The Epistles of Paul
“PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR, AND LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS OUR HOPE;” 1 TIMOTHY 1:1
Another often disputed topic of the Bible is the authenticity of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Many whose faith is based on world religions create many of their heresies on the writings of Paul. They believe that Paul teaches against the keeping of the laws of Moses and that Paul has made his own unauthorized changes to the commandments of God. When we carefully examine the letters (epistles) of the Apostle Paul, one will clearly see that his writings are in complete agreement with the laws of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms as well as the teachings of Jesus Christ. Because many lack knowledge of the historical background of the Old Testament, they are made void in understanding many of Paul’s Epistles.
Paul (known before as Saul) was a former soldier of the Roman government whose orders were to capture, imprison and even kill any that professed the name and doctrine of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:13). Paul being raised as a Pharisee (a sect of the Jews which did not believe in Christ) traditionally kept the laws of God but was seduced by the order of the Pharisees to destroy the church of Christ. He was later chosen by Christ and called to repentance (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)
“BUT I CERTIFY YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. (12) FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. (13) FOR YE HAVE HEARD OF MY CONVERSATION IN TIME PAST IN THE JEWS' RELIGION, HOW THAT BEYOND MEASURE I PERSECUTED THE CHURCH OF GOD, AND WASTED IT: (14) AND PROFITED IN THE JEWS' RELIGION ABOVE MANY MY EQUALS IN MINE OWN NATION, BEING MORE EXCEEDINGLY ZEALOUS OF THE TRADITIONS OF MY FATHERS. (15) BUT WHEN IT PLEASED GOD, WHO SEPARATED ME FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB, AND CALLED ME BY HIS GRACE, (16) TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME, THAT I MIGHT PREACH HIM AMONG THE HEATHEN; IMMEDIATELY I CONFERRED NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD: (17) NEITHER WENT I UP TO JERUSALEM TO THEM WHICH WERE APOSTLES BEFORE ME; BUT I WENT INTO ARABIA, AND RETURNED AGAIN UNTO DAMASCUS. (18) THEN AFTER THREE YEARS I WENT UP TO JERUSALEM TO SEE PETER, AND ABODE WITH HIM FIFTEEN DAYS. (19) BUT OTHER OF THE APOSTLES SAW I NONE, SAVE JAMES THE LORD'S BROTHER. (20) NOW THE THINGS WHICH I WRITE UNTO YOU, BEHOLD, BEFORE GOD, I LIE NOT. (21) AFTERWARDS I CAME INTO THE REGIONS OF SYRIA AND CILICIA; (22) AND WAS UNKNOWN BY FACE UNTO THE CHURCHES OF JUDAEA WHICH WERE IN CHRIST: (23) BUT THEY HAD HEARD ONLY, THAT HE WHICH PERSECUTED US IN TIMES PAST NOW PREACHETH THE FAITH WHICH ONCE HE DESTROYED. (24) AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD IN ME.” GALATIANS 1:11-24
The Holy Spirit came upon Paul very strong after his conversion in so much that he was numbered as one of the chief apostles. Peter, the elder of the Church, speaks well of Paul. Peter admiringly describes Paul’s zeal for truth, but also warns us of the high level of spirit and wisdom that was bestowed upon Paul that is displayed in his writings which many find difficult to understand.
“AND 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; (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.”
2 Peter 3:15-16
Those that wrestle with the writings of Paul often believe:
The Laws are done away with
Women are permitted to teach over the congregation
We no longer have to keep the Holy days
Paul taught the Gentiles
Paul changed the ordinances of the Sabbath days
Paul testifies that none of these claims about him are true.
“FOR WE ARE NOT AS MANY, WHICH CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD: BUT AS OF SINCERITY, BUT AS OF GOD, IN THE SIGHT OF GOD SPEAK WE IN CHRIST.”
II CORINTHIANS 2:17
As Peter stated it is for this reason that many wrongfully understand the epistles of Paul unto “THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.” Paul is a strict advocate of the commandments of God.
“KNOW YE NOT, BRETHREN, (FOR I SPEAK TO THEM THAT KNOW THE LAW,) HOW THAT THE LAW HATH DOMINION OVER A MAN AS LONG AS HE LIVETH?” ROMANS 7:1
“DO WE THEN MAKE VOID THE LAW THROUGH FAITH? GOD FORBID: YEA, WE ESTABLISH THE LAW.” ROMANS 3:31
Do not be deceived by the slanders and devilish ploy to turn your heart and mind from serving the Most High. The writings of Paul are simply another book of the Word of God the same as is Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, etc., all of which from the beginning to the end adhere to all the laws of the Most High.
“THEN SAID I, LO, I COME (IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME,) TO DO THY WILL, O GOD.” HEBREWS 10:7, PSALMS 40:7