Galatians 1:11-12, Paul Contradicts Jesus, part I of III
But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
//I’ve been accused many times of reading the Bible superficially; particularly when I point out a discrepancy between the teachings of two Bible writers. Sometimes a supposed “contradiction” in scripture can be from a superficial reading, but sometimes a “superficial” reading highlights a different flavor. My question over the next series of posts is this: Did Paul properly preserve the atmosphere Jesus left behind?
Paul never met Jesus. He never took instruction from anyone who did meet Jesus. The only thing Paul knows of Jesus’ teachings is what was presented to him in visions by Christ. That is what we should understand from today’s passage, written by Paul himself. Do you find that just a little too convenient?
So to kick off this series, let me start with a number of “contradictions” that relate to Paul’s assumed authority. This first batch have to do with an authority figure. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether Paul properly represented Jesus’ teachings:
Paul: for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.. –1 Corinthians 4:15
Jesus: And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. –Matthew 23:9
Paul: And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers –1 Corinthians 12:28
Jesus: But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. –Matthew 23:8
Paul: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors [shepherds] and teachers –Ephesians 4:11
Jesus: and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.. –John 10:16
Paul: For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ … –1 Corinthians 4:15
Jesus: Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. –Matthew 23:10
Paul: If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? –1 Corinthians 9:11
Jesus: Freely you have received, freely give. –Matthew 10:8
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Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
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What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
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Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
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Good find! Thanks for posting. I have always suspected Paul of being a con. I remember reading
2 Corinthians 12:16 when I was 12 years old. Even as a child I smelled a RAT.
Since then I’ve been cautious of Saul, to the extent of being called an apostate.
Yea I have often pondered these contradictory elements as well; it has caused me to be confused and question what Jesus said. Then I remembered that Jesus is GOD as a man. So I will listen to him, before I listen to a man, who was an expert in LAW; Yes Paul heard Jesus from heaven on the way to Damascus, but He does indeed say some directly contradictory things to what the Saviour Christ said…
I think the teachings of St.Paul require a lot of patient contemplation as he seems to circle the wagons in his writings which often can seem to create a double meaning. He clearly is of God
Paul missed the resurrection, hence 2Timothy 2:18.
Check Romans 1:8 For the “whole world “, it’s the political domain
Paul missed the resurrection. 2Timothy 2:18 as such he did not want anyone to even listen to people mentioning the fact that the resurrection had taken place
I also would like to point out. Jesus NEVER mentioned the word “Grace”
Also,
Matt.5.13-16
Says we should boast about our works so ppl can “glorify the father”
We are the salt/truth
We are the light/truth
You don’t hide the light you let it shine on everyone.
We are to let the truth be known to all, so that everyone “can see your works.”
Tack on 1 Peter 3.15
And when I ask you what proves your faith. You are obligated to give me proof.
Heb.6.12
Has the word “patience” used in the sense of law and extending a payment til the end of terms.after he just got done explaining. The Sabbath heb.4
Patience here means us having time to build works to qualify… You are not saved by grace. Jesus does not teach that.
Rev.20.11-15
If you buy or sell on the Sabbath you have the mark of the Beast
Gen.2.2-3
Deut.5 & 6.8
(only command about buy or sell if 4th)
Neh.13.15-22
John 14.15
The entire Bible is full of contracting information, but amazingly, when you take the words of Jesus and relate them to the words of the other prophets lime Moses or Muhammed of Muslims, they rhyme perfectly, but the words of Paul in my entire researches have never rhymed with any past prophet’s words not even the prophet’s in the Bible.
I agree. I have been reading through 1 Corinthians in detail and it doesn’t seem to fit with Christ’s messages at all. It seems that Paul seems to see himself and Christianity as a set of rules, with him as the self-appointed judge and rule maker. Jesus came to free us from sin and the law. For me, I first have to look at who the Bible tells us God is.
God is love. That is the literal definition of God(John 4:16). Agape Love. Love requires action. The question is “who defines what agape love is?”
1 Corinthians 4-8 gives us the biblical description of what agape love is;
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The question then becomes, is passing judgment on a fellow sinner biblical and acting out of love? And does it require an act of judgment to follow Paul’s instruction?
Jesus is very clear about this in Matthew 7:1-3
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure, you use it will be measured to you.”
And in Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned, forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
While I find some historical and biblical value in Paul’s writings, I do not believe that his writings are consistent with Jesus’s words and I don’t believe his writings are consistent with the teachings of the Apostles. I see a lot of power positioning, anger, judgment, and self-exaltation, in Paul. All things, as a follower of Christ, I try to flee from. Is excommunicating people seeking Christ, but still in sin (aren’t we all), an act of love? Is dictating how believers must cover their heads, or eat… love?
My independent reading of the Bible first and apart from other things made me question Paul. This article reinforces it.