Why do most Christians believe so strongly in what Paul said Jesus said ?

Question

"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 imposters led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus." --- Thomas Jefferson

“The son-ship of Jesus Christ is the greatest fiction of human history.” (Lord Bishop of Canterbury Commission, the Spiritual Head of England, 1910.)

“The son-ship of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the blood sacrifice of the lamb of God, atonement are not the teachings of Jesus. These are all inventions of Saint Paul who never really met Jesus.” (Hastings Rashdall, The Theory of Good and Evil)

"Initially there were 34 gospels that were compiled by word of mouth. Four were chosen for unclear reasons and 30 were left behind [burned]. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

“There is strong reason to believe that St. Paul fabricated the belief system of Christianity from Zoroastrian mythology. In order to hide Paul’s plaigerism… Christians burned the library of Alexandria in 390 A.D. Books in that library kept Mithra’s original story of what Pauline Doctrine is an almost exact copy. (George Sarton , Introduction to History of Sciences) ,

Although Nontrinitarian beliefs continued to multiply, and among some people (such as the Lombards in the West) it was dominant for hundreds of years afterward, the Trinitarians gained the immense power of the Roman Empire. Nontrinitarians typically argue that the primitive beliefs of the Christianity were systematically suppressed (often to the point of death), and that the historical record, perhaps also including the Scriptures of the New Testament, was altered as a consequence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism

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Answer 1

That's what happens when you found a church - you get to set the rules.

Answer 2

Funny, I just posted an entry on my blog today regarding Jefferson's charge of Paul the Great Corruptor. I won't rehash it, you can look it up on my 360 profile if you want.

But the rest of your quotes range from true (Rashdall & E.B.) to absurd (Sarton). To argue that Trinitarian beliefs somehow prospered because they gained the support of the Roman Empire is to patently ignore history. The Emperors, from Constantine until the fall of Rome, along with the vast majority of the aristocracy, were virtually all Arians - who REJECTED Trinitarian beliefs. Funny thing, when Rome fell, so did Arianism for the most part. But the Trinitarianism of the Bishops which they preached in spite of Rome persists to this day.

I don't have any interest in defending dogma, but you should make a point of really backing up your assertions with solid facts rather than random quotes.

Peace to you.

Answer 3

Paul personally knew many of the original Twelve Apostles, including Peter. He met Christ on the road to Damascus as Saul. The Christians did not burn the library at Alexandria. A Roman fleet under the command of Julius Caesar unintentionally set fire to the library during an attack on the Alexandria harbor, and some of it burned then. The Muslims finished the job in the 600's A.D. during the Islamic conquest of Egypt, totally destroying what was left of it.

There's a reason why the four Gospels became canon, and why Paul's preaching and letter writing came down to us as it has. The Holy Spirit. As Jesus Himself said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My Church. And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

Neither the gates of Hell, or Wikipedia......

Answer 4

Paul met Jesus on the road to DAmascus, much like you , he did not beleive the scriptures, he even was standing by & holding the coats of the people who were stoning Steven.

he persecuted the Christians & theywere very afraid of him at 1st, then when they realized he'd expierience God 1st hand , (gone up into the 3rd heaven) they belived , then those who once liked him for his stand against the beleivers did all they could to kill him.

Sorry,but glad to tell ya:

& Paul himself called himsellf'"the least of all"..........& "worst of sinners" he knew Jesus so closely , he knew how far he was from Christ, as we all should.

He was a great evangelical preacher & helped start many churches before he was imprisoned........

Answer 5

Because our faith compels us to. God works in people's lives through these teachings. As for all the "authority" figures you quoted....who the hell are they and why should I care? It's not like they healed the sick or rose from the dead.

"Seek and ye shall find." Some people seek for reasons not to believe...small wonder that the reasons are found and in such abundance. Pouring over minutia must be exciting to some.

Also, don't quote wikipedia if you want to sound well informed. Remember, it's the encyclopedia ANYONE can edit.

Answer 6

Paul repeatedly writes of his apostolic credentials and his conversion experience where Jesus called and anointed him to preach to the gentiles.

Incidentally Paul did not write a gospel outlining all that Jesus taught - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John did.

Answer 7

I think that Paul was right about what Jesus said. And I am fully aware that so many people had other things to say about that. It doesn't bother me, only that many are misled by those other people. Here we have so many people willing to believe what other people say but not Jesus, who said many things contrary to what those other people said. And they are all dead except for Jesus.

So believe those other people if you want to, I'll believe in what Jesus said, we will see what happens!

Okay?

Answer 8

That's strange... Paul said the law was set aside just like Jesus predicted it would be. Where is this difference you're inventing?

Answer 9

I believe Paul, because I have met God, seen miracles, and experienced the truth of all what the Bible promises. And because the prophecies of the Bible came true.

Answer 10

I don't have the time nor the inclination to quote everyone who calls Islam insane.

Answer 11

Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.