Replies

he wasn’t there to hear Jesus.
Acts 9:4,5 heard a voice saying to him "Saul, saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
And he said Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said "I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads".

Saul (later Paul) was well aware of Jesus and His teachings from either first hand witnesses or he heard Jesus speaking to crowds but did nothing. If that's tradition then so was last nights news. He followed the party line (like Catholics do) and did not become a follower of Jesus but remained a devout Pharisee (until his conversion).

he wasn’t there to hear Jesus.

Acts 9:4,5 heard a voice saying to him "Saul, saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said "I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads". Saul (later Paul) was well aware of Jesus and His teachings from either first hand witnesses or he heard Jesus speaking to crowds but did nothing. If that's tradition then so was last nights news. He followed the party line (like Catholics do) and did not become a follower of Jesus but remained a devout Pharisee (until his conversion).

Yet, Paul DID receive direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ. For example:

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you... (I Corinthians 11:23)

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11,12)

I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. (Galatians 2:2)

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. (Ephesians 3:3)

According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

Don't misunderstand, I'm not at all dismissing the importance of the passing on orally of the truths Jesus taught, just that such oral "traditions" are not above the Scriptures and all such tenets of the Christian faith - those held to be binding upon a follower of Christ - should have their basis and proof from the revealed word, the Holy Scriptures. Relying solely upon humans to preserve revealed truths by an oral passing on of teachings/traditions is inferior to the written Scriptures and is why we can thank Almighty God that it is HE who has ensured we still have them to this day.

Saul (later Paul) was well aware of Jesus and His teachings from either first hand witnesses or he heard Jesus speaking to crowds but did nothing. If that's tradition then so was last nights news.

According to Catholic Redefinition of Words (CRW), yes, hearing something or telling someone something qualifies as *tradition*, just like me asking you to pray for me qualifies as praying to you.

It's beyond ridiculous what people will do to words just to justify or excuse themselves.