The Apostle Paul - why some want to dismiss him

[Orion]

We must neither dismiss Paul's writings, nor must we teach that those writings teach a different gospel message than that which Jesus and the other apostles taught. 

[Vine Abider]

6 hours ago, timf said:

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.

 

This is interesting . . . while there may be some differences in NT scripture between jew and gentile (as you mentioned), the middle wall between them has also been broken down in Christ.

Also, taking the separation reasoning to an extreme has some people saying Paul preached a different gospel from Jesus and the twelve, and therefore he wasn't legit.

[Vine Abider]

On 6/4/2025 at 5:36 PM, Mama Etna said:

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

 

On 6/4/2025 at 6:03 PM, Michael37 said:

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

Indeed!  As for myself, I wonder where I'd be in my Christian life without chapters like Romans 7-8! In those chapters, Paul lays out the foundational nuts and bolts of our so-great-a-salvation via "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." And exposes the flesh and what we can expect from it. And so, so much more!

[Vine Abider]

On 6/4/2025 at 7:34 PM, other one said:

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.

Yes - he reasons with them and shows them where they are in error and how they should focus on Christ as their life and only solution!

[Vine Abider]

17 hours 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.

And these ones often want to tolerate sin in the world to show our "love" - for instance, with homosexuality and other sexual deviations. Plus some would view Paul as misogynistic.  But this often results in the church and world being married with little difference. 

[TheBlade]

I see it as the sweet sweet holy Spirit talking. But why do we consider it scripture? Is it because our forefathers all voted and said it was and other things? I believe knowing He already put those books together. I can read the Quran or say the 2nd book of Mormon and its empty  you know what I mean? But I think we should know why we believe not just because we were taught.  

As to why some reject him.. I truly don't know could be part of his past.. 

Song playing by Sons of Sundy.."One more day" you gave me one lord day to say I love you.. thank you Jesus thank you Jesus thank you Jesus cause you gave me one more day.. one more day

 

[Ray12614]

Simply put . . . its Cafeteria Christianity that causes people to reject the teachings of Paul . . . . 

Yes . . . give me that deep fried food, yes give me some of that sugary dessert, yes . . . give me ice cream . . . NO . . . I don't want any vegetables . . . no . . . I will pass on spinach and salad greens . . . 

Oh yes . . . give me the free salvation of grace through faith . . .

No . . . I don't want accountability, no . . . I don't want to forsake sin, no . . . I don't want to change my life and live for Jesus . . . 

Yes . . . I like certain truths of the Bible, but, other truths that demand change in my life . . . ummm . . . not today . . . maybe tomorrow.

When we pick and choose our spiritual nutrition from the Bible we often reject truth that we should be consuming and end up spiritually malnourished and off-balanced.

 

 

[Sower]

I suppose I never considered anything in the bible to be at fault, till I started reading these posts online, here.
I come to realize also that MOST online christians do not assemble together as was instructed in God's word.
This causes me to have less confidence in their credibility in understanding/interpreting/adhering to scriptures.

As for the writings of Paul, I've never considered the name of the inspired writing's author. If inspired, it was GOD talking.
I reckon there are a lot of "christians" who are cherry pickers, desiring to find an escape for their sin(s).
They believe Paul was perhaps just meddling. He was, for what God gave him to do, in his OWN inspired way.

If I cannot have faith in the writings of Paul, then I have to throw away all my books that contain the word.
This subject on the truth/untruth of the scriptures confuses me amuses me. I remember, we're at that time.
End times. A great falling away time. But God is Light, and no shadows(darkness). He wrote the program!
I have realized there is going to be a lot more questioning/attacking of scriptures as the day approaches.

I gotta be strong in the faith, and acknowledge the Father in this area. He WILL make straight my path.
His promises are true, all of them..

Thanks VA...

 

[biblelesson]

Those who dismiss Paul’s writings simply don’t understand why Paul’s epistles we’re written, to include why the other epistles were written. 
 
First Jesus went directly to Paul and converted him and taught him the gospel of salvation for the Gentiles sake, and for the Jews sake, and for the world sake.
Paul was to present the gospel of salvation, and without it, there can be no salvation.

Yes, we are saved in Christ Jesus through faith, but then through the gospel, that is, Paul’s writings and the other epistles, we must be sealed by the Holy Spirit, conformed to the image of Christ, be filled with the Spirit of Christ, have our mind renewed by the Spirit, be strengthened to wrestle NOT with flesh and blood, be thrown in the furnace of fire - chastisement, grow up in the New Man, and produce the Fruit of the Spirit, all of which is a process the gospel carries us through. 
 

The gospel, the New Testament, is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes - without it we forfeit salvation. 
Romans 1:16 KJV, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The New Testament came in full force at Jesus death on the cross. 

Hebrews 9:

¹⁶ For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (Jesus is the Testator of the New Testament). 

¹⁷ For a testament is of force after men are dead: [Jesus] otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

Edited 1 hour ago by biblelesson

[biblelesson]

On 6/6/2025 at 5:13 PM, Sower said:

I suppose I never considered anything in the bible to be at fault, till I started reading these posts online, here.
I come to realize also that MOST online christians do not assemble together as was instructed in God's word.
This causes me to have less confidence in their credibility in understanding/interpreting/adhering to scriptures.

As for the writings of Paul, I've never considered the name of the inspired writing's author. If inspired, it was GOD talking.
I reckon there are a lot of "christians" who are cherry pickers, desiring to find an escape for their sin(s).
They believe Paul was perhaps just meddling. He was, for what God gave him to do, in his OWN inspired way.

If I cannot have faith in the writings of Paul, then I have to throw away all my books that contain the word.
This subject on the truth/untruth of the scriptures confuses me amuses me. I remember, we're at that time.
End times. A great falling away time. But God is Light, and no shadows(darkness). He wrote the program!
I have realized there is going to be a lot more questioning/attacking of scriptures as the day approaches.

I gotta be strong in the faith, and acknowledge the Father in this area. He WILL make straight my path.
His promises are true, all of them..

Thanks VA...

 

Amen! Yes, we must go to God outside the camp!

Exodus 33:7 KJV

Hebrews 13:12-13 KJV
12   Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 
13   Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

(Letting go of what others believe that might oppose God’s word - God has sanctified us unto Christ; we are separated - outside the camp!) 

Edited 58 minutes ago by biblelesson