Similar claims were used against Jesus as well. Although there were witnesses for both Jesus and Paul, many people will never be satisfied by the nature of God's true witnesses. You disregard Paul just as the religious leaders disregarded Jesus, which suggests to me that you misunderstand Jesus even though you seem to approve of him.

My friend, your objections reveal that you are looking for a fleshly validation. Jesus didn't accept the validation from man that would satisfy you, either. Every one left him as well ... just as he told them they would. It took the Spirit of God to give them insight into the true validation of God. Until your religious sensibilities are offended by Jesus Christ, as they obviously are by Paul, you are listening to some other voice.

Jim

Good morning, Keith. :)

No doubt Paul referred to that which was given to him, but don’t let “doctrinal purity” create conundrums that were not there. For if Paul’s insistence that there is no other gospel than that which he preached and that any “other” gospel was a perversion, then how do you imagine he was okay with Peter, James, and John taking “their” gospel to the Jews?

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)–well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Galatians 2:4-9 NASB

In much of what I have written, it should be obvious that I reference Paul’s writings more than any others. For none other declared the truth of the gospel in such simplicity and power. It is a mistake, however, to fall into the conclusion that Peter and the others did not preach the one and only gospel. The gospel they preached was to the religious mind of the Jew, and being so there were many things assumed and left unsaid, as well as much not even considered beyond the scope of their Jewishness.

Believe me, I have struggled and debated and objected to many things written by Peter, James, John, Jude … and even that which was spoken by Jesus. I gravitated from one rationalization to another in hopes of “harmonizing” the scriptures! LOL. I will still find statements that make me question those other guys. But then again, I also find numerous things written by Paul himself that appear to contradict his own “gospel” message. Just because I might not see how Paul’s own words can fit together with his own dogmatic insistence on the one and only gospel that he preached, then perhaps I’m misjudging how he extended the “right hand of fellowship” to THEIR gospel …. without having made a stand right then and there that they were preaching ANOTHER gospel (for he clearly stated that there was no other).

Jim :)

Yes, you caught my meaning, Adam, and I’d like to add that you make some excellent points in what you wrote.

Just to make it clear, I don’t want to discourage Keith or anyone who recognizes the amazing insight God gave to Paul who was sent outside the confines of the Jewish community. There is no doubt in my mind that he say way beyond what the others did and that the others were encouraged and strengthened in their own understanding because of him.

I will also say that those who hold Paul’s gospel in contempt while claiming that the other apostles preached the true gospel not only misunderstand Paul’s message, they also misunderstand the “gospel” of freedom preached by Peter, James and John. Yeah, I think Peter, James, John and Jesus would be shaking their heads in wonder at the crap that has been preached in their names.

Jim