Would someone please... explain why the apostle Paul is so hated by so many?

Question

Thankyou... for to me,He is one of God's most outstanding, and compassionate... apostles ever?

Answer 1

Do not know why, but I like that part, fits right with what these eyes saw, Ephesians 2:14-18, the One new Man, now for the two ewes ?

Answer 2

Whenever Paul stands before secular officials he obfuscates about being a Pharisee, he twists words to appear more magnanimous to the authorities.



He repeatedly almost blatantly contradicts the clear and simple words of Jesus, by instituting his version of how the congregations should be run. Instituting harshness where love would suffice.



It is obvious he was a man with a huge ego, even though he tried to make an effort at self deprecation, he still managed to get the entire governing Christian congregation in Jerusalem angry with him. Some believe that he was even excommunicated by that congregation of early Christians.



If you read Jesus words, along with Paul's harshness, you will see the reason why so many have concluded that Paul was the first Christian heretic. It was down hill from his era to this day.



Edit for Robert p: Since none of us were present at any of the early 300ad and after councils that canonized our modern Bible, we can't know for sure why certain writing were selected. Peter was a man, men can be overly influenced by other men.



Your argument cements the notion that if you accept this as inspired then you are obligated to accept this also. A treacherous predicament. No wiggle room to dismiss so much of the Bible that is pure contradictions.



The declaration by a body of men in third fourth fifth and sixteenth century that the Bible is all the inspired words of God, is the reason we are in the mess we are with 1,000 of religious bodies interpreting words of men.



Edit: TT you have also fallen into the trap of having to reconcile Paul as an inspired writer vs another. To bad we did not have 'transparency' and c-span during those councils of cannonization, I am almost positive we would have more people today questioning the claims of 'inspiration' if we just could have witnessed those debates.

Answer 3

Maybe because..Paul was a gnostic.



Paul's writings next to the gospels are a contradiction in terms. Paul never wrote about a Jesus of Nazereth, he wrote about the Christ. Nothing he writes was referenced to Jesus, when he writes about communion and crucifixion, they mean nothing other than that..cults mistakenly interpreted that which he wrote into real events i.e. the gospels *which were by the way written much later than Paul's writings. Paul lived around the time of Jesus of Nazereth so if he referred to him why then did he not mention him, simply because he did not.



Paul coined the term 'Christianity' based on the spiritual Christ, not a man on earth. Jesus was only given the title Christ after he died, it was through his crucifixion that people decided he was the Messiah. Christianity should rightfully be based on Pauls teachings, not Jesus'. Paul even says that he his the medium through which the Holy Spirit communicates. If Jesus were real then he never came to create a new religion. He did not write anything nor did he get any of his followers to write down his teachings - the first gospel came years after him and his followers supposedly lived and died (I wonder why).

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson once said that the apostle Paul was the first 'apostate' from the teachings of Jesus.



As an avid Bible reader, one does have a hard time reconciling Paul's advice to early christians, with much of what Jesus taught.



Actually I am surprised that the early Bible cannon councils were so friendly to Paul's letters.



@ Wayf.....said it as I see it. If Paul's letter's had of been left out we would be witnessing the fruits of 'real' Chritianity, instead his words have given rise to so much bigotry and self promotion, nothing like Jesus own words.



@ CPG this was very interesting: "The following two excerpts from an earlier book, "The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception" also raise doubts as to the legitimacy of Paul's role within the early church:



by Michael Bajgent and Richard Leigh (Corgi Books, London, 1991)

"... Paul is in effect the first Christian heretic, and his teachings, which become the foundation of later Christianity, are a flagrant deviation from the 'Original' or 'pure' form extolled by the leadership. Whether James, the 'Lord's brother,' was literally Jesus' blood kin or not (and everything suggests he was), it is clear that he knew Jesus...personally. So did most of the other members of the community or 'early Church,' in Jerusalem, including of course, Peter. When they spoke, they did so with first hand authority. Paul had never had such personal aquaintance with the figure he'd begun to regard as his 'Saviour.' He had only his quasi-mystical experience in the desert and the sound of a disembodied voice. For him to arrogate authority to himself on this basis is, to say the least, presumptuous. It also leads him to distort Jesus' teachings beyond recognition, to formulate, in fact, his own highly individual and idiosyncratic theology, and then to legitimise it by spuriously ascribing it to Jesus."



"As things transpired, however, the mainstream of the new movement gradually coalesced, during the next theree centuries, around Paul and his teachings. Thus, to the undoubted posthumous horror of James and his associates, an entirely new religion was indeed born, a religion that came to have less and less to do with its supposed founder."

Answer 5

Blessings to all of God people, Thus it was that once more, because of hatred born of bigotry and self-righteousness, a servant of God was driven to turn for protection to the heathen. It was this same hatred that forced the prophet Elijah to flee for succor to the widow







of Septa; and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn from the Jews to proclaim their message to the Gentiles. And this hatred the people of God living in this age have yet to meet. Among many of the professing followers of Christ there is the same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit of oppression, that held so large a place in the Jewish heart. In the future, men claiming to be Christ's representatives will take a course similar to that followed by the priests and rulers in their treatment of Christ and the apostles. In the great crisis through which they are soon to pass, the faithful servants of God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel determination, the same unyielding hatred.



All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints.



God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming







crisis. Prepared or unprepared, they must all meet it; and those only who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really fear and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character will shine the brightest. When every other trust fails, then it will be seen who have an abiding trust in Jehovah.

Nice question and very interesting, Peace and Light to all.

Answer 6

Paul's declare to be from the tribe of Benjamin is organic bluff. No Jew of that factor would have traced his lineage to an fairly member of the tribe, because it replaced into almost destroyed and its few survivors absorbed into Judah. All tribal differences were lost through jesus' day except for the Levites.

Answer 7

his name

Answer 8

Quite frankly I did not know that the Apostle Paul is hated ... I love him ... he wrote the majority of the New testament after all. Perhaps you mean, why was he so hated and persecuted in the bible? Well Paul was a brilliant, highly educated Jew who started his political career as a major advocate against Christianity. In fact he was known for ordering and participating in the deaths of perhaps thousands of Christian converts (most of them Jews). Even after Paul's dramatic conversion experience (on the road to Damascus), not surprisingly, many disciples still feared and distrusted him, and refused to have anything to do with him. Thank God for his compassionate and forgiving nature, which is so much greater than our own. God took the most violently outspoken critic of Christianity, and turned him into the greatest champion the Faith has ever known! Paul suffered intense persecution as a Christian, but never wavered in his belief, and determination to spread the Gospel. And in reference to the nearly incomprehensible nature of His Earthly accomplishments for the Kingdom of God, Paul said only, "by the Grace of God I am what I am." Love, love, love Paul...

Answer 9

I agree with you Kar...who loves roses that Paul is one of God's most outstanding apostles ever. He was compassionate after He found the Lord, of that is most certain.



Why he should be hated is any ones guess. But I think in the day and age in which we are living in the attacks against Christianity have grown more detailed and varied. Every iota of historical reality and truth is scrutinized by the critics including the root and birth of Christianity.



Of course Paul would be hated because he is the first recognized apostle who in my opinion began to fulfill the great commission of Jesus Christ. When he commanded them after this Resurrection to go into all the world and preach the gospel..



At first he did so as a persecutor of the church and went by the name of Saul. It was because of him that Jewish Christians scattered into the distant parts of the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But after his conversion he became a leader of the Christians and accepted as an apostle of Jesus Christ even by the other disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. His name was changed to Paul after his conversion.



Before Paul was converted he had a real zeal for God and the commandments of the Lord and the law of Moses and the traditions of the elders in the church. God did not want a man who disrespected his or his nation's religious past. He needed someone schooled and trained in it that would proclaim the whole gospel once he began to see that God was behind the finished work of Jesus Christ. He needed someone who understood the Mosaic law and how it could apply to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The zeal for God never left him at all. Instead it was radically changed. And he began to preach not just to the Jew but more to the Gentiles.



Through his letters to many and churches and a few believers the world gained more insight into the blessings and lessons of the Bible in both the old and new testaments.



I do not know what this world would have been like without an apostle Paul. But I for one am glad He was there and obedient to God's calling on his life. In truth, he is one of the rare individuals who would follow his master any where God wanted him to be.



Alas here I am as long winded as ever, but your question was great and I wanted to write my impressions about the apostle Paul that I think are overlooked. Especially as to why God would use someone who persecuted the church but later became its friend and leader.



Take care.

Answer 10

Partly just the reason you like him others hate him. It starts with the early church when Paul persecuted the church, Some still dont like him for that. Some, just as the Judaisers hated him for not wanting the Gentiles to be saved without the Law and circumcision, those who say we must also follow the law dislike Paul. Others who dislike people who believe Paul is best Apostle dislike Paul because the person the hate likes him. Still others believe lies that Paul changed the Gospel just as some think that King James changed the Bible. Just something to say thinking that this is a reason to deny the truth so they can give an excuse for not following Christ. People still love their sin so much that if they can give reason for contention they can deny they are in sin. Yet in the end God will judge all rightly and those who hate the truth will be without excuse.

Answer 11

I believe paul use to persecute Christians and after he became a christian he was so convicted he began to convict others who persecuted Christians and some saw this as hypocrisy ...thats the only reason why I can think

Answer 12

what some of the people here are saying is blasphemous.. why would the New Testament be there is it were not the word of God? should we throw out the whole NT?



i found a site where it seems some people may be getting the lies from. but if you reference your bible and read the scriptures in context then you will know that these words and accusations are lies. they were taken out of context and it makes you wonder how anyone can come to the conclusions they have.



http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/paul_was_a_deceiver.htm



okay.. as for Paul teaching that all sex is a sin and that a married couple should not have sex READ YOUR BIBLE!

"1 Corinthians 7

Marriage

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.[a] 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.



3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.



5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. "



he is talking about sex people!! he is saying not to deprive your spouse. he even has a reason why you should not abstain from sex too long.



honestly i am appalled at what some of these people are saying. but the website i linked you to above will answer your question a bit. though i feel dirty having read any of that. be sure to double check in your bible the claims being made so you can see the truth when presented in context.

Answer 13

i may be crazy, but it sure look dangerous in here!



a real answer would be the size of a college dissertation! and filled with references to early church history, back when it was predominately jewish; a study in the heresy, and the response to heresy in the introduction of the concept of canon; a study in how canon has change, and which books where added/removed/not-included when; a study in church history to see how things where interpreted over time in comparison to what jesus is recorded to have taught and what the tanakh says; etc ...



solid evidence is in the resources i mentioned... but one must really dig, as it is, most definitely, a unorthodox view



a more extreme view than the one i hold can be found here http://www.egodeath.com/TheFabricatedPaul.htm ... be warned



... but it does draw from many of the same sources as i did in forming my viewpoint... i went as close to the source materials as i could find



good stuff here -> http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/

and tons here -> http://www.ccel.org/



best wishes on your search



edit: wayf has a reasonable concise statement on it... and there is some scuttle that paul was excommunicated from content of the dead sea scrolls http://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=off&q=40266+paul+dead+sea+excommunicated&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=c26c79a56c95bda8 but i has not checked into this one personally...

Answer 14

You will never see solid evidence hun. They hate him because he stood for the truth, and by the Holy Spirit convicts their hearts. It is not Paul they hate, but Christ in Him. May God have mercy on them. And, he did not hate women, he loved every one, he simply spoke the words the Holy Spirit gave him.

Answer 15

1.

They read the surface words and do not understand what is really being taught. Modern bibles are third, fourth and fifth generation variations from homogenized Westcott and Hort manuscripts.

2.

Darkness does not comprehend Light

_______



Saul saw Christianity as the biggest threat to Judaism that there ever was in history of the Twelve Tribes (Israel). The people that were converting were mostly Jewish. Saul with all his education and training over years and years was not able to SEE Jesus as being the Messiah.



So many of his kinsman converting to Christianity. Another "prophet" and the teaching of "that" man. He set about killing the "heretics" off.

Hence being blinded. - Then It was time for Saul to become a worker for God Almighty and His son Jesus.



Saul was blinded physically but Christ opened his spiritual eyes.

Paul was the given the information he needed to become a not just a follower but a teacher of Jesus.



The book of Hebrews shows how complete his transformation was. Hebrews is a fiery tract written to blow through Pharisaical doctrine. Here you will see how God through Paul began another powerful wave of conversion by the very man that had persecuted Christians.



His conversion shows the power of God and was and is one of the greatest witnesses of God Almighty.



Imagine the greatest persecutor of Christians, the highest academic teacher, the scourge of Christians with the power and letter of Rome - converts. What an awesome witness.

__________



The Pharisees faced with the eclipse, the tearing of the curtain of the innermost, rupturing tombs, spirits walking about and more in the moment of Our Lord and Messiah's death were at odds to explain what was happening.

The Sadducees, who were the Jewish Gnostics of the time did not believe in resurrection or resurrection of the body, together with the Pharisees came up with weak and unsupportable trash.

Their response was that Jesus was an angel and a prophet.

Paul refuted his former teachers and associates. They still hate Paul.

_______



Once Paul was humbled and began teaching the Word of God spread far and wide. Of course haters of Christ Jesus Immanuel attack Paul. Others have simply been supplied errant info and need to study to see and God will reveal in His time.

_______



There is a great deal of misrepresentation of Paul and Paul's words.

1. Paul mentions being a prisoner, Jesus came to set the prisoners free, not make them.



2. Paul mentions he's in bonds



3. Jesus came to set people free.



4. Jesus said, Not a jot nor title of the law shall fail



(there is the Commandments and then many other "things" that are not part of the New Covenant.)

5. Paul preached one law for some and another for others.



6. Paul stands before secular officials he obfuscates about being a Pharisee,


It was not until Paul converted that he dealt with Romans and with Roman law in a way that the Roman would understand and He even converted while in chains.>

7. he twists words to appear more magnanimous to the authorities.

< Paul explained as those he talked to would understand. Paul's message of our Messiah did not change.>

8. Paul instituted his version of how the congregations should be run. Instituting harshness where love would suffice.


Jesus did say that the current leaders allowed the people to be used and His Father's house a den of thieves. Paul also worked toward keeping out false teachers and the unrepentant that were poison to the body whole.>

9. he was a man with a huge ego.

•

10. he tried to make an effort at self deprecation

< yes Paul downplayed his self.>

11. got the entire governing Christian congregation in Jerusalem angry with him

< There was not a "governing" congregation. Yes Paul confronted Peter and the explained the error of circumcision of the heart.>

12. Some believe that he was even excommunicated by that congregation of early Christians.



13. Paul was the first Christian heretic.

< Paul was not a heretic or apostate. It is obvious from Paul's letters and the writings of the other apostles that they teach the same thing. The inability to mesh the teaching has as much to do with previous teachings as not having knowledge of Greek or insight through the Holy Spirit.

14.

Paul was a highly educated Pharisee and loved G-d and the Law. Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Paul was originally very wealthy and Roman citizenship had been bought.

Re-evaluate Paul.



several Examples have been refuted - any specific examples? T2T

Answer 16

I'm sorry that you like Paul so much. When I discovered that his writing contradicts Jesus, I was pretty dismayed myself. Because it made the bible not add up. Once we understand that Paul's writing misquotes OT and Jesus, things start to add up again.



Think about it, Jesus warned us against the teachings of the pharisees. Paul called himself a pharisee, still toward the end of his 'ministry'. Jesus said that those who give witness of themselves are false. Paul gave witness of himself. (3 times every time embellishing the previous account of 'meeting Jesus') Jesus 2nd coming would be seen by every eye, only Paul claimed to have seen Him.



Paul spoke bad about many people including Peter who Jesus had chosen as the disciple on whom He would build His church. (Peters epistles are in dispute)

Jesus mentioned that He has twelve apostles (not thirteen), this is confirmed in Revelation 12 foundations .. (scales fell of Paul's eyes for crying out who's got scales?). Paul blinded people, Jesus gave people sight. Jesus predicted that one would come and be believed over Him. Who is everyone following? Yes I know Christians claim to follow Jesus but in actual fact they follow the preached 'lawlessness' by Paul.

Jesus said not everyone saying Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom .. I say depart from me, ye that practice lawlessness. Jesus said, to obtain eternal life follow the Commandments. Paul preached one law for some and another for others. God said, One law for all. God said, My law stands for ever.

And people actually believe that a selfproclaimed thirteenth apostle can overwrite God's law? That's so nuts, it's not funny. And yet that's whats happening today. All Christians celebrate their lawlessness to the disgust of every one around them watching these 'holier than thou's'.



Paul himself gives a clue to this when he mentions .. that they may believe a lie ..

Paul mentions being a prisoner, Jesus came to set the prisoners free, not make them. Paul mentions he's in bonds, Jesus came to set people free.



I could write all day and still not be finished. There's two biblical figures much revered by Christians today, one's Kingdom was rent from Him by God because he mucked up and this person taxed his people 666 talents in one year. The other person wrote 3 books in the bible each with 6 chapters 666. VERY popular books too by the way.



Paul near enough contradicts anything Jesus says.



Jesus said, Not a jot nor title of the law shall fail .. Paul says the opposite.



Jesus true disciple John says, 1 John 2:4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

This is the opposite once more of what Paul says.



One of Paul's most famous misquotes is where he refers to Hab 2 //the just shall live by HIS faith// The meaning in Hab clearly is that if people follow God's law and are just people, these kinda people live by their faith. This has been completely misquoted and misinterpreted to mean that living by ones faith makes one just. Completely back to front interpretation. Ough, it just hurts to even say something as stupid as that.

Just equates righteousness, i.e. no transgressing. That is according to Habakkuk who is misquoted here.



Jesus said, Father thanks that Thou revealed these things unto babes. Jesus meaning that the innocent young believers are the ones understanding gospel. Paul insists that it is he who is feeding the babes .. enough already.



Give me any line whatsoever by Paul and I show you where he misinterprets, mis quotes or simply makes it up on the spot.



I'm sorry. I initially was crushed to discover all the inconsistencies, because the bible is holy right?

Then after awhile I rejoiced when I realized that indeed it is all in there, the good bad and ugly. As predicted the false prophet in sheep's clothes, the works.



For those who believe in Jesus and God, this is very comforting. For those who believe in others over and above God I hope that this may be an eye opener.



Celebrating lawlessness .. I mean really ..

Answer 17

Well, I wouldn't rate it as high as hate, at least from my side, but according to Paul I and people like me are:

futile, foolish, sinful, impure, degraded, lustful, indecent, perverted, depraved in mind, wicked, evil, greedy, envious, murderous, strifeful, deceitful, malicious, gossiping, slanderous, insolent, arrogant, boastful, disobedient to parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(And I've missed a few)

If Paul and the bible are right.



Just because I can't find

(and it's my own deliberate, willful and morally culpable fault according to Paul)

the existence of God obvious in nature and the night sky.

Personally I can see at least the possibility of a cold indifferent universe.

Romans 1:18-32 is a most impressive rant.



Is it true?

I got a speeding ticket once, fourteen years ago but, oddly, I get on well with my parents.





So not hatred, but how can you like him for that, unless you are actually saying he's right?

Answer 18

2Peter 3:



15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;



16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.



17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.



18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.











Peter gave a clear acknowledgement of Paul's writtings as inspired scripture.



Would denying Peter's acceptance also mean Peter wasn't valid either?

Answer 19

Paul is unfairly accused of misogyny. He is also accused of having been gay. A lot of people really condemn Paul, and I think it's unfair! He was a saint. He went through a lot of horrible atrocities in his life- being shipwrecked, being thrown in prison, etc. He had a hard life, and he did wonderful things for the Lord. He deserves respect.



Some folks apparently hate Paul because they assume (unfairly) that Paul was a woman hater, and that he disdained marriage. Not true at all. He just believed (as I do) that some people are meant to remain single.

Answer 20

"Husbands,love your wives,even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it..." (Paul) Ephesians 5:25



"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love,I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love,I gain nothing". 1 Corinthians 13 (Paul)



Do these words penned by the Apostle Paul,stir negative emotions toward him?



Paul did not lead a life of pleasure and suffered greatly,yet sacrificed his earthly life,to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to establish order & peace to church bodies,given to his care.. Paul,was ultimately beheaded...To hate the Christ in Paul,is to hate Christ,himself...Jesus uttered far more scathing words,warning hypocrites and the unrighteous of impending,eternal judgement....



I could go on and on,but my offering would fall on deaf ears..

Answer 21

He's hated because like Jesus told his other apostles, because he is not of the world. Paul wasn't some ear tickling preacher. He preached the truth plain and simple, not aiming to please men but God.

Answer 22

Take away Paul's writings and you take away about half of the New Testament.



Then you're left with the gospels that have what Christ taught in them.



What Christ taught IS what Christianity should be. Not what Paul said. Those who follow Paul should be labeled something other than Christian in my opinion, since they usually give back seat to Christ himself. Paul was not an apostle. Christ was dead by the time he came on the scene. You can argue semantics all day long about that and it won't change my mind a bit.



The inclusion of Paul's letters and writings in the canonized bible simply lends credence to my opinion that those who chose what went in it had an agenda. Christ was clearly not the focus of that agenda for the NT.

Answer 23

I don't hate him.



As you know, I have no reason to.



But I suppose others would because his letters are full of HIS interpretations of what Christians should believe and how they should live.

He does not tell much about the life of Jesus in his writings.

His specific references to Jesus' teaching are likewise very few and inadequate which raises the question as to how consistent his account of the faith is with that of the four canonical Gospels, Acts and the Epistle of James.



And dissension is a breeding ground for dispute, conflict and enmity..

Answer 24

Can't forget that old Saul in Paul.....may be.

But I like all his letters to friends.

Answer 25

I believe it was because of jealousy. Blessings to ya

Answer 26

Paul was very 'passionate' about his beliefs, the world tends to hate that.

Answer 27

simple:

paul liked God

they didn't like God

so it turned out that they didn't like paul, since he liked God.



really, they were all just haters..the way i see it...

Answer 28

it doesn't make sense does it?

Paul was hand picked by Jesus himself,

Paul shows us that anyone can change and come to know Christ as their savior.



I think the only ones who dislikes what he says is the ones who believe you have to work for your salvation,

and Paul clearly taught(as did Jesus) that it is grace that saves,not anything we can do ourselves.



God bless.

Answer 29

just another bandwagon some are jumping on



Paul writes over 50% of the New Testament



Many don't understand his conversion is three staged:

Terrorist Saul-->Wretched Paul-->Paul The Apostle

Answer 30

BECAUSE HE DID THE EQUIVALENT OF DRUNK DIALING AND IT ENDED UP IN THE BIBLE

Answer 31

Dear Kar,

I believe that He walked very close to the Lord, and exemplified many of our christian beliefs.....Yet, perhaps, like all of us. there were some things that the Lord could have delivered him from....

Even So... I absolutley agree that he is one of God's most outstanding and compassionate apostles ever.....In his own words he said....

" So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."

1Thessalonians 2:8

He gave of Himself.....yet the more he loved.....He noticed something....

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 2Corinthians 12:15

Yes, dear sister, He had the qualities of the God kind of Love...which gives....regardless of returned treatment.....For when we "sow to the Spirit"...we need not bother ourselves with looking to man or woman for return and confirmation....For what is sown to the Spirit WILL BE Reaped from the Spirit also, and the Lord will repay : )

Now on the Topic of Paul being hated....He may have stirred some of that up unneccessarily....However, Jesus Himself said that any and all that will live Godly shall suffer persecution, and no servant is greater than his Lord....

Jesus told us all, "If they Hated me (And they most certainly did : ) They will hate you too"....

How is this comforting? It is funny to me, for it really is comforting knowing we are in "good company" when we are persecuted and hated for righteousness sake....

Here is couple passages which are comforting in spite of spitefull treatment...

Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.....(Eternal Love is stronger than death....Even paul was killed a few times and stoned often....and the Lord raised him up!

Those, Like the Apostle Paul, which have been and still are being hated, are fulfilling the true words of God,.....it is also part of our testimony, and so we can Love those who are Hating us.....To Bless them which curse us....To DO GOOD to those who despitefully mistreat us.....to pray sincerly for those who wish us ill and harm....For this is How our Father in Heaven knows that we are His children....and how we know also : )

So then, I believe that Paul is NOW and Forever one of the closest to the Lord, and His seat is one of the nearest to the King of Glory for ever and ever....Because He was willing to stand for the truth in his time...and willing to undergo hatred and persecution and perils on many levels....

Was the apostle absolutely right with every word that he said? Perhaps not, but at least he was humble enough to tell people the difference many times between what he thought, and what the Spirit of God was definately communicating through him....

Now concerning some of those who speak evil of Paul....man's negative outlook toward others is like a passing shadow caused by a cloud of doubt....but when the rays of the Eternal Sun of God's Favour comes, those ill thoughts will simply have no substance to speak of : )

If anything, Paul spoke much about the struggle of flesh and spirit....in such a way that it still may be causing misunderstandings today....not that he was wrong, but that some of these things are hard to be understood.....Even the Apostle Peter, whom Paul had to even rebuke once, said this of him......

2Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The carnal mind is at enmity with God....Paul struggled much with flesh and spirit...when in fact the amazing truth is that "any spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ IS COME in the FLESH is not of God"......So this truth reveals that "antichrist spirit" is so subtle, it can work in us to the degree that we disregard or allow ouselves to be convinced that Christ is not in us....all the way to the Flesh Level....this Flesh and Blood being is now the Body of the Holy Spirit...the Temple of the Living God....Many people simply have a hard time acknowledging and seeing this truth, because of our natural reasinging, which Paul says, "are at enmity with God"....yet the more we acknowledge and agree with the Spirit of Truth the more free we are to Live this Truth in the very Flesh....as Jesus taught..."it is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing".....Paul was given SOOO much to teach and live and walk in and demonstrate and I believe he did an oustanding job by the Grace of God.

Perhaps people especially hate others when they are made out, regardless of learning and prestige, to be a fool....not many really get excited about that realization...yet precious brother Paul simply did not care to sugar coat everything, and that is commendable...

1Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

This passage often "goes over" like a lead balloon....lol



Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the Apostle Paul our Everlasting Brother and spiritual father in the faith of our Lord. Amen



1Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Answer 32

paul the law terminator



ephesians 2

14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,



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prophet Jesus(pbuh)



Matthew 5:17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Answer 33

discrediting Paul is a method used by certain groups (Muslims and Theosophists, for example) to attempt to undermine Christianity while attempting to maintain a pretense of respecting Jesus

Answer 34

apostle who.....

Answer 35

... because he was a Jew

Answer 36

Well .......... he was a murderous, woman-hating psychopath .......

same gene pool as Adolph Hitler ......

Answer 37

The Jews think that he is a traitor. And some Christians who are not up to speed on scripture think that he taught different doctrine than Jesus. He did not.



These are not yet mature Christians.

Answer 38

Really, compassionate? He instructed married couples to not have sex - he even encouraged wives to divorce their husbands because he considered ALL sex to be a sin. He was a murderer of Christians, a self admitted liar, a hypocrite, and a deceiver of the faith. His own messages and letters are in direct contradiction to Jesus Christ.



Look, either you follow Paul (Saul) or you follow Jesus. Pick one!





EDIT: Always nice to see Christians ignoring the facts, once again.



Fine - if your "god" is real as you claim, you will know the truth at your judgment that I was right - all along. Paul will burn in Hell for his deception. That, you can take to the bank.

Answer 39

Ones who hate Paul are severely deluded of The Lord God's Truth in the first place and do not know His Living Word. Period.

Answer 40

The same reson many hate Christ and crucified Him. Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil..

Answer 41

because paul is rumored to have done something to women or mary something like that.

Answer 42

He hated women, and he thought he would see Jesus in his lifetime.

You don't know anyone that stupid, do you?