The Apostle Paul - why some want to dismiss him

[Vine Abider]

I've become more aware that various ones would like to dismiss Paul the apostle and discredit his writings.  Paul is the most prolific writer of the New Testament if number of epistles are counted (Luke actually writes more by volume via gospel of Luke and Acts).  By far, Paul addresses more topics and issues than any other writer of the NT.

And all those topics he covers brings him under fire, as he touches a lot of nerves, including:

>Drunkenness

>Homosexuality

>Husband/Wife relations

>Men & woman's roles

>Other sexual moralities

>Not stumbling others with certain practices, etc.

And Paul also conveys some of the highest vision (which some also object to):

>The ekklesia as the body of Christ (this is unique to Paul)

>Flesh vs. spirit

>Freedom in Christ vs legalism

>Indwelling Christ

Bottom-line to me is the Lord has used Paul's writings to speak to me for decades, therefore I have no doubt he is a legitimate apostle  (plus Peter confirms in 2 Pet 3:15-16), speaking some very high vision, but also a multitude of practical things in our pursuit of Christ.

Are there other reasons Paul is disparaged by some that I've not listed?  What are your thought on this?

 

[Alive]

I think the notion is foolishness and that is mild.

Its plain that God made sure the Church has exactly what we need in the canon.

[AnOrangeCat]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

Are there other reasons Paul is disparaged by some that I've not listed?  What are your thought on this?

I overheard a conversation once that touched on this. What it boiled down to was that Jesus seemed to simplify things, based on things like the two great commandments, the policy of showing mercy to obtain mercy, and emphasis on our hearts being in the right place. Then when you look at Paul he delved into some more complicated concepts and some standards of behavior. I personally don't see an incompatibility. They each had their own points of emphasis. The different perspectives and approaches are going to appeal and make more sense to different people.

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

Bottom-line to me is the Lord has used Paul's writings to speak to me for decades, therefore I have no doubt he is a legitimate apostle  (plus Peter confirms in 2 Pet 3:15-16), speaking some very high vision, but also a multitude of practical things in our pursuit of Christ.

I've gotten a lot out of his writings as well. Romans 14, the body of Christ, a few parts of Philippians, and not causing others to stumble are the ones that I find myself referencing the most when I speak to others using Paul's writings.

[Cyoder]

I had those thoughts myself my first time through the Bible. Was his contribution needed?  Jesus said everything he needed to say.  He made things very clear, then Paul was all about the church which is corrupted by man.  The church that has veered away from what the Bible originally taught.  What I keep going back to is I don't believe God would allow that deception in the Bible.  He couldn't possibly allow people to trust in Paul if he was going against God.  Then there were all of the sacrifices Paul made to spread the Gospel.  Being beaten, jailed, shipwrecked.  I don't doubt it anymore.

[Vine Abider]

3 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I've gotten a lot out of his writings as well. Romans 14, the body of Christ, a few parts of Philippians, and not causing others to stumble are the ones that I find myself referencing the most when I speak to others using Paul's writings.

I see Paul's writings as having some of the best explanations of this new life of Christ in us, our "treasure in earthen vessels."  And he is the only who speaks of Christ and the church in such a way as is revealed in books like Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Galatians. The union of Christ within us, and the manifestation of Him through us, is something Paul really zeros in on - both on the spiritual and on the practical sides.

If we had to, I think could get by without Peter or John's writings (I would certainly miss those though!).  But if Paul's epistles were removed I think there would be a huge part missing, concerning the revelation of what Christ is doing in and through us!

[Mama Etna]

I have found the letters of Paul quite liberating to me as a Christian.  My favorite is his letter to the Romans.

[Debp]

These are strange times when some that claim to be Christians would try to pick apart the Word of God.    All of the Word of God is written for our benefit.

[Michael37]

7 minutes ago, Debp said:

These are strange times when some that claim to be Christians would try to pick apart the Word of God.    All of the Word of God is written for our benefit.

I agree with those who consider Paul's writings to be indispensable to Christian Life and Service.

[other one]

Pauls letters spend a lot of time showing the early churches what they were doing wrong.  Some churches, who don't listen to his teachings,  are still doing it wrong and that is why I think it's important.

[timf]

Paul's writing does seem to have a different emphasis than the writing of James, Peter, and John. This might be that those writing to the faithful remnant of Israel awaiting the possible return of Christ to establish the earthly kingdom had a different gospel than the gentiles.

Gal 2:7  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

The two gospels have salvation by faith in common. Paul was called to be the apostle to the gentiles and dispense God's grace to them.

Eph_3:2  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

The theology of dispensationalism has been losing ground recently and many hate the idea of differentiating Paul from the Hebrew writers or the gospels.

The earthly kingdom would require the acceptance of Israel of their king. One might see in the calling of Paul the provision of a way for the nations to hear about the grace of God should Israel not respond to the kingdom offer. The book of Revelation describes a horrific time in the future when a faithful remnant of Israel will be enthusiastic to receive the earthly kingdom.

If one looks at the kingdom gospel of an earthly kingdom for the nation of Israel as distinct from the individual gospel of grace for the gentiles, many seeming differences in the New Testament are resolved. For example, those of Israel are told to endure, while gentile believers are told they are complete in Christ.