I believe God's Word (and God's word) wholeheartedly. It is the bleatings of failed Catholics that I regard worthy of some weighted consideration.
From Matthew through Acts 8 you will find Israel's prophesied and long awaited Kingdom promised to them and offered to them through Christ's earthly ministry and the day of Pentecost, up until the stoning of Stephen. Acts 8 ends with Stephen looking up into heaven, and seeing the glory of God, and Jesus Christ STANDING on the right hand of God. STANDING, NOT SITTING.
You mean Acts 7?
WHY? Judgement was about to fall. Standing means judgement. Israel had allowed the murder of John the Baptist, demanded the murder of Jesus Christ, and actually murdered Stephan themselves. Strike three. They're out. Judgement time.
Who says that Jesus standing means Judgement? Your thesis is getting rather thin on the proofs. Strike three is an American creation. Are you saying that God's actions in Biblical times prefigures baseball?
Paul was commissioned to a two-fold ministry during the Acts period (Acts 9:15 with Acts 13:3, 47; 26:16-19). FIRST, Paul had a ministry of CONFIRMATION to the JEWS. That Jesus Christ was INDEED the Messiah. Remember, Paul was both Jew and Roman. Paul preached to the Jews concerning Jesus, the promised Messiah (Acts 13:14-41; 18:5; 26:22, 28:23). HENCE, Paul went to the JEW FIRST (Rom. 1:16 with Acts 13:5,24,46). SECONDLY, Paul had a ministry of REVELATION. Paul preached the UNSEARCHABLE (UNPROPHESIED) riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8); that is, the gospel of the UNCIRCUMCISION (Gal. 2:7), or the ministry of reconciliation by grace alone (2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 2:8-9). This means that Paul preached the dispensation (fellowship) of the mystery (Eph. 3:9).
Oh, now the tune has changed. Now Paul is to the Jews and the Gentiles. Play on.
One more thing, for your consideration: The message and commission of the twelve was based on Israel's ACCEPTANCE of Christ. The message and commission of Paul was based on Israel's REJECTION of Christ.
Oh dear, the tune has changed back. So none of the 12's activities to the Gentiles matters? Only Paul's activities to the Jews matter?
Oh, and one more one more thing. Have you ever read in any of Paul's epistles that he was given authority to remit sins? He was an apostle. Yet you will not find a single Scripture that says Paul remitted sins. Have you ever wondered why?
It wasn't his job. He said what his job was: to sell this new religion. Paul was a functionary of the Church - a loud and mouthy and pushy Herb Tarlek. With a loud plaid coat and wide tie and a blinding white grin.
It fell to Peter and the original Apostles to form the hierarchy of the Church - the keepers of orthodoxy. They started off rather shaky - even Paul had to remind them - but remember that it was to Peter that Paul had to turn and to get his vetting, and to get his blessing later on.
No, I shall reject your thesis. Scripture records Paul as the super salesman, being Jew to Jew and Greek to Greek. He is all things to all men. Peter tells us that to misinterpret Paul will lead to our destruction. The rubble of the Reformation and the ruin of the Restoration testify to the truth of this tidbit.
Let this be your last description of the Apostle Paul that resonates through your posts about how much the Catholic Church respects Paul. That he was a great apostle.
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Rom. 2:16.
And let that be the day that you realize this truth.
Another one for you homepage, gamecock.