this is a very interesting read, though rather long.
so I give thanks to Rook Hawkins at infidel guy.
As Dennis McKinsey stated, "Jesus, Paul and Peter are three of the most important figures in the NT, yet, the degree to which their teachings diverge is a sight to behold. Peter disagrees with Jesus and Paul on many points, while the latter two often contradict one another. As on TV's To Tell the Truth, one can't help but ask, "Will the true voice of Christianity please stand up?" Paul claims to speak for Jesus, to be his voice, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not"--Rom. 9:1 and 1 Tim. 2:7; "As the truth of Christ is in me"--2 Cor. 11:10; "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me"--2 Cor. 13:3, despite abundant evidence to the contrary."
Indeed the question has become not "How are these three so vivid with their details" but "How are these three even in the Bible together when there is so much between their works that cannot be reconciled?" The very fact that so much between them conflict, especially in how the church should be run, and in what aspects of the church are important, that one cannot know for sure if they are doing everything right - or if they are even living life like a true Christian should - because so much of three these conflict it is impossible to know which way is the correct way.
This thread is dedicated to a critique of these three individuals, their conflicting sides and their rather dubious sides. Onto the critique:
Jesus vs. Paul
(1) Jesus--"Go not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matt. 10:5) and "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24), and "...for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22) versus Paul--"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 13:47) and "from henceforth, I (Paul--Ed.) will go unto the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6) and "that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it" (Acts 28:28) and "that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles" (Rom. 15:16) and "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8) and (Acts 20:21, 26:17-18, 20, 23, 22:21, Rom. 1:5, 13, 3:29, 11:11-13, 15:9, Gal. 2:2, 7-9, 3:14, Eph. 3:6, 1 Tim. 2:7, 3:16, 2 Tim. 4:17). Jesus told his followers not to go to the Gentiles and Paul countermanded the order.
(2) Jesus--"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven...." (Matt. 5:17-19) and "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall" (Luke 16:17) and "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do" (Matt. 23:2-3) and (John 7:19, Mark 1:44) versus Paul--"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ" (Rom. 7:4) and "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13) and "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14) and "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6) and (Rom. 10:4, 3:28, Gal. 3:23-25, 5:2-4, 18, 2:19, 21, 16, 4:10, Eph. 2:15, Col. 2:14, 16, Heb. 7:19, 1 Cor. 8:8 and many others). Jesus said the law would stand till heaven and earth passed, while Paul said it need no longer be followed.
(3) Jesus--"Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not" (Matt. 10:5) versus Paul--"they (Paul and Barnabas--Ed.) passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles" (Acts 15:3). Jesus said Samaria was not to be entered which Paul chose to ignore.
(4) Jesus--"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19) versus Paul--"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 1:17). To baptize or not to baptize, that is the question.
(5) Jesus--"but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matt. 5:22) versus Paul--"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die" (1 Cor. 15:36) and "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you" (Gal. 3:1) and "We are fools for Christ's sake" (1 Cor. 4:10) and (Rom. 1:22, 1 Cor. 3:18). Apparently Paul doesn't feel "fool" is a dangerous word or hell fire is a thing to be feared.
(6) Paul--"I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20) and "who gave himself for our sins" (Gal. 1:3) and "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2) and "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25) and 1 Tim. 2:6, Titus 2:14, Heb. 7:27, 9:14) versus Jesus--"...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34) and "...My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death:... O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me" (Matt. 26:38-39). "Cup" comes from a Hebrew word which actually means "fate" or, in this case, "death." If Jesus gladly gave himself as a sacrifice for all, you'd never know it from his words.
(7) Paul--"Honor thy father and mother: which is the first commandment" (Eph. 6:2) versus Jesus--"If any man came to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
(8) Paul--"I will therefore that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands...." (1 Tim. 2:8) versus Jesus--"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.... But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matt. 6:5-6). Those clamoring for prayer in the schools had better quote Paul and not Jesus.
(9) Jesus--"all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:19) versus Paul--"The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders...." (2 Thess. 2:9 RSV). Who, then has all power, Jesus or the lawless one?
(10) Paul--"In whom (Jesus--Ed.) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3) versus Jesus--"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son...." (Mark 13:32). Apparently Jesus didn't feel he was as omniscient as did Paul.
(11) Jesus--"but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26) versus Paul--"But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the gentiles, but when they came he drew back and separated himself fearing the circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, `If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" (Gal. 2:11-14 RSV) and "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarrling among you, my brethrem. What I mean is that each one of you says, `I belong to Paul,' or `I belong to Apollos,' or `I belong to Peter' or `I belong to Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:11-13 RSV). The Holy Ghost must not have reached both Peter and Paul. Apparently, he also missed some of the brethren.
(12) Paul--"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39) versus Jesus--"...but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (Matt. 12:32) and "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mark 3:29). According to Jesus you can never be justified for all things.
(13) Jesus--"...for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14) versus Paul--"For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles" (2 Cor. 11:5) and "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing" (2 Cor. 12:11) and "that which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also" (2 Cor. 11:17-18). Apparently Paul did not feel being abased was something to be feared either.
(14) Paul--"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...." (2 Cor. 5:10) versus Jesus--"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man" (John 8:15) and "...who made me a judge and a divider over you?" (Luke 12:14) and "...for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47) and (John 8:50). Somebody should have told Paul that Jesus doesn't want the job.
(15) Paul--"...who (Jesus--Ed.), being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil. 2:6) and "For in him (Christ) dwelleth all of the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9) versus Jesus--"...for my Father is greater than I" (John 14:28) and "...I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17). Paul may consider Jesus God's equal but clearly Jesus does not.
(16) Jesus--"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26) versus Paul--"it was impossible for God to lie...." (Heb. 6:18).
(17) Jesus--"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (Matt. 19:21) versus Paul--"For every man shall bear his own burden" (Gal. 6:5). One can't help but ask why people are obligated to aid the poor if every man is supposed to bear his own burden.
(18) Jesus--"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24) and "...Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:5-6) and "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine...." (Matt. 7:6) and (Matt. 15:26, Mark 8:27, John 4:22) versus Paul "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" (Rom. 10:12) and "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16) and "Even the righteousness of God which is my faith of Jesus Christ unto all and all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Rom. 3:22) and (1 Tim. 2:6, Rom. 4:16, 2:26-29, 4:9-13, 23-24, 11:19-25). Jesus told his followers to go only to the Jews, while Paul said there was no difference between Jews and Greeks.
(19) Paul--"Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not" (Rom. 12:14) versus Jesus--"Ye fools and blind" (Matt. 23:17, 19) and "Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres" (Matt. 23:27) and "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers" (Matt. 23:33) and "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers...." (John 10:8) and (Luke 11:40, 44). Apparently Jesus felt Paul's magnanimous advice was to be ignored since Paul laid down a maxim which Jesus had already cast aside.
(20) Interestingly enough, Jesus gave similar advice which Paul chose to ignore. Jesus--"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" (Matt. 5:44) and "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15) and "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse yhou,.... And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other" (Luke 6:27-29) and Matt. 5:39) versus an account with reference to Paul's activities and comments: "And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him (Paul--Ed.) to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, `God shall smite thee, thou whited wall, for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?' And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?" (Acts 23:2-4). Contrary to Jesus' advice Paul felt there were times when enemies should be reviled rather than blessed.
(21) Paul--"Who (Jesus--Ed.) only hath immortality...." (1 Tim. 6:16) versus Jesus--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Paul said only Jesus had immortality, while Jesus said others have everlasting life, too. If Paul had said only Jesus can provide immortality to others, there would have been no problem. But he said only Jesus has immortality. Incidentally, how can Paul say only Jesus is immortal when everyone is immortal according to Christian beliefs whether desired or not. It's not a question of whether we are immortal but one of where we will spend eternity.
(22) Jesus--"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:30) versus Paul--"...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12) and "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). Persecution and scourging hardly sound like the concommitants of an easy yoke and a light burden.
(23) Paul--"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:2) versus what Jesus did: "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers...." (Matt. 21:12). Jesus felt that discarding meekness and becoming a brawler were sometimes warranted.
(24) Jesus--"Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matt. 21:31) versus Paul--"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind...shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Whether or not harlots will enter the kingdom of God appears to be in dispute.
(25) Jesus--"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him" (Mark 7:15, Matt. 15:11) versus Paul--"For a bishop must be blameless...not given to wine...." (Titus 1:7) and "Not given to wine...." (1 Tim. 3:3) and (Rom. 14:21, 1 Tim. 3:8). If nothing entering a man from the outside can defile him, then why prohibit the consumption of wine?
(26) Jesus--"...Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do" (Luke 12:4) and "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil" (Matt. 5:39) versus the acts of Paul:"...And when the Jews laid wait for him (Paul) as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia" (Acts 20:3) and "when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them (Paul and Barnabas--Ed.) despitefully, and to stone them, They were aware of it, and fled into Lystra and Derbe...." (Acts 14:5-6). Not wanting to risk life and limb Paul ignored Jesus' advice by being both afraid and resistant to evil.
(27) Jesus--"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven...." (Matt. 19:21) versus Paul--"...but we beseech you brethren, that ye...may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing" (1 Thess. 4:10,12). How can one lack nothing if he sells all he has and gives to the poor?
(28) Paul--"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom. 12:18) and "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...." (1 Cor. 14:33) and "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14) and "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace" (Rom. 14:19) and "For Jesus is our peace.... Having abolished in his flesh the enmity...so making peace...and came and preached peace to you...." (Eph. 2:14-17) and "Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ...." (2 Cor. 10:1) and "Finally brethren,...live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Cor. 13:11) versus Jesus--"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34) and "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division" (Luke 12:51) and "...he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one" (Luke 22:36) and "I am come to send fire on the earth..." (Luke 12:49) and "they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, `It is enough'" (Luke 22:38) and Jesus made a scourge of cords and drove them out of the temple while overthrowing tables (John 2:15, Matt. 21:12, Mark 11:15). If Jesus was as peaceful as Paul would have us believe, you'd never know it from his comments and behavior.
(29) Jesus--"Thou shalt do no murder...." (Matt. 19:18) versus Paul--"Thou shalt not kill" (Rom. 13:9). Jesus and Paul can't seem to agree on the wording of the 6th Commandment regarding killing. Every moral and legal system recognizes a difference between murder and killing. Paul outlaws killing while Jesus prefers a less comprehensive restriction. If Paul's rule prevails, soldiers, police, and those killing in self-defense are in trouble.
(30) Paul--"...who will render to every man according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:6) and "...every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor" (1 Cor. 3:8) versus Jesus--"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard and when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (The owner subsequently hired laborers on the 3rd, 9th, and 11th hours for a penny each also--Ed.)....and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first" (Matt. 20:1-3, 8). But every man received a penny regardless of when hired. Those hired first complained and the owner said, "I do thee no wrong: didn't you agree with me for a penny? Imagine! Every man received a penny regardless of when hired and how long employed and Jesus equated this with heaven. This is rewarding every man according to his deeds as Paul forecast? This is justice? Sounds more like hell than heaven!
(31) Paul--"...for he--one's ruler--beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God...." (Rom. 13:4) versus Jesus--"Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt. 26:52).
(32) Jesus--"...Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4:10) and "Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:10 RSV) versus Paul--"Servants, be obedient to those that are you masters according to the flesh,...as unto Christ" (Eph. 6:5) and "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh..." (col. 3:22) and "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters..." (Titus 2:9) and "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor..." (1 Tim. 6:1). Jesus says he is our only master, while Paul tells servants to obey their masters. How many master are there?
(33) Paul--"...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35). Nowhere in scripture does Jesus made such a statement. Matt. 10:8 ("...freely ye have received, freely give") does not apply.
(34) Jesus--"I and my Father are one" (John 10:30) versus Paul--"It is Christ...who is even at the right hand of God..." (Rom. 8:34) and "...the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 3:1, Heb. 9:24, 10:12, 1 Thess. 2:5). If Jesus is one with God as he claims, then how could he be sitting beside, or subservient to, God?
so I give thanks to Rook Hawkins at infidel guy.
As Dennis McKinsey stated, "Jesus, Paul and Peter are three of the most important figures in the NT, yet, the degree to which their teachings diverge is a sight to behold. Peter disagrees with Jesus and Paul on many points, while the latter two often contradict one another. As on TV's To Tell the Truth, one can't help but ask, "Will the true voice of Christianity please stand up?" Paul claims to speak for Jesus, to be his voice, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not"--Rom. 9:1 and 1 Tim. 2:7; "As the truth of Christ is in me"--2 Cor. 11:10; "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me"--2 Cor. 13:3, despite abundant evidence to the contrary."
Indeed the question has become not "How are these three so vivid with their details" but "How are these three even in the Bible together when there is so much between their works that cannot be reconciled?" The very fact that so much between them conflict, especially in how the church should be run, and in what aspects of the church are important, that one cannot know for sure if they are doing everything right - or if they are even living life like a true Christian should - because so much of three these conflict it is impossible to know which way is the correct way.
This thread is dedicated to a critique of these three individuals, their conflicting sides and their rather dubious sides. Onto the critique:
Jesus vs. Paul
(1) Jesus--"Go not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matt. 10:5) and "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24), and "...for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22) versus Paul--"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 13:47) and "from henceforth, I (Paul--Ed.) will go unto the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6) and "that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it" (Acts 28:28) and "that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles" (Rom. 15:16) and "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8) and (Acts 20:21, 26:17-18, 20, 23, 22:21, Rom. 1:5, 13, 3:29, 11:11-13, 15:9, Gal. 2:2, 7-9, 3:14, Eph. 3:6, 1 Tim. 2:7, 3:16, 2 Tim. 4:17). Jesus told his followers not to go to the Gentiles and Paul countermanded the order.
(2) Jesus--"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven...." (Matt. 5:17-19) and "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall" (Luke 16:17) and "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do" (Matt. 23:2-3) and (John 7:19, Mark 1:44) versus Paul--"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ" (Rom. 7:4) and "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13) and "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14) and "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6) and (Rom. 10:4, 3:28, Gal. 3:23-25, 5:2-4, 18, 2:19, 21, 16, 4:10, Eph. 2:15, Col. 2:14, 16, Heb. 7:19, 1 Cor. 8:8 and many others). Jesus said the law would stand till heaven and earth passed, while Paul said it need no longer be followed.
(3) Jesus--"Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not" (Matt. 10:5) versus Paul--"they (Paul and Barnabas--Ed.) passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles" (Acts 15:3). Jesus said Samaria was not to be entered which Paul chose to ignore.
(4) Jesus--"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19) versus Paul--"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 1:17). To baptize or not to baptize, that is the question.
(5) Jesus--"but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matt. 5:22) versus Paul--"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die" (1 Cor. 15:36) and "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you" (Gal. 3:1) and "We are fools for Christ's sake" (1 Cor. 4:10) and (Rom. 1:22, 1 Cor. 3:18). Apparently Paul doesn't feel "fool" is a dangerous word or hell fire is a thing to be feared.
(6) Paul--"I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20) and "who gave himself for our sins" (Gal. 1:3) and "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2) and "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25) and 1 Tim. 2:6, Titus 2:14, Heb. 7:27, 9:14) versus Jesus--"...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34) and "...My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death:... O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me" (Matt. 26:38-39). "Cup" comes from a Hebrew word which actually means "fate" or, in this case, "death." If Jesus gladly gave himself as a sacrifice for all, you'd never know it from his words.
(7) Paul--"Honor thy father and mother: which is the first commandment" (Eph. 6:2) versus Jesus--"If any man came to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
(8) Paul--"I will therefore that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands...." (1 Tim. 2:8) versus Jesus--"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.... But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matt. 6:5-6). Those clamoring for prayer in the schools had better quote Paul and not Jesus.
(9) Jesus--"all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:19) versus Paul--"The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders...." (2 Thess. 2:9 RSV). Who, then has all power, Jesus or the lawless one?
(10) Paul--"In whom (Jesus--Ed.) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3) versus Jesus--"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son...." (Mark 13:32). Apparently Jesus didn't feel he was as omniscient as did Paul.
(11) Jesus--"but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26) versus Paul--"But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the gentiles, but when they came he drew back and separated himself fearing the circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, `If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" (Gal. 2:11-14 RSV) and "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarrling among you, my brethrem. What I mean is that each one of you says, `I belong to Paul,' or `I belong to Apollos,' or `I belong to Peter' or `I belong to Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:11-13 RSV). The Holy Ghost must not have reached both Peter and Paul. Apparently, he also missed some of the brethren.
(12) Paul--"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39) versus Jesus--"...but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (Matt. 12:32) and "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mark 3:29). According to Jesus you can never be justified for all things.
(13) Jesus--"...for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14) versus Paul--"For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles" (2 Cor. 11:5) and "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing" (2 Cor. 12:11) and "that which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also" (2 Cor. 11:17-18). Apparently Paul did not feel being abased was something to be feared either.
(14) Paul--"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...." (2 Cor. 5:10) versus Jesus--"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man" (John 8:15) and "...who made me a judge and a divider over you?" (Luke 12:14) and "...for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47) and (John 8:50). Somebody should have told Paul that Jesus doesn't want the job.
(15) Paul--"...who (Jesus--Ed.), being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil. 2:6) and "For in him (Christ) dwelleth all of the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9) versus Jesus--"...for my Father is greater than I" (John 14:28) and "...I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17). Paul may consider Jesus God's equal but clearly Jesus does not.
(16) Jesus--"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26) versus Paul--"it was impossible for God to lie...." (Heb. 6:18).
(17) Jesus--"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (Matt. 19:21) versus Paul--"For every man shall bear his own burden" (Gal. 6:5). One can't help but ask why people are obligated to aid the poor if every man is supposed to bear his own burden.
(18) Jesus--"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24) and "...Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:5-6) and "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine...." (Matt. 7:6) and (Matt. 15:26, Mark 8:27, John 4:22) versus Paul "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" (Rom. 10:12) and "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16) and "Even the righteousness of God which is my faith of Jesus Christ unto all and all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Rom. 3:22) and (1 Tim. 2:6, Rom. 4:16, 2:26-29, 4:9-13, 23-24, 11:19-25). Jesus told his followers to go only to the Jews, while Paul said there was no difference between Jews and Greeks.
(19) Paul--"Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not" (Rom. 12:14) versus Jesus--"Ye fools and blind" (Matt. 23:17, 19) and "Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres" (Matt. 23:27) and "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers" (Matt. 23:33) and "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers...." (John 10:8) and (Luke 11:40, 44). Apparently Jesus felt Paul's magnanimous advice was to be ignored since Paul laid down a maxim which Jesus had already cast aside.
(20) Interestingly enough, Jesus gave similar advice which Paul chose to ignore. Jesus--"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" (Matt. 5:44) and "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15) and "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse yhou,.... And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other" (Luke 6:27-29) and Matt. 5:39) versus an account with reference to Paul's activities and comments: "And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him (Paul--Ed.) to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, `God shall smite thee, thou whited wall, for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?' And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?" (Acts 23:2-4). Contrary to Jesus' advice Paul felt there were times when enemies should be reviled rather than blessed.
(21) Paul--"Who (Jesus--Ed.) only hath immortality...." (1 Tim. 6:16) versus Jesus--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Paul said only Jesus had immortality, while Jesus said others have everlasting life, too. If Paul had said only Jesus can provide immortality to others, there would have been no problem. But he said only Jesus has immortality. Incidentally, how can Paul say only Jesus is immortal when everyone is immortal according to Christian beliefs whether desired or not. It's not a question of whether we are immortal but one of where we will spend eternity.
(22) Jesus--"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:30) versus Paul--"...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12) and "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). Persecution and scourging hardly sound like the concommitants of an easy yoke and a light burden.
(23) Paul--"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:2) versus what Jesus did: "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers...." (Matt. 21:12). Jesus felt that discarding meekness and becoming a brawler were sometimes warranted.
(24) Jesus--"Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matt. 21:31) versus Paul--"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind...shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Whether or not harlots will enter the kingdom of God appears to be in dispute.
(25) Jesus--"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him" (Mark 7:15, Matt. 15:11) versus Paul--"For a bishop must be blameless...not given to wine...." (Titus 1:7) and "Not given to wine...." (1 Tim. 3:3) and (Rom. 14:21, 1 Tim. 3:8). If nothing entering a man from the outside can defile him, then why prohibit the consumption of wine?
(26) Jesus--"...Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do" (Luke 12:4) and "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil" (Matt. 5:39) versus the acts of Paul:"...And when the Jews laid wait for him (Paul) as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia" (Acts 20:3) and "when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them (Paul and Barnabas--Ed.) despitefully, and to stone them, They were aware of it, and fled into Lystra and Derbe...." (Acts 14:5-6). Not wanting to risk life and limb Paul ignored Jesus' advice by being both afraid and resistant to evil.
(27) Jesus--"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven...." (Matt. 19:21) versus Paul--"...but we beseech you brethren, that ye...may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing" (1 Thess. 4:10,12). How can one lack nothing if he sells all he has and gives to the poor?
(28) Paul--"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom. 12:18) and "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...." (1 Cor. 14:33) and "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14) and "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace" (Rom. 14:19) and "For Jesus is our peace.... Having abolished in his flesh the enmity...so making peace...and came and preached peace to you...." (Eph. 2:14-17) and "Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ...." (2 Cor. 10:1) and "Finally brethren,...live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Cor. 13:11) versus Jesus--"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34) and "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division" (Luke 12:51) and "...he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one" (Luke 22:36) and "I am come to send fire on the earth..." (Luke 12:49) and "they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, `It is enough'" (Luke 22:38) and Jesus made a scourge of cords and drove them out of the temple while overthrowing tables (John 2:15, Matt. 21:12, Mark 11:15). If Jesus was as peaceful as Paul would have us believe, you'd never know it from his comments and behavior.
(29) Jesus--"Thou shalt do no murder...." (Matt. 19:18) versus Paul--"Thou shalt not kill" (Rom. 13:9). Jesus and Paul can't seem to agree on the wording of the 6th Commandment regarding killing. Every moral and legal system recognizes a difference between murder and killing. Paul outlaws killing while Jesus prefers a less comprehensive restriction. If Paul's rule prevails, soldiers, police, and those killing in self-defense are in trouble.
(30) Paul--"...who will render to every man according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:6) and "...every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor" (1 Cor. 3:8) versus Jesus--"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard and when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (The owner subsequently hired laborers on the 3rd, 9th, and 11th hours for a penny each also--Ed.)....and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first" (Matt. 20:1-3, 8). But every man received a penny regardless of when hired. Those hired first complained and the owner said, "I do thee no wrong: didn't you agree with me for a penny? Imagine! Every man received a penny regardless of when hired and how long employed and Jesus equated this with heaven. This is rewarding every man according to his deeds as Paul forecast? This is justice? Sounds more like hell than heaven!
(31) Paul--"...for he--one's ruler--beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God...." (Rom. 13:4) versus Jesus--"Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt. 26:52).
(32) Jesus--"...Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4:10) and "Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:10 RSV) versus Paul--"Servants, be obedient to those that are you masters according to the flesh,...as unto Christ" (Eph. 6:5) and "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh..." (col. 3:22) and "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters..." (Titus 2:9) and "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor..." (1 Tim. 6:1). Jesus says he is our only master, while Paul tells servants to obey their masters. How many master are there?
(33) Paul--"...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35). Nowhere in scripture does Jesus made such a statement. Matt. 10:8 ("...freely ye have received, freely give") does not apply.
(34) Jesus--"I and my Father are one" (John 10:30) versus Paul--"It is Christ...who is even at the right hand of God..." (Rom. 8:34) and "...the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 3:1, Heb. 9:24, 10:12, 1 Thess. 2:5). If Jesus is one with God as he claims, then how could he be sitting beside, or subservient to, God?
