Posted on 02/24/2014 2:10:01 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Many skeptics assert that Paul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) hijacked the early Christian religion, changing the theology from what Jesus originally taught. Usually offered as proof for this claim are the doctrines found in Paul's great theological work, his letter to the Romans. Without a doubt, the book of Romans contains the most complete exposition of orthodox Christian doctrines. Are these doctrines contrary to what Jesus taught? Do they conflict with the teachings of the Old Testament from which they were purportedly derived? If Paul really "invented" Christianity, then one would expect that his teachings would be different from Jesus, the other apostles, and disciples.
Christians claim that Paul of Tarsus met Jesus on a trip to persecute Christians in Damascus. Struck blind for three days, Paul waited for Ananias (one of Jesus' followers) to heal him. Converted by the experience, Paul passionately proclaimed the gospel to the Jewish and Gentile world. This gospel included doctrines including the atonement of sin through Jesus' death on the cross and justification through faith. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, indicated that he received this gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ:
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)
If it were true that Paul received his teaching directly from Jesus Christ, then surely Jesus Himself would have taught what Paul was preaching.
The basis of the gospel is the belief that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. Jesus clearly indicated that His purpose was to come to die on a cross for the sins of the world.2 This concept was not a new one, since Isaiah first prophesied that the Messiah would die for our sins.1 Paul, of course taught this doctrine,3 as did John, Luke, and Peter.4 Other crucial doctrines taught by Paul were also taught by Jesus and the disciples:
For a list of verses, see the table below.
| Doctrine | First Taught | Verse | Taught by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesus | Paul | Others | |||
| Atonement by death on cross | Isaiah | Isaiah 53:5-121 | Matthew 10:38, 16:24, 26:28, Mark 8:34, 14:24, Luke 9:23, 14:27, 22:20, John 12:32-332 | 1 Corinthians 1:18, 11:25, Ephesians 2:8, 16, Colossians 1:20, 2:143 | John 1:29, 36, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24, Revelation 5:12-14, 7:144 |
| Believe in Jesus for eternal life | Job | Job 19:25-265 | Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 9:24, John 3:166 | Romans 5:21, 6:23, 1 Timothy 1:16, Jude 1:217 | Acts 11:17-18, 1 John 5:118 |
| Righteousness by faith | Moses, Habakkuk | Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:49 | Mark 11:22, Luke 7:5010 | Romans 1:17, 3:22, 3:25-26, 4:3, 9, 11, 13, 5:17, 9:30, 10:4, 10, Galatians 3:6, 11, Philippians 3:911 | Hebrews 11:4, 7, 2 Peter 1:112 |
| Justification by faith | Moses | Genesis 15:6, Isaiah 53:1113 | Luke 7:50, 8:12 Mark 16:16, John 3:18, 5:2414 | Romans 3:28, 30, 5:1, 18, Galatians 2:16, 3:8, 2415 | James 2:2316 |
| Forgiveness of sin through faith | David | 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 86:5, Jeremiah 31:33-3417 | Matthew 9:2, 6, 26:27-28, Mark 2:5, 10-11, Luke 5:20, 24, Acts 26:1818 | Acts 26:18, Ephesians 1:7, 4:32, Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13, 3:1319 | Luke 1:76-77, Acts 2:38, 5:31, 10:43, 13:38, Hebrews 10:18-20, James 5:15, 1 John 1:7-9, 2:1220 |
| Repentance | Isaiah | Isaiah 1:27, 30:15, Ezekiel 18:3221 | Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 5:32, 13:3, 24:46-4722 | Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:9-1023 | Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, 17:30, 20:21, 2 Peter 3:924 |
Besides the core doctrines of Christianity, Paul taught on many other theological topics, also taught by Jesus. Below is a list of some of these teachings (found in the gospels) compared to what Paul taught in his letters to the churches.
| Teaching | Paul | Jesus |
|---|---|---|
| Parable of sower | 1 Corinthians 3:6-10 | Matthew 13:1-23 |
| Stumbling stone | Romans 9:33 | Matthew 18:7 |
| Ruling against divorce | 1 Corinthians 7:10 | Mark 10:11 |
| Support for apostles | 1 Corinthians 9:14 | Luke 10:7 |
| Institution of Lord's supper | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | Matthew 26:26-28 |
| Command concerning prophets | 1 Corinthians 14:37 | Matthew 23:34 |
| Lord's return | 1 Thessalonians 4:15 | Matthew 24:1-51 |
| Blessing of the persecuted | Romans 12:14 | Luke 6:27 |
| Don't repay evil with evil | Romans 12:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15 | Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27 |
| Pay taxes to authorities | Romans 13:7 | Mark 12:12-17 |
| No stumbling block | Romans 14:13 | Mark 9:42 |
| Nothing is unclean | Romans 14:14 | Mark 7:15 |
| Thief in the night
|
1 Thessalonians 5:2 | Luke 12:39 |
| Peace among yourselves | 1 Thessalonians 5:13 | Mark 9:50 |
| Peace with everyone | Romans 12:18 | Mark 9:50 |
| Do not judge | Romans 13:10 | Luke 6:37 |
The claim is often made in skeptical circles that Paul never describes the man Jesus of Nazareth, but only refers to a celestial Jesus. Of course, the claim is false, although the claim seems to be believed by a number of skeptics who probably never read any of Paul's New Testament books. In reality, Paul indicates that Jesus came into the world,25 and that he himself saw Him.26 In addition, Paul states that Jesus was a man27 made of flesh,28 ate and drank,29 bled,30 was crucified,31 died,32 and was raised from the dead.33 These are not the kinds of things that happen to some ghost Jesus. In virtually every book he authored (over 80 verses that I found), Paul clearly makes reference to Jesus the man, who lived and died on earth.
| Physical Attribute | Verses |
|---|---|
| Jesus came into the world | 1 Timothy 1:15, Philippians 2:5-825 |
| Jesus was seen by Paul | 1 Corinthians 9:126 |
| Jesus was a man | Romans 5:15, 1 Timothy 2:5, Philippians 2:5-827 |
| Jesus was flesh | Romans 1:3, 8:3, 9:5, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Ephesians 2:14-15, 1 Timothy 3:1628 |
| Jesus ate and drank | 1 Corinthians 11:23-2529 |
| Jesus bled | Romans 3:24-25, 5:9, 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:25, 27 Ephesians 1:7, 2:13, Colossians 1:2030 |
| Jesus was crucified | 1 Corinthians 1:13, 23, 2:2, 8, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 3:1, Philippians 2:831 |
| Jesus died | Romans 5:6, 8, 10 6:3, 5, 9-10, 8:34, 14:9, 15, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 11:26 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Galatians 2:21, Philippians 2:8, 3:10, Colossians 1:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 5:1032 |
| Jesus was raised from the dead | Romans 1:4, 4:24-25, 6:4-5 9, 7:4, 8:11, 34, 9:17, 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:4, 12-17, 20, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 5:15 Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:1433 |
The idea that Paul invented Christianity out of some theological vacuum is completely without merit. Although Paul's Letter to the Romans is radically different from just about any other book of the Bible, the teachings found in the Book of Romans is also found in the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and the teachings of the disciples. So, Paul didn't just make up doctrines to create a new religion. However, he did write the greatest theological treatise of all time in the Book of Romans. Not only are the core doctrines of Christianity found outside Paul's writings, but Paul himself taught many other theological issues that reflect the teachings of Jesus during His years of ministry. Contrary to the claims of some, Paul did not just write about some "cosmic Jesus," but described Jesus as a real man who lived and died on planet earth. In conclusion, Paul of Tarsus did not invent Christianity, but clarified the teachings of the Bible as no other Bible author ever has. In addition to his great theological writings, Paul was Christianity's greatest evangelist.
Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? by David Wenham. Oxford New Testament lecturer Wenham examines the question, Was Paul thoroughly aware of Jesus' life and teaching, or did he largely create Christianity himself? Most of the discussion utilizes comparison of brief passages from the Epistles to the final written Gospels. Wenham points out both parallels and divergences, considering how Paul's writings and teachings may have influenced the oral traditions and early written texts that coalesced into the Gospels, and vice versa. He makes a strong case that most, but not all, of Paul's beliefs conform to the received Jesus tradition.
Tarsians?
Adultery was pretty big to Jesus. Met a lot of Christians who have re-married.
My guess is these folks are the ones who don't like what Paul has to say about sexual sins. They don't like being told that what they want to do is sinful, so they'll just pretend it's not.
Bingo!
Because a human brings them closer to God?
And don’t forget, the United States could never have been founded without Jesus’ influence.
This from an OT believer.
Ah the Hebrew Bible is His-story, from the 'beginning' Genesis 1:1 to tracing the lineage from which He would be born, and all the named peoples they came in contact with down through the generations. Psalms 22 is but one point in authenticity. Why Christ is named right there in Genesis 2:9 symbolically called the 'tree of life'.
Seems interesting that some do the very thing they accuse others of doing/being.
That doesn't make any sense...Jesus never wrote anything...Everything in the red letters in the Gospels are 2nd hand information just as is the writing of Paul...
The Gospels are no more authoritative than the epistles...
Well done article to have on hand! Thank you.
Perhaps it is because we recognize that Jesus IS the promised Messiah? We can look at the three HUNDRED plus prophecies given in the Hebrew Bible and discover that they were fulfilled by the historical Jesus (with the exception of those few future ones yet to be).
Do you actually think that Christians just invented their religion based upon nothing? Jesus of Nazareth was a REAL person, he rose from the dead after his brutal crucifixion - witnessed by hundreds of people, he performed miracles and his teachings were based on the SPIRIT of the Law of Moses and the purpose of the Almighty in the affairs of His creation. He came to earth and dwelt among us, lived a sinless life and died on a cruel cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His resurrection was the ultimate proof that He was who He claimed to be.
Not everyone will believe and receive this truth - that was also foretold - and Jesus would be rejected by His own people - another one of those prophecies. But one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
I was thinking the same thing! Do the initials J.A. ring a bell?
What people who think this way forget it that the Holy Spirit is who inspired/breathed/carried along the writers of sacred Scripture and it was not any one person's own imaginings that got written down. Paul's epistles are every bit Scripture as the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as well as Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, etc. God's word is God's word.
Amen! Exactly.
The Gospels are no more authoritative than the epistles...
While both are fabulous, I give a bit more credibility to the scriptures that were heard directly as Jesus was teaching during His time in a physical body on earth. Those words are the red letter words.
Paul did not meet Jesus while He was alive. Everything Paul received was through his connection with Jesus by going within, by reading the Gospels, or by speaking with people who heard Jesus first hand. Thus Paul’s writings do not include read letter words. While Paul’s writings were divinely inspired, I am not sure he was always a pure channel of Jesus’ thoughts as often Paul’s personal bias from formerly being a Pharisee came through. However, he also had great insights from Jesus that Jesus had not shared while in the physical body. Remember Jesus originally thought that His ministry was only for the Jews and His realization changed during His life.
Paul spent 3 years learning from the Risen Lord...
Paul mentions some of his own relatives in Romans 16: Andronikos, Iounias, Herodion. The first two were Christians before he was, and were his fellow-prisoners. There is some uncertainty about the second name--a few manuscripts read "Ioulian" which would be the accusative of Julia. I suppose it could be either a man's name (Iounias = Junias) or a woman's name (Junia).
It would be interesting to know Paul's full Roman name--it might give a clue as to when his family acquired Roman citizenship. If his nomen was Junius, then it could mean an ancestor was rewarded with Roman citizenship by Marcus Junius Brutus, the tyrannicide, but that would be sheer speculation. If his nomen was Julius, the family could have been citizenship by Julius Caesar or by Augustus.
Paul referenced the Old Testament much more often than the teachings of Jesus. If anything, he should be accused of trying to keep early Christians close to Judaism.
I’d be interested on your take after reading the work referenced at #8.
As every cult has claimed about its leader. And this one was executed by Heaven for blasphemy.
And don’t forget, the United States could never have been founded without Jesus’ influence.
So?
The United States is neither the chosen nation nor the Mashiach.
Often when you are learning from the Risen Lord it is difficult to hear. It is very difficult to be in a physical body and stay connected at the level of the Risen Lord.
Jesus is there all the time for us equally. All it takes is one stumble and you are off the station and can’t hear the music. It’s a constant struggle to stay tuned in. (the concept of rapture is merely being raised up to the level of connection)
When we are not tuned in, our personal bias and unresolved conflicts get injected into the message. That has happened to Paul. That does not take away from his greatness or the wonderful wisdom he conveyed to us through his letters.
But why do you grant the "new testament" the authority to authoritatively declare that J*sus was the fulfillment of those prophecies?
Why does no one ever answer my question?
Psalms 22 is but one point in authenticity.
Chrstianity claims Psalm 22 refers to J*sus. Why do you accept chrstianity's claim at face value? The claim is not actually in the text of the TaNa"KH but imported from outside.
Why Christ is named right there in Genesis 2:9 symbolically called the 'tree of life'.
ARG! How do you know the Tree of Life is J*sus? Genesis doesn't say it's J*sus--the "new testament" does. Why do you accept the "new testament" and its interpretation of the Hebrew Bible from the very outset? You don't even subject it to proof; you accept it as a given! Can't you see how fallacious that is?
By the way . . . it’s not the “old testament.” As long as you insist on calling it that you have a problem.
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