Were Paul's writings trustworthy?

Did Paul's words have the same authority as Jesus'?

Yes, when he spoke for Jesus. Galatians 1:

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

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1 Corinthians 14:

37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

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In this bold statement, Paul asserted that his instructions carried the weight of the Lord’s command. He expected others to recognize his writings as authoritative and divinely inspired.

1 Thessalonians 2:

13 We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

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1 Corinthians 9:

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

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Paul defended his apostolic authority, pointing to the fruit of his ministry among the Corinthians as evidence of his calling and trustworthiness.

2 Peter 3:

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

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By equating Paul’s writings with the other Scriptures, Peter affirmed their divine inspiration and trustworthiness.

However, not every word of Paul was directly from Jesus.

1 Corinthians 7:

25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

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2 Corinthians 11:

17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

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Paul's writings are considered trustworthy and authoritative by many Christians, particularly within the context of his apostolic role and the early church's recognition of his divine inspiration. However, it is important to distinguish between his direct teachings from the Lord and his personal judgments or cultural applications. Ultimately, the trustworthiness of Paul's writings is affirmed by their alignment with the teachings of Jesus, their acceptance as Scripture, and their enduring influence on Christian thought and practice.