The Claim:
“Paul is a false apostle who started the anti-Christ movement and promoted anti-Tanakh laws. Agree?”
My response to TK:
In the light of what the Bible itself teaches, Paul is surely not a false apostle. He was appointed and commissioned to his specific ministry by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. [In Part 1 I cited Acts 9:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Galatians 2:9. 2 Peter 3:15, 16, 17, 18.] I stated:
“Anyone who rejects Paul and his Letters as contained in the New Testament is the one who is Antichrist. To be against Paul is to be against Christ.”
TK responded to me:
notice that you can only quote from peter and barnabas and find these quotes ONLY in paul’s and peter’s letters? this shows that there’s no approval from any other disciple and there were 10 others. In fact ive heard debates between christians and agnostics that there was a lot of friction between paul and jesus’ original disciples due to his false teachings
My reply to TK:
The arguments or debates between Christians and agnostics have no bearing upon this issue.
We must base our understanding upon the evidence we actually have that is recorded in the Bible.
As for the other 10 others you refer to, you have no knowledge of what they taught unless they wrote something that has survived to our time. I did not cite everything from the Bible that relates to these matters.
Obviously John in his letters warns against false teaching and teachers:
1Jn 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. (KJV)
1Jn 4:1 Dearly beloved, stop believing every so-called spiritual utterance, but keep testing them to see whether they come from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (Williams NT)
Jude (the brother of Jesus) instructs us:
Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
James (the brother of Jesus) instructs us:
Jas 3:1 Many of you, my brothers, should avoid becoming teachers, because you know that we teachers are going to be judged with stricter judgment than other people. (Williams NT)
Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (KJV)
I placed these explanatory notes in my Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
be not. or, become not: taking the office too hastily, and of your own accord (JFB). There is thus a clear complaint that too many of the Jewish Christians were attempting to teach what they did not clearly comprehend. There was a call for wise teachers (Jas 3:13), not for foolish ones (Robertson, WPNT).
many masters. or, teachers. Note: Rather, “be not many of you teachers,” didaskaloi; for many wish to be teachers who have more need to learn; and aspire to the office of teacher, without a proper call or suitable qualifications.
Jesus warned:
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
To all this Paul agrees in his teaching:
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Anyone who suggests there is a conflict between what Jesus taught and what Paul taught has not been a very careful, thorough, student of the Bible itself.
Just which teachings of Paul would you or anyone else claim are false?
It is clear from the record we have in the New Testament that there were false teachers and false prophets and false brethren at the time of the ministry of Paul and Peter. They both warn against them. So do James, Jude, and John.
Jesus Himself warned us not to be deceived by false prophets.
But Paul is never identified as being among the false teachers or prophets in the Bible.
TF responded to me (Tuesday, June 28, 2022):
Evidences that Paul was a False Prophet
1- Glorifying Jesus Christ!
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14 ESV)
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13 ESV)
2- Hypocrisy (Lying Techniques)
Jesus Christ said:
“Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you.”(Matthew 7:15 CEVDCI)
“Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.” (John 18:20 ESV)
But Paul said:
“When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them. And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ. When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-22 CEVDCI)
3- Saw Satan:
Jesus Christ said:
“Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” (Luke 10:18 CEVDCI)
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:23-24 ESV)
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, who didst claim the Gentiles as an inheritance!” (Isaiah 14:12 JUB)
“What a comedown this, O Babylon! [Rome] Daystar! Son of Dawn! Flat on your face in the underworld mud, you, famous for flattening nations!” (Isaiah 14:12 MSG)
I responded to TF (Saturday, July 2, 2022):
As for “Evidences that Paul was a False Prophet,” you claim as such evidence:
1- Glorifying Jesus Christ!
You cite John 16:13, 14, which have no evident connection with your claim. These are good verses, but they show that the Holy Spirit would guide into all truth and would also glorify Christ, not Himself. The Holy Spirit did just those things as He guided the Apostles of Christ in their teaching and writing ministry. What we have of their writing ministry is found exclusively in the 27 primary source first century documents which we have in the New Testament.
Additionally, you cite Galatians 3:13,
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13 ESV)
You fail to show what connection this may have with Paul being a “False Prophet.” Certainly in the case of Galatians 3:13 Paul is citing Old Testament Scripture to correctly teach what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for those who believe and exhibit allegiance to Him.
Jesus Himself told us:
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Jesus further said:
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
