Was Paul confused when he revealed the temporary nature of the Sinai Covenant in Galatians 3:16-29, when he said the law was "added" 430 years "after" the promise made to Abraham "until" the seed (Christ) could come to whom the promise was made?
Do you think Paul was confused when he compelled the Galatian believers to "cast out" the Sinai Covenant of "bondage" in Galatians 4:24-31?
Was Paul confused in 2 Corinthians 3:6-8, when he contrasted the "ministry of death written on stones" to the ministry of the Spirit?
Was the author of the Book of Hebrews confused in Hebrews 7:12, when he said there was a change in the law?
Did the New Covenant really make the Old Covenant "obsolete" in Hebrews 8:13?
Is there really a contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in Hebrews 12:18-24, or are we really still come to the mountain that burns with fire?
What is the difference between what you are saying and what the Judaisers said in Acts chapter 15?
Does the following command us to keep a Sabbath day?
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Are there two separate sets of commandments in the words of Christ below, or are there only one?
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Below we find that we are under a higher standard, not for our salvation, but for our conduct.
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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I personally do not use Paul as an authority but others who believe the same as me do use Paul to support their position; I am able to discuss what Paul has to say.
I do not think Paul was confused, he may have had a different agenda to what many think.
Those who believe the commandments are the Law use Paul to support their case and those who say the Law (covenant) is abrogated use the same words of Paul to support their case. It is not to do with interpretation it is to do with what one starts with. If one believe the law is abrogated the one will read that into Paul's words and if one believes the Law/ covenant is not abrogated then the Law unchanged is read into Paul's words.
Regarding the Law most of Paul's arguments are with Jews and Paul's epistles are only one side of a conversation. Galatians 3:16-29, Paul is arguing with Jews who want to continue with their doctrines of men. Pauls supports my point of view.
Galatians 3:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Therefore the law was our tutor
to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
previously Paul has said the Law cannot annul the promise made to Abraham of Christ; 24 Paul is saying that the Law was the instructor that leads Jews to Christ; 25 After arriving at Christ a person does not need further instruction because his knowledge of the Law is sufficient. Paul argues that the Law cannot be a substitute for Christ.
Galatians 4:24-31, I don't see Paul being confused here; I do not see why Paul thought he needed to bring Ishmael and his mother into the discussion; but like I said before, we only have one side of this private discussion.
2 Corinthians 3: You must be joking! God has said His Law is perfect; the plan of salvation has always been about life and death; Paul has a habit of trying not to offend the Jews, so he seems to say, "it wasn't your fault, the Law failed", but it remains true the way of the Lord is narrow and few find it most go the broad way to destruction.
Hebrews 7:12, What you are doing is taking words literally; I do not think the writer means what you think. There could be reasons why the author neglected to place name at the head of this epistle. once again this epistle is one side of a private conversation, and semantics could play a part. from the text I conclude those being spoken to have not accepted Christ and still want to kill sheep.
Hebrews 7:12 (NKJV)
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
What is this bloke talking about; changing the five Books, deleting the foundation that Christ is the lamb of; changing the Law applicable to the Priesthood? If he is talking about changes to the Law applicable to the priesthood and to the sacrifice then what does he mean by change; there is a change to the frequency; the sacrifice daily, weekly and annually is changed once only but if the Law was deleted, the priesthood and the sacrifice would be meaningless and useless. If he means to change the Law as a whole this anomalous writer would need to be greater than Christ who said it may not be changed.
Hebrews 8:13 (NKJV)
13 In that He says,
"A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
The only thing about Hebrews that suggest the author was confused is he neglected to put his name on it; and he didn't make allowances for people taking him literally. I assume he knows what he is talking about but is not a good communicator. His semantical approach here does not confuse me; there are two covenants that produce the same fruit; they differ not in Law but in application; the two fundament differences is the mediator and the sacrifice. Another difference in the OT a person had to write the Law on their own heart now the Law is written on their heart for them without them having to learn it.
The words "Law" and "covenant" are interchangeable.
Mathew 5:18
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the covenant till all is fulfilled.
Hebrews 12:18-24 Why shouldn't there be a contrast; in the previous covenant there was the great God and Moses the mediator and the new covenant we have God in human form who is also the mediator. The fire is to do with God not the covenant.
Acts 15. I am not a Judaist, I don' follow doctrines of men, although plenty would accuse me and burn me at the stake and I have only read verse one. Moses never owned the Law/covenant he was only ever the mediator of the Law/covenant; it is always God's Law and God's covenant.
Col 2:16, Col 2:17, Who is Paul that he could command anything. Abetter question would be, "Does Paul ever suggest people should not keep the Sabbath?" and the answer is no.
John 15:10, What possible reason could there be for Jesus' commandments being different to His Fathers. You have heard of the two witnesses; Jesus said, if He says anything that his Father does not witness then it is not true. If Jesus' commandments were different to His Father's the change would need to be pre-empted in OT prophesy.