answered by NONAME 7
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1)Paul spent a lot of time with the original apostles, learning what they had been taught. He went out with their approval, and followed the precise assignment he had been given. So, I think the charge of hijacking would be hard to sustain based on the evidence we have.
2) Just the opposite - paganism has consistently been overrun by Christianity, sometimes in ways of which we are not proud today - but the whole thrust of the Christian message was to eliminate paganism.
3) I can think of few who have suffered more at the hands of Christians over the centuries than the Jews.
So the answer to each of your speculations is - nope.
2007-05-05 14:24:33
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answer #3
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answered by Uncle John 6
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NO
1. Jesus PREDICTED the END of the law:
Jesus said he didn’t come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. (Matt 5:17) The effect was the same. Once fulfilled it was no longer in effect.
The very next verse, Matthew 5:18, LOOKS FORWARD to the time when the law WOULD BE SET ASIDE. "...Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law UNTIL EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED." This “UNTIL” clause REINFORCES THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE LAW. It ONLY makes sense when we understand that it was intended FROM THE BEGINNING to be SET ASIDE.
2. Paul's clear point was that the law COULD NOT SAVE:
Galatians 2:16 ...No one can be made right with God by obeying the law.
Galatians 2:21 ...What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!
3. Most of the pagan practices imported were the work of the catholic apostasy, not the apostles.
2007-05-05 14:22:09
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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On the contrary Paul led the fight to do away with the constrains of the Law at the Jerusalem conference. Peter and some others thought that circumcision should be part of Christianity--along with not eating certain foods. If you read Gal.2 you will find Paul gave a good account of himself. Peter after visiting Cornelius found that Paul was correct and gave up adding anything to belief by Faith
2007-05-05 14:27:51
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answer #5
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answered by j.wisdom 6
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Paul was an Apostle of Jesus The Christ. Appointed by Christ. and instructed by Christ. This was confirmed by the original Apostles. He had the authority of Christ to pass on The Word of God as did the first Apostles.... Paul was The Last Apostle appointed by Christ... There have been no others since.
2007-05-05 14:24:36
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answer #6
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answered by idahomike2 6
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Mabye, that's why i dig the book of Matthews, scholars have found that it was already widespread around 65ad, and Jesus lays a beautifull path therein.
2007-05-05 14:30:21
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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You might want to go back and study Paul's letters again. Paul preached Christ and Him risen.
2007-05-05 14:25:34
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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no...there is no way to promote christ as savior and stay a traditional jew....
there is no substance for your question.
2007-05-05 14:25:26
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answer #9
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answered by Marianne T 3
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No.
2007-05-05 14:23:25
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answer #10
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answered by Uncle Thesis 7
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