I found a site where some issues were raised against St. Paul. Here are the links: http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/paulthe.htm http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/paula.htm http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/coward.htm http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/yeshua's.htm http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/12th_apostle.htm

any comments?

-- janeiro (janeiro_a@rocketmail.com), March 31, 2004

Answers

Yes. Dont take the sites seriously. A Large anti-Oaul movement started, an usually rely on takign things out fo context that he said. Lie our friend Lilly did wihthe whole " Natural use of women is a sa sex object for men." thing.

Realy they mainly tend to pick small quotes and exagerate or misrepresent their meanikng.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), March 31, 2004.

Speaking for myself, Janeiro, a Christian Yahwist, no longer as Catholic I can say this:

It is true that no other disciple of jesus accepted Paul as a true apostle.

a)For them to do so, meant that Paul had to be with them from the moment Jesus was baptized by John. See Acts on the choosing of between Mathias and Barsabbas surnamed Justus. (Paul makes the argument in Galatians that they did (that is Peter, John, and James, Jesus brother).

b)Paul persecuted the Church. He joined after becoming blind during his trip to damascus.

c)Paul was rejected by the Jews. James , Jesus brother,makes this charge known to Paul when he visits Jerusalem before being arrested.See Acts. James, Peter, or John never visit him in jail.

4)Paul had many dreams and revelations. Except for Ananias, who restored his sight, Silas(Silvanus), Luke , Aquila and his wife,Apollos, Titus (Timothy?), Erastos, Tertius, ... (Barnabas for a time, as did John Mark) they were the only ones to believe him.

There is no mention of a dream or vision given to any of Jesus disciples or family members from Jesus to accept Paul as an apostle.

Paul wasn't accepted 100% by Jesus close disciples or family members.

The Christian Yahwist

The Man of yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), March 31, 2004.

Janeiro,

The links you provided mix historical fact with speculation and conjecture.

Paul's writings are what has been handed down to us. The early church scrutinized them and determined them to be divinely inspired. Whether Paul was a "true apostle" will not change that. Scholars even argue whether the author of other Epistles are really who they are attributed to. Whoever actually wrote them may never really be known beyond a historical doubt. In fact, we may not even have the original manuscripts. Without faith, how can we believe they are divinely inspired?

Does this mean that the Scriptures handed down to us from the early Church are not divinely inspired? Ultimately, it comes down to faith and trust in the God and the Church over the speculations of someone on the internet.

"but test everything; hold fast what is good," (1 Thess 5:21) that's something Paul said, but sounds like good advice anyhow. And "pray constantly" (1 Thess 5:17) for guidance. Without prayer and the Spirit of God, it will be easier for the enemy to seduce you with false doctrines. Don't let your guard down.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), April 01, 2004.

Janeiro..Did you look over the ENTIRE site? I always find it most interesting to do so..This same fellow who puts forth that Paul shouldn't be listened to,also has his personal "statement of faith" on his website..his sincere formal statement of exactly what he BELIEVES to be "truth"..in that statement of faith, he says that there are "many gods" and that Jesus was just one of them, albeit the most favored one of the Father God. This person who thinks that Jesus Christ is a "lesser god, one of many" has absolutley zero opinions about anything which would hold my interest for more than a split second more.

-- lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), April 01, 2004.

lesley

Yes I did look over them. Actually Im not interested in his faith or beliefs, he just raised some questions on the validity of St. Paul as an apostle that I think deserve some explanations. I think this is his main point. Jesus gave the authority to his apostles, mainly to St. Peter(the rock, the keys to heaven, take care of my sheep). The question is, did St. Peter himself(or the other apostles) endorsed all the teachings of St Paul? This is a very serious problem because a lot of teachings of the Catholic Church relies on his teachings, in fact most of the early catholic churhes were established by the missionary work of St Paul, we could be accused of being "the church of Paul" instead of the church of Jesus Christ. I feel bad when writing this. It feels as if I am denying that the Holy Spirit worked through St. Paul.. much like when Jesus drove out a demon, people accused him of doing the works of the devil, Jesus said "Anyone who says something against the Son of Man can be forgiven;but whoever says something against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven--now or ever"(Matt12:32)... have I committed the unforgivable sin?

-- janeiro (janeiro_a@rocketmail.com), April 01, 2004.

Janeiro, read Acts. Peter and Paul argue ver circumsision, but the disagreement seems tame. Indeed, its like any other Chruch Counsil, and comparable tt he counsil of Nicea, or Carthage.

Indeed, if Paulw here an extremist who was rejected by the other apostles, as is claimed by the website you posted, why is it that in Acts 15:4 Paul is not only shown takign aprt in the counsil, but in 15:4 the Church and apostles accepted him.

4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

The apostles DID accept Paul. syaing otherwise is a lie, as is clealry shown here, and in the letter of saint Peter.More on Peter in a moment.

Likewise, Paul was accepted by Peter in Acts, Peter welcomes him inot he cpunsil. If Paul was a false apostle, as the Polytheistic webpage said, then why didn't Peter reject him and not let him speak? Why let a liar who is pervertihg the word of God take part in a counsil at all?

Now, in the letters peter write, Paul is mentioned, and with High regard.

Tghe Second Letter Peter wrte , Chapter 3.

Remember, accordign to that page, Paul was REJECTED by Peter, or in the least not accepted 100%. Yet Peter himself claims that Paul's writings where scirotture written form God.Paul is even called Beloved.

15. 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.

Notice, Peter himself, the Cheifiest apostle, the leader of the lot, the oen you just said was inheretor of the Keys of the Kingdom, the very Bishop form which you as a Cahtolci look to as the First Pope, called Pauls writting Scripture!

He mentioned it, ansd said pepel distory it like they do the other scriture

If Peter thought Paul was writing scripture, why did he think so? I mean, he rejected Paul right? Pasul was a liar, and a false apostle. Pauls writitngs have no athority. swhy did Peter call them scripture? Doesnt that just amke it seem Paul has credibility? And callign him beloved?

I am srry, the attacks on paul are largley based on misrepresentsationof what he said. As Peter said, they distort the things he wrte, as they do other scriotures, and to their own destruction. Paul did not write anyhtign anti-woman, or agaisnt the teahigns of Jesus, rather, he wrte careful instructions that are classified by some as anti-Jesus teachigns based on distortions and misrepresentaitons.

If Paul was accepted by peter and the chruch of Jerusalem, and the other apostles, then the entire case aisn him, built upon the notion tat they rejected him, falls to ash. He was clealry accepted.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 01, 2004.

OH and beign Mislead is not an unforgivable sin.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 01, 2004.

I would encourage as much investigation into these things as possible. The more you learn, the more you'll realize the Church is correct. This knowledge builds your faith to the point where you don't feel the need to question every nitty-gritty detail. Imagine how good your life could be if you always do what the Church teaches!!

Keep in mind that a theology degree (or openness to the truth) is not a prerequisit to build a website.

-- Mark Advent (adventm5477@earthlink.net), April 02, 2004.