Apostle Paul

[Norah63]

Is there any specific reason that some Christians will not receive the teachings of Paul? His teachings do not soft pedal sin, but why would anyone want a way to avoid so many scriptures.
Has anyone else notices this as they read the forums?

 

[Christownsme]

I've seen that too on the forums.

I'd rather read about Jesus than read about Paul's teachings, but that doesn't mean I don't believe Paul's teachings come from the Holy Spirit himself, and that they aren't important. I just choose Jesus' life story because it is rare footage into the life and ministry he had, so rare because I don't think historians catch much of his purpose.

 

[thesunisout]

Is there any specific reason that some Christians will not receive the teachings of Paul? His teachings do not soft pedal sin, but why would anyone want a way to avoid so many scriptures.
Has anyone else notices this as they read the forums?

2 Titus 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Titus 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

People hate Paul because he offends their worldly sensibilities. If someone hates what the Holy Spirit taught through Paul, it is because they are under deception and they prefer comfortable lies to the real truth. Ironically the truth that Jesus taught is no more tolerable to this mixing in of worldliness, but their spiritual blindness prevents them from seeing it.

 

[lismore]

Well said thesunisout

 

[Elvis1234]

I find it is bred out of 2 things. 1, wanting to put yourself under the law, to try and be justified by it(we know Paul clears this situation up nicely) and 2, Paul writes of many things that are hard to understand and the impression is that if you remove Paul from the equation, things become simple(but they dont).

 

[miamited]

Hi Norah,

Yes, and of all the people written of in the new covenant, I want to be like Paul. Yes, I want to follow Jesus, but I know that I will never measure up to him. I must depend on his work to satisfy his Father's righteous requirement, but as one purely human being, born of the joining of a man's seed with a woman's seed, it is Paul that I would choose to emulate. Living in the world but not of the world. Teaching the truth of our Savior, yet being human in every way just as he was.

I am confident that if I stand before God trusting in the work of His Son and strive to live a life that is exampled by Paul, then all things will be very good in the eyes of my God. Paul was commissioned to be the teacher of the Gentiles and I would no more turn away from accepting his teaching and striving to live as he lived than to cut off my own arm.

I believe firmly that those who would turn against or ignore the teachings of Paul are just exactly what Peter wrote of them: 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.

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted

 

[dabro]

I enjoy Paul out of all the Apostles.......He was chosen in a abnormal way and he truly believed everything was about Christ. IDK why ppl take offence to Paul. He knew the OT before he received Christ so God had a special plan for him. He explains in great detail what it is like to be a true child of God. To growing up and chastisment. To not judging and to LOVE most of all. I think ppl just don't want to give up something that they are required of and it makes it hard for them to truly know the depth of being a disciple. Jesus alone is KING and He is the one to be made a example of. Paul only show's us the motions he went thru to get where he was.

 

[paul1149]

I agree with the comments so far. Paul is cool because he was chosen abnormally. It was like God saying, "I'll do what I want to do. Don't rely on religious structures, they were done away with with the Temple. From now on it will be spiritual authority that counts. Period. Fear no man, and place NO limitations on what I can do in your life."

I also have noticed a lot of distrust, if not antipathy, toward Paul. And usually it is from people who don't understand the radical nature of the new covenant of grace, purchased by the precious blood of Christ. But now that the perfect Lamb has been slain, any attempts to establish our own righteousness by the law actually work against the cross. The root is so deep in some people that I don't even try to change their mind in the forums. This often is too impersonal a venue for that kind of persuasion, and more wheat will get pulled up than tares.

 

[RDKirk]

Paul put wheels on the gospel, both theologically and practically.

Paul deals with Christians as people in all our messiness in this Sinai wilderness between the bondage of Egypt and the Promised Land.

 

[Norah63]

Thanks all for those comments, they really help.
As I read Acts again, it just astounds me how the Lord Jesus picked Paul out to show how great a thing a man could accomplish when he really gets turned around in life. True repentance on Paul's part, a life so completely changed. Much of his writings are corrections for the churches he visited. How we need a few of that type today. Holy living is not 'works', it's grace in action in a life.
Jesus teachings are for all to turn from their own ways to Him for real life, and life eternal. Paul preached resurrection everywhere he went. I think their teachings dovetail instead of being different from each other.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yeah when the mind cannot reconcile what Paul teaches and what Jesus teaches .. Jesus is Paul's rabbi. Go with what Jesus said .

 

[thesunisout]

Thanks all for those comments, they really help.
As I read Acts again, it just astounds me how the Lord Jesus picked Paul out to show how great a thing a man could accomplish when he really gets turned around in life. True repentance on Paul's part, a life so completely changed. Much of his writings are corrections for the churches he visited. How we need a few of that type today. Holy living is not 'works', it's grace in action in a life.
Jesus teachings are for all to turn from their own ways to Him for real life, and life eternal. Paul preached resurrection everywhere he went. I think their teachings dovetail instead of being different from each other.

I agree, they do dovetail. Pauls teachings are anathema to our hyper sensitive politically correct culture. I think Paul offends a lot of worldly Christians and so they are desperate to prove that his writings are not inspired. They see something they don't like and say "My God (the idol they have created for themselves) wouldn't say that!". Then they go looking to prove that Paul isn't a real apostle, twisting the scripture to do so.

The problem isn't an honest misunderstanding; it's the sin baked into someones life that is deceiving them;

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

That's why it is so difficult to convince someone who believes in a false doctrine of their error. The belief itself is the fruit of much deeper seated issues..wicked roots that need to be dealt with before the deception will be revealed.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

For example

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: (2 Timothy 4:14)

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:26)

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

The bible is a book that meets people where they're at . honestly . most people cannot forgive people who do them wrong . the old testament speaks to them and so do many of the letters . because they cannot forgive they are deaf to the mercy verses and they judge others without mercy in all things .

this is why it is important . if there's an "apparent" contradiction . it is not good enough to say .. the bible exhibits this behavior therefore it is okay . what is written must then be compared diligently to the incidences of God actually appearing in the bible and speaking . even when it is apostle paul speaking . as exhibited with Alexander the coppersmith apparently even Paul had off days .

 

[Knockinghard]

I've seen that too on the forums.

I'd rather read about Jesus than read about Paul's teachings, but that doesn't mean I don't believe Paul's teachings come from the Holy Spirit himself, and that they aren't important. I just choose Jesus' life story because it is rare footage into the life and ministry he had, so rare because I don't think historians catch much of his purpose.

Paul's epistles need to considered along with the Gospel. If his teaching did not confirm with it, I am afraid, we should not give importance to what he wrote.

 

[Knockinghard]

Is there any specific reason that some Christians will not receive the teachings of Paul? His teachings do not soft pedal sin, but why would anyone want a way to avoid so many scriptures.
Has anyone else notices this as they read the forums?

Even though Paul did not soft pedal sin, many of his statements have been distorted to appear that way. He has made too many self-claims! He also missed out many important concepts of the Gospel since he was not in the earthly ministry of Jesus. In his zeal to convert Gentiles, he made many concessions which are not valid for believers now. Sometimes, he gave his advice, not the commandments of the Lord. Therefore, he should be given importance only when he conforms with the Gospel.

 

[dabro]

Sometimes I get this thought. That Paul the whole time infiltrated the church to set up his own doctrine. Instead of killing Christians. He coverted them into the way he thinks. But thats just a thought that i get some times. Take it with a grain of salt because I dare not add to the word of God.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

i recall Paul said in the book of acts that "when i go wolves will enter not sparing the flock"

 

[dabro]

What I said was only a thought. Actually I rebuke what I said because I know in my heart that Paul is a Apostle. The lowest of them but still. I have no doubt. I know thu chasening and what he said about God correcting His children.....I turned my back on God in may of 08. Moment afters I made my mind up I got hit with a massive wave of anxiety that crippled me. I was no longer fit to do anything. So I know that Paul speaks the truth that the Lord corrects His children in order that they learn and it's painful people.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I remember 08 that was tough on me and a lot of people .

 

[thesunisout]

For example

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: (2 Timothy 4:14)

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:26)

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

The bible is a book that meets people where they're at . honestly . most people cannot forgive people who do them wrong . the old testament speaks to them and so do many of the letters . because they cannot forgive they are deaf to the mercy verses and they judge others without mercy in all things .

this is why it is important . if there's an "apparent" contradiction . it is not good enough to say .. the bible exhibits this behavior therefore it is okay . what is written must then be compared diligently to the incidences of God actually appearing in the bible and speaking . even when it is apostle paul speaking . as exhibited with Alexander the coppersmith apparently even Paul had off days .

People take away from the bible exactly the place they are at; the openness in their heart to receive the pure truth of God will determine how they interpret the scriptures.

Does this verse prove to you that Paul had some kind of personal spite against Alexander? Most commentaries seem to agree that the verse should read "the Lord shall reward him according to his works", which reveals Pauls meaning to be centered in his knowledge of the Lords will and not some kind of vendetta. There is no proof Paul had not forgiven, or prayed for Alexander in any case.

The writings of Paul are scripture, just as the writings of Peter, or Luke or John or Jeremiah or Moses. His doctrine is perfect because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we have trouble understanding something our recourse should be to ask God for revelation and not make assumptions about the author.