[kosta50]

I had asked before not to quote Paul. It seems that your whole concept of Christianity, or 90% or more, comes from Paul.

That Paul was suspected of Gnosticism is not my invention either and is not maligning him. He was worse than that before he converted -- he persecuted Chirstians. It also does not say that he did not become a great Christian because of his earlier beliefs and deeds. I also said that he saved Christianity from certain death. I would intentionally not go beyond that statement.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

To be clear so we can all understand just what you're speculating about the apostle Paul, are any of his beliefs POST-conversion thought by you to be "gnostic?"

Or just some of his PRE-conversion beliefs when he was universally-recognized to be a chief tormentor of Christians?

[Gamecock]

**It seems that your whole concept of Christianity, or 90% or more, comes from Paul.**

How is Paul any different than the red letters of Christ? Or from any other NT writer? Anything more than a superficial scanning of the NT shows the consistency that you expect from the same author.

[1000 silverlings]

That Paul was suspected of Gnosticism is not my invention either and is not maligning him

What exactly did he preach that was said to be gnostic? Thanks

[HarleyD]

That Paul was suspected of Gnosticism is not my invention either and is not maligning him.

It's my suspicion that you will not get your Orthodox brothers nor the Orthodox Church to agree with you on this one.

[fortheDeclaration]

That Paul was suspected of Gnosticism is not my invention either and is not maligning him. He was worse than that before he converted -- he persecuted Chirstians. It also does not say that he did not become a great Christian because of his earlier beliefs and deeds. I also said that he saved Christianity from certain death. I would intentionally not go beyond that statement.

The implication was that some of his gnostic belief's (if he had them) crept into his writings.

Paul was a Pharisee, a legalist, not a philosopher.

The issue of how Calvinism has interpreted those verses that deal with election is for another thread.

Also, regarding the number of the Apostles.

There were actually more then 14, there were about 19.

But only 12 were considered the original Jewish ones, the others were to the Gentiles, including Paul, James the Lords brother (not cousin), Barnabas, Silvanus, and Timothy, Andronicus and Junias.