Was the Paul of the New Testament one of the World's Greatest Con Men?

Question

According to Thomas Jefferson - "Christianity...(has become)
the most perverted system that ever shone on man...Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first greatest corrupter of the teaching of Jesus."

"There is strong reason to believe that St. Paul fabricated the belief system of Christianity from Zorastrian mythology in order to hide Paul's plagiarism." George Sarton - History of Sciences

While Paul never met Jesus, he was able to convince some gullible followers that he had seen Jesus in a vision.

Answer 1

I highly recommend that you read "The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity" by Hyam Maccoby

http://www.amazon.com/Mythmaker-Paul-Invention-Christianity/dp/0760707871

Answer 2

His teaching AGREED with that of Jesus! It is often IGNORED, but 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 Once fulfilled it was no longer in effect.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. On the cross, Jesus' last recorded saying, "It is finished," (John 19:30) is an important milestone. Because of Jesus life, Satan had been defeated. The law was finished and would no longer stand between God and mankind. So, we see that Jesus did, in fact, predict the end of the law. With his resurrection, the stage was set for this change to take place, and then, when the kingdom came with power (Mark 9:1 and Acts 2) it did end, ushering in a new age. Paul comes on the scene a few years later and miraculously meets the risen Jesus and becomes one of his greatest servants. His writing tells Christians HOW they are freed from the law: Ephesians 2:15 Through his body on the cross, Christ put an END to the LAW WITH ALL ITS COMMANDS AND RULES. He wanted to create one new group of people out of the two. He wanted to make peace between them. Colossians 2:14 He wiped out the written Law with its rules. The Law was against us. It opposed us. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 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! Romans 3:20 So it can’t be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin. 21 But now God has shown us how to become right with him. The Law and the Prophets give witness to this. It has nothing to do with obeying the law. Galatians 5:4 Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace... The ONLY verse that talks about falling from grace, and they did it by trying to follow the law! The 10 commandments along with the rest of the law ("commands and rules" from Ephesians 2:15) were "set aside" when they were fulfilled or completed at Jesus' resurrection. We are no longer bound by that law. BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE WORTHLESS OR MEANINGLESS ! Romans 15:4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They cheer us up and give us hope.

Answer 3

...consider this. Will you change your ways for just a "vision" or even die for it? Paul did go to prison a few times, hid and fleed, and ultimately died for that changing encounter...not a pretty existence nor a wealthy life either. For what purpose? He was better off before.

He was actually a bounty hunter and put some early christians to their deaths himself. Before this, I am sure he thought Jesus was a con too.

Read the actual accounts in the Book of Acts Chapter 9. It is very interesting especially aftwerwards when he meets Peter (knowing that before he/christians were persecuted by him).

A non-christian account is also found in the records of the historian Josephus who lived at the same time.

...do a little more research. Having questions is how you arrive to an answer

Answer 4

Paul wasn't a con man.....he was the model that has been carried down to today's stereotypes of televangelists and used car salesman. Paul and Jim Bakker would have been soul buddies in and out of prison.

Jefferson was one of the greatest thinkers of his era.

There are those, myself included, who believe that the Magi anointed Jesus. The frankincense and myrrh were used to anoint him into Zoroastrianism and later train him as a Magus. The gold was for his family to escape to Egypt and when he had been to his Bar Mitzvah send Jesus for his training in Magick.

Answer 5

Oh, well, since you quote George Sarton, a known atheist, then you MUST be right. :-P

In any case, Thomas Jefferson is hardly a theologian, either. These two people believed what they believe. That certainly is not proof of anything other than the fact you're good at googling quotes that support your point or view. I would have to say that you likely formulated your opinion first, then sought out the quotes. What does that prove? It proves you don't believe in Christianity. Good for you. Who cares?

Answer 6

Please understand this... The Catholic Church has removed pages, books, and entire chapters, from the bible And so much stuff is missing that I can understand why man-kind is so confused about it..... But what is left of the bible should be enough to teach you about God and Jesus and how to worship our father and how we should live...... But with so many people and churches trying to get you to believe that there way is the only way that you can get to God people forget that Jesus has already shown us the way........ And its the churches and their false teaching that is compounding the problem.........................................

Answer 7

All the anti-female attitudes come from the writings of Paul too, I think that he was pushing his own agenda and piggybacking on the words of Christ.

Answer 8

Opportunity to distort truth for personal gain has always knocked.

Answer 9

He does seem a little questionable, even for bible standards.