are considered inspired by God/Jesus and yet if anyone said these days that God/Jesus told them the church was wrong etc we'd all consider them delusional? What makes Paul's supposed visions more real than those of people now?
2007-06-22 21:48:32 · 27 answers · asked by Corrigan 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Zoek: Weeeeeeellll, he never met Jesus. Maybe that plays a part in it?
2007-06-22 21:58:42 · update #1
Just for the record, Paul was born around 10 CE, i.e. NOT during the time of Jesus. He has as much right to claim visions of Christ as I do.
2007-06-22 22:01:03 · update #2
You have some good points, why did he change the religion that Jesus came with?
2007-06-24 12:24:24 · answer #1 · answered by Knowing Gnostic 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's bcoz the people didn't analyze the real story. Paul went straight to Arabia after his so-called visions and started his ministry even without seeing the apostles who knows Jesus personally, if we read his writings esp 2 Corinthians and Galatians, we see that he don't have high regards for the original apostles by the way he talked. It was after 3 years later that he stayed with Peter and James for 2 wks and went away again for 14 yrs. Paul's view of Jesus was according to his own interpretation and he proclaimed his gospel in places where Christ has not been heard of, so as not to build on the foundation laid by someone else (Romans15:20), and if anyone even an angel from heaven who will preach a gospel different from the one he preached, may they be condemned to hell (Galatians 1:8). It was after 17 years that the apostles finally shook hands with him and accept him as partner and it was due to the financial aid they needed from Paul (Galatians 2:10) for he must be doing well financially from the contributions of his gentile followers.
2007-06-25 06:37:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are MANY prophetic voices today saying that the Church is wrong on certain issues (eg materialism, world poverty, human trafficking) though much of that same church is at the forefront of these issues....and very few, if any, consider them to be delusional.......disturbing and uncomfortable perhaps!
I believe that you are arguing from a false premise (and that is from the standpoint of being a 'minor prophet' on many issues for 40 years or so)
Paul is considered to be inspired because (to use J.B.Phillips phrase) his writings have the 'Ring of Truth'
Present pronouncements about the Church, whatever the source, need to be in tune with Scripture.
2007-06-23 05:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by alan h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he was the first to unpack and articulate what the Jesus experience was all about. We have hardly nothing from Jesus companions as passionately and intelligently expressed. The spread of Christianity in the West owes it to St Paul in particular. I dare say that much of the Christianity of today is who is delusional and that we have lost much of the essential Christianity taught by Paul. No wonder that the Christian visionary of today who is well in touch with the mind of St Paul will be considered unfitting to the Christian patterns of thought of today. The Gospel is smothered by the Church's many secular and religious 'Traditions'.
Peace
2007-06-23 05:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by ziffa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a point, the answer that comes straight to my mind is this: the Bible is written by the word of mouth through the ages, so perhaps he was laughed at or tortured for being crazy, but a few listened to him anyway? Maybe it is not quite as the Bible interprets it on paper. Perhaps a select few do still have visions or hear something we cannot explain. Joan of Arc apparently did, and others claim to have, too.
2007-06-24 02:00:18 · answer #5 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People get this all backwards. It is people who matter, not books. The people who count in this matter, the only people, are the tiny number of persecuted people who are born again. They recognise Paul and all the other authors of what is known as the Bible as sharing their own point of view, emphatically so. But for that tiny number, nobody would read or print the Bible.
There are many more people than the born again who read the Bible. Some do so in order to present themselves as Christians, so that they can misrepresent it. The leaderships of all the denominations (demon nations) fall into this category, as do many individuals, usually wealthy, some of whom like to present themselves as Christians, by more or less subtle means, in forums such as this, for instance. The born again know that these people believe the Bible because they are persecuted by them, because they constantly try to twist the Bible's teachings.
There is only one war that matters, and it is nothing to do with guns, bombs, Iraq or any other country. It is the unseen spiritual war between the forces of good and evil in this world, and we all have to decide, will decide, which side we are on.
.
2007-06-23 05:30:59 · answer #6 · answered by miller 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Paul lived during the time of Jesus so was obviously more influenced by him. Plus prophets throughout the bible prophesy about the last days and about the wickedness on the earth. People these days just aren't as religious and most visionaries are extremists or cultists which does not help their reputation.
2007-06-23 04:57:12 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Benzedrine 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Paul was considered by his contemporaries to be both filled by the love of Jesus and inspired by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Their judgement is good enough for me, too!
Those considered delusional, from the time of Paul on up to the present day, have signally failed to convince people either that they are filled with the love of Jesus or that they are inspired by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. I don't know of any better criteria!
2007-06-23 09:03:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't you like Paul Then ?
If it were not for him their wouldn't be Christianity for good or Ill
Actually Ive been meaning to get a Book on the sayings of St Paul
He has been accused of being Misogynistic , I thin kl I know where I got my streak from then
Hes also the patron saint of Tent makers which is handy in the "! century isn't it ?
2007-06-23 04:59:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible talks of "free Will". It is written that we all have the right to question. If we did not question but merely followed this would in effect make christianity a "cult".
Paul acknowledged his role as an apostle. He was very adept at changing people's perspectives. You merely have to visit Epheus in Turkey to witness the effect of Paul. His visions are real as he was carrying the word of God as a missionary. People today do not have that remit.
2007-06-23 04:59:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
His words were backed up with miraculous signs and wonders. Not the circus side show freak stuff that's on those weird religious channels. Today someone may legitimately point out things a church does wrong and it be a word from God, but its not binding on all churches in all places. The Bible is the final authoritative word on faith and practice for all ages and all places.
2007-06-23 04:58:36 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋