The apostle Paul, the writer of fourteen books of the twenty-seven in the New Testament, is called various things and dismissed because his teachings do not align with various social standards. Many claim Jesus yet reject the apostle Paul. Many have degraded Paul’s writings as though his writings have no place in the Bible. They set Paul aside for not being a disciple during Jesus’s ministry despite being converted from hostility as a witness of Jesus’s resurrection.
Conflict with Paul
The apostle started and helped start churches throughout the Mediterranean from Syria to Italy if not Spain. His words reflect the earliest record Christian beliefs and Paul’s conversion dates to 2–3 years after Jesus’s crucifixion. Paul’s words about grace and love are cast aside because he taught people to humble themselves and live lives of sexual purity. However, he is supposedly sexist for revealing God’s made men first and God set men to be spiritual leaders (1 Tim 2:11–14). Some think Paul was bigoted for exposing the depravity of a society that rejects God and is given over to sexual passions even unnatural lusts (Rom 1:24–27). Some do not prefer the church government presented in Paul’s words because each congregation is autonomously led by elders rather than a single ruling pastor, committees, votes, or a hierarchy of bishops with a Pope (1 Tim 3:1–15, Titus 1:5–9).
Paul and All the Others
What are the effects and consequences of not accepting Paul’s writings? Does not accepting Paul’s writings mean not accepting the rest of the writings in the Christian Scriptures? If you do not accept Paul, then you cannot accept 2 Peter because the writer accepted the writings of Paul as Scripture (2 Pet 3:16). No one can reject Paul and accept 1 John as that book recognizes the writing of the apostles including Peter (1 John 1:1–4). Furthermore, Peter also accepted John (2 Pet 1:16–21). Now, those who reject Paul must reject 1 Peter to be consistent. After all, the apostle Peter instructed Christians to subordinate to the governing authorities, servants subordinate to masters, and wives subordinate to husbands (1 Pet 2:13–3:6).
By rejecting Paul’s writings, one would have to dismiss the Gospel of Luke since Luke was with Paul and agreed with Paul (Acts 16:10). Paul quoted Luke’s Gospel as Scripture (1 Tim 5:18; cf. Luke 10:7; 2 Tim 2:8). Setting aside Luke also means setting aside Luke’s book of Acts and the previously written gospel narratives that Luke mentioned in Luke 1:1–3. The gospel narratives that Luke extensively shares material with the Gospel of Matthew and shares chronology with the Gospel of Mark. This leaves only two New Testament authors, James and Jude. However, Jude closely resembles 2 Peter 2 even speaking of fulfillment of Peter’s revelation, so the one rejecting Paul and Peter could not reasonably accept Jude. James was also an apostle with Peter, associated with the Twelve, and accepted Paul (Acts 15; Gal 1:18–2:10), so someone dismissing Paul would dismiss James’s epistle.
The Cross on Christ
If someone rejects Christ’s words given through the apostle Paul, do they reject Christ? Paul taught about the apostles of Christ, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches” (1 Cor 2:13). This is just as Jesus declared that He would give His words to His apostles (John 17:8). Those who listened to Jesus would listen to His apostles (John 15:20). Jesus also revealed that He would send His Spirit to guide His apostles in all truth (John 14:26; 16:12–13). Because of this, Paul wrote, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37). Paul was converted by Christ, claimed revelation from Christ, preached a gospel revealed separately yet was accepted and approved by the other apostles (Gal 1:11–19, 23; 2:2, 9).
The consequences of rejecting Paul’s writings are devastating so that such a person enters into a cloudy deism at least. Rejecting the writings of Paul means rejecting the New Testament. By rejecting the New Testament, the consistent person would reject all the words of Jesus found throughout the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. However, as previously noted, Jesus revealed that all of the Truth in Christ’s words were given to His apostles as revealed through His Spirit. By dismissing Paul, there goes the apostolic Scriptures and the early Christian faith (Eph 2:20; 3:5).
You or God?
The rejection of Paul is a character judgment of the sincerity and honesty of Paul and all of the New Testament writers. Can believers dismiss the apostle Paul and by so doing dismiss Christ? Jesus declared, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:16–17). When dismissing Paul’s words for conflict of one’s preferred social ethics and personal righteousness? Are people to listen to their own hearts first or to God’s Word in the Scriptures? Jesus proclaimed, “For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). Jesus taught things that offended people so that crowds stopped following Him (John 6:66). Isaiah presents God’s words, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts'” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Rejecting Paul’s words includes questioning Paul’s inspiration noted by his definition of love, his proclamation of the fruits of the Spirit, and much more. Such rejection devastates holy virtue in the faithful. Can highly esteemed opinions stand against Paul’s most profound statements? Should anyone consider personal thoughts higher than God’s thoughts?
By rejecting Jesus’s words given through His apostles and prophets, then faith is all or nothing for the Scriptures. Should people give up prejudices toward the Bible that are based on their personal morality? Should people reinterpret certain scriptural writers to disregard teachings that offend them and others? The whole point of the Bible is to reveal God because humanity is sinful and will contradict God.
True Christian discipleship starts with Christ. True faith consists of essential virtues of humility and meekness for which the world mocks and scoffs at the thought of such for their declaration of “pride.” However, the apostles taught everyone to subordinate to God in faith, thus to subordinate to their government, their masters, and each other (1 Pet 2:13–3:6). Humble submission to God is the virtue of true faith that trusts in the God of Jesus Christ. By this, Christians trust God to work things out through His grace. Without sincere humility, there is no real faith, and this is what this discussion is all about. Humble yourself before the words of Christ as delivered through His apostles and prophets, and let no one consider one’s thoughts greater than God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Breath of God 
All of the Apostles were inspired. Were all apostles as virtuous as Paul? If not, why not?
Still hoping for a response to a legitimate question.
It shocks me (but doesn’t surprise me) that there are people out there who have placed their trust in Christ as Lord and Savior yet somehow, someway, manage to believe the Apostle Paul was a counterfeit!
Philippians 3:8
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”
Does that sound like a counterfeit??!! Only one conclusion can de drawn from people who genuinely believe so: they have studied Scripture with their own human capacity for understanding it and not by the revelation and wisdom the Holy Spirit gives to reveal its profound and spiritual truth!
Amen. That is so true. I like your note of Philippians 3.8. We believe the sincerity of the Biblical writers. These men like Paul were genuine, and self-sacrificing and not self-seeking. Paul’s fellowship with the Apostles cannot be overlooked.
This is not about what Paul said. This is about “understanding” what Paul said.
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
It has been repeatedly stated here that God’s Spirit is not interactive with the Christian and we only have words to depend on. Yet the NT is a Spiritual writing that’s needs to be discerned with the Spirit that God gave us, not just using an intellectual process of decoding and analyzing words to extract a meaning. The message can be transcendent beyond the words that try to describe it. Yet those here who hold to the scriptural intellectual process don’t seem to get this.
Yes, Paul’s words are correct, but are you processing then correctly when you take an intellectual approach to those words?
So what do you do with the following verses (written by Paul) given your analytical and intellectual stance on the scriptures??
2 Corinthians 3:2,3
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Great article Scott. People ignore or forget who said, “this man is my chosen instrument” (Acts 9:15).
Thank you, brother.
The world must destroy Paul in order have the lives and churches they desire. Good article.
Thank you for the comment and reading. God bless your studies.
I have recently had the epistles of Paul in question do to the unrelenting fact the God repeatedly says do not forsake my commandments, do not forsake my servant Moses, in Deuteronomy 13 if anyone does signs and wonders and they come to pass and they tell you to forsake the lord your God you are to stone him. Also I’ve always understood that Peter was the apostle to the gentiles before Paul. Also out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let everything be established. Always thought the twelve disciples was sign of significance because of it being twelve. They replaced Judas with Matthias with a practice of casting lots that God had sanctioned in the past. In Revelation it says to those who say they are apostles and are not. It’s not like everyone was going around trying to be apostles.
Really i’m just looking for answers wanting the truth
That is all that we can do is sincerely seek out the truth. Let us stay with the Truth of Jesus’ words. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-19, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Apparently, this is a serious matter. Jesus fulfilled the Law without destroying it. Throughout Jesus’ sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, He added and enlightened the heart of keeping the commands of the Law. Furthermore in fulfilling the Law, Jesus became the atonement for which sacrifices of atonement are obsolete (Heb. 8:13). Jeremiah did say that there would be a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). Jesus fulfilled the priesthood the Levites, becoming our High Priest (Heb. 7). Jesus did say that worship would change and no longer be of Jerusalem, but that worship would be in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24).
How did Christ abolish the ordinances and commands against Christians? Did He not do so by fulfilling them? I encourage you look at the Greek words for abolish and destroy are not the same. All of Moses’ Law were shadows and examples of the coming fulfillment in Christ. These were images and pictures of Christ’s atonement. See, the moral law of right and wrong has not been changed. Yet, Jesus said that Moses gave commands and allowed divorce for any reason, because of the hardness of hearts of Israel (Matt. 19:4-9). Therefore, according to Christ, some of the Laws were not perfect order.
Read all of Deuteronomy 13 again. What is the passage saying? The subject matter of Deuteronomy 13 is not speaking of a new covenant from God in Christ, but of a false teacher leading people away to other gods. Verses 1-3 state, “”If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—’and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Do you defend Jesus as much as you defend Paul? I am not being rude, I am just wondering.
A lot more than I realized. Here are some:
https://godsbreath.net/2007/08/24/jesus-resurrection/
https://godsbreath.net/2012/12/09/simple-biblical-evidence/
https://godsbreath.net/2012/12/20/plea-to-reconsider-jesus/
This is a difficult issue. It just is. In searching my feelings of faith, I admit, I have no trouble accepting what Christ is quoted as saying, but I don’t hear the Holy Spirit echoing in Paul. Christ had countless witnesses; Paul was his only witness (to his conversion). I feel I should regard Paul as I regard any other follower, which is to ask: how much do they agree with Christ, who came to fulfill the law, not abolish it?
I know this is a longstanding issue, and we all must search our hearts with honesty and pray for guidance. For me, it has always been hard to reconcile Paul’s words with Christ’s, and with those of James, who knew Christ before the resurrection (faith without works is dead – completely in agreement with Christ and with the Old Testament scriptures).
I appreciate the gentleness of the presentation of your faith.
Christ does have countless witnesses, but not all wrote claiming the guidance of the Spirit and were accepted by the Apostles of Christ like Paul. I do not regard Paul as another follower without the Spirit’s direct guidance since he was prophet (Acts 13). I cannot see as I presented above that one cannot accept Paul and then accept Peter, who accepted Paul, and John and Peter who accepted each other in the truth. That leaves the Christian scriptures with only 2 books Matthew and James, and yet both writings were accepted and collected into the New Testament under the Apostles oversight. There is nothing in James or Matthew contrary to Paul’s teaching.
Do you understand the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament? Do you understand that these testaments include laws specific to each one and yet one shadowed the Truth of the other?
Paul also speaks of fulfilling the Law (Rom. 13). Paul speaks of obedience to the faith in Romans 1:5, 2:5-10, 6:17, and 16:26. I find that his words are misinterpreted in Rom. 4:4, which refers to the person that works for justification in he can boast (4:2). I absolutely agree that faith without works is dead. Faith alone cannot save no matter comforting lies can be. Yet, I do not find this to contradict Romans 11:6. We are saved by grace. We are to conform to the death, burial, and resurrection (Phil. 3:9-11, Eph. 2:4-6). This is the Gospel and this is where salvation is (1 Cor. 15:1-4). In conforming, it is God working through us when we die to our sins, immersed in Jesus’ name in water, and raised into the new life (Rom. 6:3-7, Col. 2:12-13). Baptism now saves you (1 Pet. 3:21).
I am convinced that we must be faithful to the Law of Christ and which is the Law of faith (Rom. 3:27, 8:2, Jas. 1:21-25, etc.). Hebrews 7:12 recognizes that the law has changed. I assume and I know I may be wrong that you believe in keeping the sabbath day holy. I agree, but like the changing of the priesthood from Levi to Melchizedek, I also find that the sabbath day shadowed our sabbath rest that is eternal in paradise (Heb. 4). I do not believe that the sabbath was changed to another day of the week, but I do find that Christians are to assemble on the 1st day of the week, the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
May God bless us in the study of His Word. Seek and you will find (Matt. 7:7).
This is a very intellectual conversation about a Spiritual process. Not sure any of you get it.
I am not one who disagrees with Paul because I dislike what he wrote. I once disliked some of the things Jesus says, but I try to obey to the best of my ability. All you need to do is find where Jesus backs up Paul’s writings with what He taught while he walked the earth.
Jesus tells us to judge not lest you be judged. (Matt. 7:1-5)
Paul told us that Christians should judge each other. (1 Cor. 5:12)
Jesus tells us that if you love [Him], then you will keep His commandments. (John 14:15)
Paul told that we no longer live under the law, but under grace alone. (Gal. 5:18)
Jesus prohibits fornication by using the Greek word porneia, which encompasses all manner of “sex outside of marriage” without actually singling anyone out.
Paul singles people out into groups (i.e. – homosexuals), by judging them. Only God the Father is meant to exercise this power. This is heretical to use as scripture.
These are just a few points where Paul completely contradicts Jesus in his writings, but they are MAJOR contradictions. It’s not simply about like or dislike. Why would I accept Paul’s writings when he blatantly contradicts out Lord and Savior?
You address this from an agreeable perspective, but your “contradictions” are complementary and judgmental when you judge Paul as Paul judges. Please, don’t disregard that Jesus taught righteous judging in Matthew 7:1-5, 15-20, and John 7:24.
Why should we consider your words when they are contradict Jesus Christ?
Greetings Scott,
The assertion that James is being judgmental seems evasive and ignores that Jesus told us to be wise, and John encouraged us to test the spirits and prophets. James seems to be attempting to exercise wisdom by testing Paul. You cannot know over the internet, in one post, the thoughts and intentions of another, unless you perhaps know James personally.
Why should we consider James’ words when they contradict Jesus Christ? Wherein lies the contradiction?
Why should we consider Paul’s words when they contradict Jesus Christ? You say they are complimentary, but you have not revealed how, instead you evade the issue buy hiding behind accusations and questions which keep others on the defensive, answering little of yourself. Your words have a sense of disingenuity about them. This is a written forum, we are each at leisure to read and write at will, having sufficiently considered the arguments given and to deliver a sound rebuttal. Others here seem to attempt this to some degree, we ask in return that you do the same.
Peace be with you.
I showed very clearly James’ cherry-picking “contradictions”.
First of all, Christ’s Apostles were accepted by Christ, given His Spirit, and they accepted Paul also. Paul’s words about love are perfectly complimentary to those of Jesus (1 Cor. 13, John 13:34-35, 14:21-24, 15:13). Both teach righteous judgment (John 7:24, 1 Cor. 5). Both teach obedience is necessary to salvation (Rom. 1:5, 2:8-10, 6:3-7, 17; 8:13, 16:26, and Jesus’ Matt. 7:21).
Disregarding Paul means disregarding those who accepted and those under his oversight. Therefore one would have to exclude Paul’s writings and include Luke and Acts. One would have to disregard 2 Peter’s acceptance of Paul’s epistles as scripture and then also Paul’s. If we can’t trust 2 Peter, then why Peter’s acceptance of his own writings and those of John in 2 Pet. 1:16-21? Certainly, we would have to exclude all the Apostles whose scriptures were mentioned by the Apostle John (1 John 1:1-4), who was also overseeing the collection of the scriptures. This leaves none of the New Testament left since must not accept any apostolic writing. John and Peter accepted one another’s writings and apostleship (1 John 1:1-4, 2 Pet. 1:16-21), and yet Peter accepted Paul (2 Pet. 3:15-16) and John refers to other apostolic writings of “we” (1 John 1:1-4). In being thorough, we must also reject 1 Peter and Mark since Peter accepted Paul and Peter accepted his own writings. We have to reject James who received Paul in Galatians 1. Jude caps 2 Peter’s future tense with the past tense. This leaves Matthew, who are included 1 John 1:1-4 and Luke 1:1-3.
Clearly, one must be prejudice and presumptuous to try to accept the words of Christ in the Gospels and yet reject the Apostle Paul.
Greetings Scott,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a lengthy post, and thank you for pointing the discussion back to scripture. These do show clearly that Jesus taught self examination before examining our brothers, observing the fruits that those around us bear in order to tell whether they are true or false, and not judging by what is seen on the outside (respectively). I confess i had not read the verses you cited at first, but upon examination i see how you had made your point.
That being said, i fail to understand why in your response instead of expanding on that line of inquiry you spend the rest of the post reiterating what was said in the article. It is your forum and you are certainly free to do so, but does it not stagnate the discussion to repeat ones self?
Peace be with you.
Yet, some do not address the article. I find it necessary to not simply refer back to the article, but to address the subject again.
Thank you for your kind advice.
Greetings James,
I must puzzle at your assertion that when Paul singled out Homosexuals he did so by judging them. Is it not possible that what Paul wrote was not a judgment of his own, but one handed down by The Father? This grouping of sinners by the sins they commit does not seem to be a contradiction of what Jesus taught, but a clarification, lest there be any doubt. Furthermore, i find it in harmony with the Old Testament law which Jesus supported.
Paul is a deceiver ,a boaster and preaches a new gospel Do not continue to think Jesus forced himself on Paul. This is contrary to the real messiah I guess God also erred in creating Creatians . Paul is quoting idol worshipers.Even the deciples wrote against Paul
No not really.