Paul was a man who never even met Jesus, never was taught by Jesus, but he says he received the gospel by revelation. He was not chosen by Jesus to be an apostle but was self-made an apostle to the gentiles. Contrary to what many think, Paul was not one of the apostles, but was considered an apostate and an enemy to the early church.
Paul didn’t qualify to be an apostle
The qualifications of apostleship were that they had to be with the disciples during the time that Jesus was with them and to be ordained with them. Paul did not meet these qualifications.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. ( Act 1:21-22)
According to Rev 21:14 there are only 12 apostles:
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev 21:14)
Nowhere in the bible is Judas replaced with Paul. After Judas was gone, they prayed all together and the one that was chosen of the Lord was Matthias.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both
- Peter, and
- James, and
- John, and
- Andrew,
- Philip, and
- Thomas,
- Bartholomew, and
- Matthew,
- James the son of Alphaeus, and
- Simon Zelotes, and
- Judas the brother of James.
(Act 1:13)
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Act 1:26)
Matthias became number 12, not Paul.
In fact, teaching doctrines contrary to those Jesus taught made him an apostate and a heretic. Besides his false teachings, Paul was constantly speaking against the top leadership of the early church (namely: Peter, James and John) who were chosen and ordained by Jesus himself. Paul taught things that were contradictory to the teachings of Jesus, on purpose, in order to win over the pagans to Christianity. Because this, modern Christianity won out over the early believers, and is largely based on the false doctrines that Paul taught.
Another Gospel ?
Paul said that if any man teach any other gospel (other than HIS gospel) than that which he taught, let him be accused. The word gospel means “good news” and is generally understood to mean the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The strange thing about this is that Paul never even met Jesus personally and he speaks against the most superior disciples of Jesus.
Moreover, the disciples obviously had some strong sentiments against Paul and many of his teachings (which were contrary to Jesus’ teachings), and had some very sharp disagreements with him. Paul accused Jesus’ 3 top disciples — James, Peter and John — of preaching another gospel, “perverting the gospel of Christ”, inferring that they should be accursed. (Gal 1:6-8)
He claimed that he received the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ during the 3 years before he had ever even met with any of the other apostles (Author: I have my doubts about this). He first met Peter after that and then James the brother of Jesus. (Gal 1:11-19) Yet Paul’s own “gospel” was, in so many respects, contrary to the gospel that Jesus himself taught.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (the disciples of Jesus, teaching a different gospel? Different than Paul’s “gospel”)
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal 1:6-7) (they trouble Paul, and “pervert” HIS gospel, not the Gospel of Jesus — Paul here refers to James, Peter and John)
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8) (an angel from heaven would preach a different gospel than Jesus’?)
If you read this passage, you’ll see that Paul was speaking of the Pillars of the church — namely James, Peter and John.
Paul taught “another gospel” other than Christ’s, and “perverted” the gospel of Christ. And who is he saying should be accursed? You’ll see below that it was “the very chiefest apostles of Christ”. (the chiefest apostles of Jesus were: James, Peter and John)
Paul accused Jesus’ disciples of preaching another gospel
Now why would an “angel from heaven” preach a false gospel? That just doesn’t make any sense. And how can Paul speak with any authority against a subject taught by the disciples seeing that he never even met Jesus himself and was never taught the gospel by those who did? He said he received HIS gospel by “revelation”. He is actually accusing Jesus’ disciples of preaching “another gospel”, and that theirs is a false gospel and wishes that they be accursed! Imagine! Paul actually called Jesus’ teachings “false”!
So then Paul goes up to the church at Jerusalem to communicate the Gospel to those who were of “reputation”, referring to James, Peter and John. He goes on to say that “false brethren were brought in unawares to spy out the liberty they have in Christ Jesus”. Evidently, these were the “false brethren” spies sent by James the brother of Jesus.
Notice here Paul uses the phrase “seemed to be somewhat”. It didn’t matter to him who they were. Paul didn’t recognize and respect the authority of James, Peter and John. When Paul said, “God accepteth no man’s person” what he was saying in reality was that God was no respecter of persons even when it comes to the top leadership, James, Peter and John, appointed by Jesus himself.
Here he uses the term “seemed to be pillars” which proves that he referred to them:
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, [of some importance] (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me (Gal 2:6)
And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who “seemed to be pillars“, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; (Gal 2:9)
Paul actually named the “pillars” who were: James, Cephas (Peter), and John
See, Paul uses the phrase “seemed to be pillars” and then literally names them! Absolute proof that he was an enemy against the leadership of Jesus’ church!
Next he gets into an argument with Peter, criticizes James and says Barnabas is deceived by other Jews:
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For until certain persons came from James he had been accustomed to eat with Gentiles; but as soon as these persons came, he withdrew and separated himself for fear of the Circumcision party. (WNT)
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation (deceit). (Gal 2:11-13)
We are talking about some serious stuff here
He accuses the disciples of Jesus of not walking uprightly “according to the truth of (HIS) the gospel”, because they continued in the Jewish tradition of circumcision and eating with the gentiles. (By the way, didn’t Paul do the same? “I have become all things to all men that I might win some“) As a side note: in verse 13 notice it says “the other Jews”. Since he’s talking about James here, this is referring to the Jewish Christians.
Authentic Jews
It is important to note here that the Jewish Christians are referred to simply as Jews in the book of Acts since they were identical to any other Jew with the exception that they believed in Jesus. They obeyed the law of God as laid down by Jesus and followed the Jewish customs (such as circumcision). The Jewish Christians were even ruled authentically Jewish by Rabbi Gamaliel, the president of the Sanhedrin.
But when I saw that they (the Jewish Christians) walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why completest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (and keep the law of circumcision) (Gal 2:14)
It’s strange since I have never read anything in the gospels about the practice of circumcision being not according to the truth and not upright. It was a traditional practice that all the Jews followed. Paul said he “became all things to all men that I might win some” (1 Cor 9:22).
There is nothing that says in the gospels you have to be circumcised to be saved. However, it was a very serious thing for him to criticize Jesus’ chosen leadership in a letter to new converts. It looks like Paul purposely does this to turn the Galatian Christians against James, Peter and John, who were hand-picked by Jesus himself to be the leaders of the church, and gain them for his own followers. Then he backstabs the disciples accusing them of “bewitching” the Galatians to disobey the truth in a letter to that church:
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, (Gal 3:1)
Obviously, the Galatians see him as an enemy since he is teaching them something contrary to what they were taught by the disciples he says:
- “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal 4:16)
Now Paul is saying that the true Apostles of Jesus are troubling the Galatians and that he wished that they would be “mutilate themselves” who are “persecuting” him:
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision (so now Paul is preaching circumcision?), why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.
Would to God that those who are unsettling your faith would even mutilate themselves. (Gal 5:10)
Paul curses the Lead Apostles of Jesus!
He wishes to God they would “mutilate themselves”! Here Paul attacks them again, accusing them to be deceiving themselves into thinking they were something. (Well, they were the chief apostles of Jesus!) Of course, as Paul says in chapter 1 that he considers them to be nothing.
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Gal 6:3)
To the Corinthians he is speaking against the true Apostles of Jesus here too. Here he accuses them of preaching “another Jesus”, “another spirit”, “another gospel”:
If indeed some visitor is proclaiming among you another Jesus whom WE did not proclaim, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the One you have already received (from us)… (WNT)
Why, I reckon myself in no respect inferior to those superlatively great Apostles (James, Peter and John). (2Co 11:4-5) (WNT)
And he makes it clear who he is talking about: Jesus’ leading apostles and considers himself to be in no way inferior to them — even though he’s never even been with Jesus or studied the gospel under those who have and teaches things contradictory to what Jesus taught. See how he he works so hard to justify himself and make himself equal to or even greater than the original leading Apostles of Jesus! He knocks them down to set himself higher in the eyes of the new converts.
We can tell that he refers to the apostles here again since he uses the term “wherein they glory”, in which he feels they are glorying in the circumcision as he has commented before (yet later he begins teaching and practicing it himself!). Now the accusations become much more serious in that he calls THEM “false apostles, deceitful workers” and compares them to Satan transforming himself into an angel of light!
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:12-15)
This is also very serious in that he is basically saying that God will judge “the chiefest apostles” according to their works which he considers deceitful and that they are “transformed” into “minsters of righteousness”. More confirmation that he is referring to Jesus’ own lead apostles who are Jewish Christians:
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
The “very chiefest apostles” were none other than: James, Peter and John!
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. (2Co 11:12-22)
Paul calls Jesus’ Lead Apostles, who were hand-picked by Jesus himself and leaders of the church of being “false apostles” and “deceitful workers”
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2Co 11:14, 2Co 11:4)
He compares the chief apostles with Satan and accuses them of preaching another Jesus than the one he preached — and never even having personally met Jesus! How is it he can say that they are preaching another Jesus? HE is preaching “another Jesus” that he received through his “revelation”.
It’s Paul who actually has his own gospel and preaches another Jesus. He teaches doctrines that are completely contrary to what Jesus taught.
According to “My Gospel”
“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” – Romans 2:16
“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel…” – Romans 16:25
“…Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” – 2 Timothy 2:8
Remember, the Jewish Believers in Jesus had the Gospel of the Hebrews, written by Matthew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus (who Paul never even met), and only followed it and completely disregarded the gospels that Paul’s Greek followers wrote.
We know that the Gospel of the Hebrews was written in Aramaic and the four gospels that were chosen by the Orthodox Church to be included in the Bible were written in Greek. We also know that Matthew’s gospel existed since the church fathers spoke of it and quoted from it. Unfortunately, it is nowhere to be found today.
Paul preached a gospel that was completely different and contrary to the gospel that Jesus brought (this you will see clearly later on in this series). And he is teaching the gentiles that they should reject the gospel of Jesus disciples and saying that their gospel is of Satan! It’s not a wonder that the Jewish Christians regarded Paul as an apostate and a heretic and they rejected him!
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:15)
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (2Co 11:23)
Paul calls the Ministers of Christ, ministers of Satan masquerading as ministers of righteousness! And again he’s justifying himself, trying to make himself look better than them, while tearing down their image — in the eyes of their followers!
However, all of Paul’s attempts to persuade the churches in Galatia and Corinth and all the other churches in Asia only served to backfire against him since they ended up rejecting him and and finally running him out of the Asia and he ended up living out the rest of his days in Italy.
- This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; (2Ti 1:15)
He was tried as a false apostle and found a liar by the churches in Asia — according to Jesus:
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (Rev 2:2)
Next: Paul: the False Apostle | Paul is Rejected by the Churches