What's up with Paul?

[ApocryphaNow]

I'm not a Christian, so I can't really understand this and I probably don't know what I am talking about. That said, I do not understand why the writings of St. Paul in the Bible are considered so central to the Christian faith.

By his own admittance (Galatians 1 was it?), Paul never even met Christ and was converted well after the resurrection. I understand that he played a big role in starting the early church and establishing worship traditions, but I don't understand how that makes anything he says the Word of God (even if he was called to spread the news of Christ).


Did I miss something? Is he supposed to be a prophet? I’m still not even sure how Christians think of prophets; they give the apostles all the credit for being conduits of God… I can’t see how the Bible supports this.

In the writings of Paul I've even noticed that sometimes he reminded people that much of what he says is just his opinion (this reminds me of the intro to Sirach where the editor mentions that his translation is not the best… but I doubt most protestants even read that book.). I grant that Paul was a great theologian, but so was Joseph Smith and I don’t see a lot of Mormons here (although that is a whole new bag of worms… maybe I should have said L. Ron Hubbard instead, although I consider that guy more of a jerk than anything).

Therefore I ask: why is it that the writings of Paul are considered the word of God or, baring that, an ultimate authority on how Christianity 'ought' to be?


Therefore I ask: why is it that the writings of Paul are considered the word of God?

 

[repentant]

Actually Paul did talk to Jesus, as documented in Scripture, on the road to Damascus. The reason why his words have such an effect and he is equal to the Apostles that did know Jesus is A. He was picked by Jesus Himself as well, and B. He had the Holy Spirit guiding him in what to say and do, just like the Apostles and OT Prophets.

 

[ApocryphaNow]

Actually Paul did talk to Jesus, as documented in Scripture, on the road to Damascus.

I actually just happened to have my bible open to 1 Corinthians. When you mentioned Damascus, it reminded that he did say something about "seeing" Jesus. I skimmed until I found chapter 15 and he does say he saw the risen Christ. I was already familiar with the Damascus account in Acts 9, but I trust Paul’s letters more as they are the fruit of his own tongue. In any case, that was the calling to which I referred.

That brief encounter is hardly the same as meeting and interacting with Christ to learn his teachings first hand. Furthermore, considering this must have been some time after Christ died, I simply considered it a seeing the Lord in the way born-again Christians 'see the Lord'. I can see it giving him direction, but not divine wisdom.

 

[repentant]

Well Paul was blinded by Jesus, heard Him speak, and Jesus told him where to go. When he got there, the people knew he was coming. So they were told somehow he was on his way. Also, like I said, when he was Baptized he recieved the Holy Spirit, Who is the guide. He did not have to have a 3 year relationship with Jesus as the Apostles did to have Divine wisdom, and to understand what Jesus taught. After all, the Apostles did not know really what the meaning of anything Jesus said, until after they saw Him ressurected, and He breathed on them. Then it all made sense. You are thinking to much in a wordly view of how one can aquire knowledge and wisdom. With God nothing is impossible, and our minds can not even begin to comprehend how He works.

 

[Rolf Ernst]

I actually just happened to have my bible open to 1 Corinthians. When you mentioned Damascus, it reminded that he did say something about "seeing" Jesus. I skimmed until I found chapter 15 and he does say he saw the risen Christ. I was already familiar with the Damascus account in Acts 9, but I trust Paul’s letters more as they are the fruit of his own tongue. In any case, that was the calling to which I referred.

That brief encounter is hardly the same as meeting and interacting with Christ to learn his teachings first hand. Furthermore, considering this must have been some time after Christ died, I simply considered it a seeing the Lord in the way born-again Christians 'see the Lord'. I can see it giving him direction, but not divine wisdom.

Paul was the recipient of a special revelation which none of trh other apostles were given. Read about it in 2 cor. 12:1-6. God also used him in writing two-thirds of the New Testament letters. That is one of the reasons you notice us speaking of him more often than the others. If He had written only one or two, less material would be from him and we would not speak of him as much

 

[calidog]

By his own admittance (Galatians 1 was it?), Paul never even met Christ and was converted well after the resurrection. I understand that he played a big role in starting the early church and establishing worship traditions, but I don't understand how that makes anything he says the Word of God (even if he was called to spread the news of Christ).
QUOTE]Paul met Jesus Christ, face to face on the way do Damascus. He learned the gospel and Christs teachings to the church directly from Christ. You will find this in the book of Acts and Galatians.

 

[calidog]

Did I miss something? Is he supposed to be a prophet? I’m still not even sure how Christians think of prophets; they give the apostles all the credit for being conduits of God… I can’t see how the Bible supports this.

He is an apostle. Before Christ, prophets spoke the word of God. Christ came, and He IS the Word. He taught His apostles. Now the church (body of believers) with Christ as the head of the church (body) proclaim the gospel of God to the rest of the world.

 

[calidog]

In the writings of Paul I've even noticed that sometimes he reminded people that much of what he says is just his opinion (this reminds me of the intro to Sirach where the editor mentions that his translation is not the best… but I doubt most protestants even read that book.). I grant that Paul was a great theologian, but so was Joseph Smith and I don’t see a lot of Mormons here (although that is a whole new bag of worms… maybe I should have said L. Ron Hubbard instead, although I consider that guy more of a jerk than anything).

Yes, he differentiated between his opinion and doctrines (teachings from God) so that WE would'nt make doctrine out of his personal opinions. Not MUCH of what he says is his opinion. He explains that. If your information is from other than the bible itself, you should consider that.

 

[calidog]

Gal 1:12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it except by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:13 For you heard my manner of life when I was in Judaism, that I persecuted the church of God with surpassing zeal, and ravaged it.

Gal 1:14 And I progressed in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being much more a zealot of the traditions of my fathers.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and having called me by His grace,

Gal 1:16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood;

Gal 1:17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

 

[calidog]

That brief encounter is hardly the same as meeting and interacting with Christ to learn his teachings first hand. Furthermore, considering this must have been some time after Christ died, I simply considered it a seeing the Lord in the way born-again Christians 'see the Lord'. I can see it giving him direction, but not divine wisdom.

He saw the risen Lord face to face and was taught about the future church by revelation from Jesus.

 

[calidog]

Well Paul was blinded by Jesus, heard Him speak, and Jesus told him where to go. When he got there, the people knew he was coming. So they were told somehow he was on his way. Also, like I said, when he was Baptized he recieved the Holy Spirit, Who is the guide. He did not have to have a 3 year relationship with Jesus as the Apostles did to have Divine wisdom, and to understand what Jesus taught. After all, the Apostles did not know really what the meaning of anything Jesus said, until after they saw Him ressurected, and He breathed on them. Then it all made sense. You are thinking to much in a wordly view of how one can aquire knowledge and wisdom. With God nothing is impossible, and our minds can not even begin to comprehend how He works.

Paul went to arabia for three years and was taught by revelation from Jesus.

 

[L.A.W.]

As I recall, Paul denied himself, being that he never claimed to be anyone, but he boasted about his suffering in glorifying Yahushua. The gentiles saw him as an apostle, but he doesn't claim to be one, he only proclaims the testimony and teachings of Yahushua.

If you read in Acts, I believe, Paul was hand chosen, qualified by Yahushua to go out to the gentiles and proclaim the testimony of Yahushua and to spread his teachings onto them that they may come into the light.

Paul walked in the ways of Yahushua, humbled and obediant.

 

[calidog]

As I recall, Paul denied himself, being that he never claimed to be anyone, but he boasted about his suffering in glorifying Yahushua. The gentiles saw him as an apostle, but he doesn't claim to be one, he only proclaims the testimony and teachings of Yahushua.

If you read in Acts, I believe, Paul was hand chosen, qualified by Yahushua to go out to the gentiles and proclaim the testimony of Yahushua and to spread his teachings onto them that they may come into the light.

Paul walked in the ways of Yahushua, humbled and obediant.

yes, but paul was an apostle and laid claim to it. romans 1;1

 

[L.A.W.]

ah, thanks for showing me the verse.

 

[hlaltimus]

I am sure that Hymenaeus and Alexander eventually came over to the admission that Paul was an inspired Apostle. If you will read this brief reference in 1 Timothy 1:19,20 you will quickly see why. Do you wish to be so convinced?

 

[Key]

Paul was sent to teach the Non-Jews about Jesus.

As such, that means, people that were not Born Jewish, would understand what Paul as talking about.

it really is that Simple.

Paul was to teach "Us" about Jesus, and he has and is still doing a wonderful job even today.

God Bless
Key.

 

[NacDan]

The gentiles saw him as an apostle, but he doesn't claim to be one, he only proclaims the testimony and teachings of Yahushua.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

Paul uses the title of Apostle in his letters to the Corinthians, the Romans, the Galatians, the Colossians, etc....

1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul does not deny that he *IS* an Apostle, just that he is not worthy to be called one.

Danny