Joseph Smith.
Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV)
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
You either accept this as God’s Truth, or you must rip out every one of Paul’s letters. A casual reading of his revelation however, even by a baby in Christ, reveals that it is straight from Heaven. The Gospels were written so that you might believe Jesus is the Messiah (John 20:30-31). Paul’s letters are written TO the Church, so that Believers understand who they are in Christ. And it unveils the Mystery - that was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. (Ephesians 3:5)
I can understand why proponents of organized religion fear Paul’s revelation. Once those trapped in religious bondage get a taste of the freedom they have in Christ, they will never turn back to the beggarly and elementary things of the world.
Galatians 4:9 (AMP)
9 Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become?
Galatians 4:12 (AMP)
12 Brethren, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I also have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [in the days when I first came to you; do not do it now].
I think even Paul clarified there is one Gospel and it was taught by all the disciples and apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NASB
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
Amen! Good article, thanks.
Christ said this about the Apostle Paul.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A15&version=NASB
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”
I think all folks who try to pit Christ off against the apostle He Himself chose should remember this.
Paul simply was and is Christ still speaking to us via his letters to the Christian communities.
Only TWO choices?
Jesus Christ is the founder of Christianity, laid the foundation, His church and man invented religion!
No, God hijacked Paul on the Road To Damascus, and Paul decided the wisest thing for him to do would be listen to, and obey God. All men should do the same!
How about Paul simply articulated Christianity?
He was not married, he had a problem with women, 'Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.'
Does your wife keep silent?
Explain this one, 'It is good for a man not to touch a woman.' No straight man ever said that, plus the first mitzvot is be fruitful and multiply.
What else has he written? His first chapter in Romans deals with homosexuality. Hmm, there's a clue. And finally, 'Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.'
Well the lion has a mane and the lioness short hair so nature says what? And his last comment 'we have no such custom' renders that argument mute, it's the verbal equivalent of a dog chasing his tail.
And the last comment is about fashion, and who knows fashion better than gay men? And do I have to tell you what a 'thorn in the flesh' describes? Well Yakkov wrote 'Confess your trespasses to one another' so looks like he did.
Now I know why his work is called 'The Pauline Letters.'
The guy had three names. Shaul to the Hebrews, Paul to the goyim and Pauline on Saturday night.
Did Flavius Josephus and Roman writers invent Paul and Christianity?
Al Gore... in a previous life...invented Christianity...everyone knows that... /s
Acts 15
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up , and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe .
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness , giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence , and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace , James answered , saying , Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written ,
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well .
30 So when they were dismissed , they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together , they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read , they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Paul being THE apostle to the gentile and the one who invented Christianity come from his own words
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:
what did Paul say regarding this same account?
Gal 2
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
How about what it says in acts 29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:
Why did Paul leave that out?
Did Paul deny that Peter had been sent to the Gentiles? no but in Paul`s letter to the Galatians he said
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Acts does not record any thing like that.
I believe it was because Paul may have been getting old and senile but regardless of the reason it is contradictions and pretty big ones which would give people reason to doubt Paul.
It’s irrelevant if one believes Paul was fraud and Christ was merely an ordinary mortal. It’s of no intellectual consequence to those of us that disagree.
Where would Christianity be without Paul? Seems to me that he was a tool used by the Big Puppeteer to assist taking the Good News to Gentiles...like me.