Introduction
The issue of Saul/Paul is something I have been seriously considering for several years. It has been a difficult process of questioning and re-examination of deeply held beliefs. So it is not something I now write about rashly or flippantly, without consideration or careful study -- but rather soberly, and as respectfully as I can articulate.
Having been brought up in "mainstream Christianity", you are conditioned to believe that the "Bible" is infallible. I understand, therefore, that for a "mainstream Christian" to question the apostleship of Paul seems unthinkable, and even perhaps "blasphemous."
And while it is true that YHWH's word is infallible, we must understand that the "Bible" is a collection of books assembled by men. Catholics and Protestants disagree, for instance, as to what books are canon scripture. The task, then, is to sift truth from error, and determine which writings are those of genuine prophets of YHWH, and which are not.
To any serious truthseeker and one who truly wishes to obey YHWH, I urge you to not immediately reject the possibility of this based on preconceived beliefs or an emotional response, but rather to stop and examine the issue rationally and logically, as it is of critical importance.
The evidence is overwhelmingly against Paul being a genuine "apostle." This can be conclusively proven from examining the Scriptures, and the writings of Paul himself, for anyone who has "eyes to see" and "ears to hear" -- that is, anyone who cares to use their eyes and hears, and not shut them up in order to perpetuate their preconceived views.
While Paul's writings contain much truth and the appearance of truth, the most sophisticated and dangerous false teaching mixes the truth with lies in this manner. Consider why Yahshua the Messiah would warn his followers so strongly against false prophets and the "leaven" (ie, doctrine) of the Pharisees, saying that many would be deceived, and the deception so strong that almost the "very elect" would be deceived.
What follows is an outline of some of the strongest arguments/evidences against the apostleship of Saul/Paul.
Saul/Paul was not one of the Genuine 12 Apostles - His Claim to Being An "Apostle" is Blatantly False and Self-Avowed
Saul/Paul was NOT one of the original 12 Apostles, and was not the replacement for Judas. Matthias was chosen by the remaining 11 Apostles as the replacement (Acts 1:26).
The Gospels and Book of Revelation makes clear that there are only 12 apostles:
Revelation 21:14 "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Yet Saul/Paul over and over in his epistles claims to be an "apostle."
Who was Saul of Tarsus, aka "Paul"? A Pharisee, Persecutor and Murderer of the Followers of Yahshua the Messiah
Saul of Tarsus was a leading Pharisee (and proclaimed "son of a Pharisee" - Acts 23:6), who lead the persecution of Yahshua and his followers. He was present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58).
Yahshua strongly warned against the leaven/doctrine of the Pharisees. Based upon all of the evidence against Saul/Paul (outlined below), it is apparent that Saul/Paul decided that overt persecution of Yahshuah's followers was not the best tactic to destroy them, but rather covert infiltration and subversion. So he transformed from a persecutor and murderer of the Messiah's disciples into an infiltrator and deceiver who sought to attack the true message of the Gospel from within by masquerading as an "apostle."
Consider this hypothetical: If a man alive today (lets say a vehemently anti-Christian Jewish Rabbi) were known to have ruthlessly persecuted and murdered Christians in the past, was caught, and then claimed to have "converted", what would you make of such a man? Should he go to prison, perhaps face the death penalty for his crimes? Would you believe him if he then claimed to be "the greatest apostle of Yahshua"? Well Saul/Paul never faced the just penalty for his crimes, and hardly even apologized or showed any remorse in his many epistles for his crimes. And now he's the "greatest apostle"?
Also, remember that Saul/Paul was not trained by the disciples, the men who walked, talked, and lived with the Messiah. He claimed to have received his knowledge from "revelations." He was not recognized by the true apostles as a genuine apostle. Paul claimed that title for himself.
Warnings Against False Prophets and the Leaven/Doctrine of the Pharisees
1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Matthew 16:6 "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Matthew 24:4-5 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
Note that Yahshua says that MANY will be deceived, not just a few, and that even the "very elect" would almost be deceived.
Damning "Smoking Gun" Evidence Against Saul/Paul - Paul Admits To Timothy That All In Asia Have Rejected Him - In Revelation, Yahshua Commends the Ephesians For Rejecting False Apostles
In Paul's second letter to Timothy, believed by many scholars to contain some his last recorded words, he makes a statement which is devastating to Paul's claim to apostleship:
2 Timothy 1:15 "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me;"
At that time, the term "Asia" referred to the area of modern-day Turkey. This is confirmed in the Book of Revelation, written to the "seven churches in Asia" (Revelation 1:4).
Ephesus, of course, was a city where Saul/Paul had attempted to win converts (see Paul’s letter to the Ephesians).
The fact that many Israelites in Asia opposed Saul/Paul is corroborated in the book of Acts where men from Asia accuse Paul of teaching against the Law, and bringing an Ephesian friend into the temple:
Acts 21: 27-29 "And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)"
Now, examine what Yahshua the Messiah says to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation Chapter 2:
Revelation 2:1-2 "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 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"
Stop and consider the significance of this. Saul/Paul, the self-proclaimed "apostle", admits ALL of those in Asia, including the Ephesians, had rejected him. Then Yahshua commends the Ephesians for rejecting false apostles! If you have ears to hear and eyes to see, are you seeing/hearing this? Could it be much more obvious?
Here are the facts, paraphrased:
Paul to the Ephesians: "I am an apostle of Yahshua"
The Ephesians to Paul: "No you're not."
Yahshua to the Ephesians: "Well done!"
EVIDENCE FROM SAUL/PAUL's WRITINGS DEMONSTRATING HE TAUGHT AGAINST YAHSHUA AND THE LAW OF YHWH
Saul/Paul Teaches Against Keeping the Law of YHWH, Teaching That The Law Is a "Curse", "The Law has been abolished", "We are no longer under the law", a nebulous doctrine of "salvation by grace through faith", and an "easy fix" salvation of "confession and belief only"
Saul/Paul's own writings clearly demonstrate that he taught a completely different doctrine than that of Yahshua. Saul taught against keeping the commandments of YHWH, saying that the "law is a curse", "we are no longer under the law", and "the law has been done away with" --and instead teaching a doctrine of "salvation of grace by faith", and an "easy fix" salvation of "confession and belief only." Yahshua the Messiah, on the other hand, taught that one must "do the will of the Father" and obey His commandments in order to obtain eternal life.
Yahshua teaches that only those who obey the Law of YHWH will be saved:
Matthew 19:16-21 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Pharisee Infiltrator Saul/Paul taught that the Law of YHWH was a "curse", and a nebulous doctrine of "salvation by grace through faith":
Galatians 3:10-14 "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
Here in his letter to the Ephesians, Saul teaches that the Messiah "abolished the law of commandments":
Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Yet Yahshua the Messiah said:
Matthew 5:17-20 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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 the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Saul teaches that all one has to do in order to be "saved" is "believe and confess":
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
If that is all that is required, do not devils and sons of devils intellectually acknowledge that Yahshua is the Messiah and that he was raised from the dead? What differentiates the wicked/unsaved from the righteous/saved, is that the saved obey the commandments of YHWH.
Romans 13 - Saul/Paul Teaches That We Must Obey The Laws of Men, ie Government - Laying a Trap for YHWH's People To Obey Anti-Christ Beast System Unto Their Destruction
Saul/Paul infamously writes in Romans 13 that we should always obey the government:
Romans 13:1-13 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?"
Really? Even butchers like Stalin, Lenin, and Mao? -- as they outlawed Christianity, and ordered their citizens to deny God and become atheists?
And how about if/when the final Anti-Christ power comes and commands Christians to take the "mark of the Beast"? Should we blindly obey the government then? According to Saul/Paul, "yes."
More Examples of False Teaching From Saul/Paul
These are just a few examples, in the interest of brevity. There are many many more similar examples of twisted doctrine, misquoting of Old Testament scripture, etc.
1. Saul/Paul Boastfully Claims He Was The "Father" of His Followers
Yahshua:
Matthew 23:9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven."
Saul/Paul:
1 Corinthians 4:15 "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel."
2. Saul/Paul Twists Teaching of Yahshua - Says "All the Law is Summed In a Single Command"
This may seem a small/insignificant difference, but it's clearly not:
Yahshua:
Matthew 22:34-40 "But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Pharisee Saul of Tarsus:
Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
The Problem With Saul/Paul's Claim of "Conversion" On The Road To Damascus - Contradictory Accounts
Saul/Paul claims to have been "converted" on the road to Damascus (on his way to arrest Christians), but there are problems with this claim. There are three separate accounts of this "conversion event" in the Book of Acts, and they contradict each other, demonstrating that Saul is lying about it. Secondly, the Scripture says that "at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established" (Deuteronomy 19:15 ), yet Saul never gives us the names of the witnesses to this "conversion event." Like his claim to "apostleship", we are left to take his word alone.
Account #1:Note in account above that the author of Acts (Luke, a companion of Paul) says that the men traveling with Saul stood there speechless, they heard the sound, but did not see anyone. Also note here that the voice only tells him to arise and go into the city and THERE it shall be told him what to do.
Acts 9:1-7 " And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man."
Account #2 (Saul/Paul speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem):Note in account above that Saul/Paul says that the men traveling with Saul did NOT hear the sound, but saw a light, contradicting the account above from Acts, Chapter 9.
Acts 22:1-9 "Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me."
Account #3 (Paul before King Agrippa):Here, Paul claims that the voice told him these things he was to do THERE ON THE ROAD. This is a clear departure from the other accounts of the event. The stories cannot be reconciled. At least one is not true.
Acts 26:12-18 "Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
Other Notes
-Saul/Paul's false teachings (eg, "rapture" doctrine) have lead to much of the doctrinal confusion, schisms, and infighting among Christians over the last 2,000 years.
-As evidenced by much of the New Testament, there was actually a bitter feud between Saul/Paul and the genuine 12 Apostles.
-There is compelling evidence that Paul may have actually wrote the books of 1 Peter and 2 Peter (which ostensibly demonstrate support for Saul/Paul by the Apostle Peter).
Conclusion
To summarize the important points:
1. Yahshua the Messiah taught that we must obey the Law of YHWH in order to inherit eternal life.
2. Pharisee infiltrator and false Apostle Saul/Paul taught against obeying the Law of YHWH, saying "the law is a curse", and "we are no longer under the law" [Romans 6:14]. He even taught that Yahshua had "abolished the law and commandments" [Ephesians 2:15]. Saul taught an "easy fix" salvation of "salvation by faith" and "if you believe and confess you will be saved" [Romans 10:9]. As a result, most of the Pauline mainstream "Judeo-Christian" churches reject the laws of YHWH in favor of Saul's "easy fix salvation" doctrine.
3. While teaching against the Law of YHWH, Pharisee Saul takes it one step further and teaches that we must obey the laws of men and governments no matter what (ie, obey the Satanic/Beast/AntiChrist controlled governments of the world) [Romans 13:1-13], laying a trap for the people of YHWH unto their destruction.
Other Articles of Interest:
- Yahshua the Messiah was not a 'jew'
- Yahweh Prohibits Race-Mixing and Commands Racial Purity and Segregation
- The Flood of Noah Was Not Worldwide
- The myth of the "brotherhood" of humanity; Adam not the first man, but father of only the white race
- Racial origin of the "Jews"; not Israelites, but descendants of Khazars, Edomites, Canaanites, Cain, and ultimately Satan
- The real sin in the Garden of Eden - Not eating an apple, but seduction into sexual sin - Cain the biological offspring of Satan
- Bible does not say that Earth is only 6,000 years old, only that Adam & Eve created 6,000 years ago - Life existed in previous ages, then destroyed
- The Pagan-Babylonian Origin of Easter
- MUST READ: "Blueprint for Bondage" by Scott D. McQuate
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