A Muslim posted a meme on the Internet which states:
“The Gospel which Paul preached”
1 Corinthians 15:
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul and his sidekick Luke authored 2/3 of the New Testament.
Pagen Paul calls Jesus apostels Matthew, Peter, Mark, John, etc., of being false.
My response:
This meme represents a total misreading of the New Testament text. Paul did not preach “another Gospel.” That is what Paul condemned others for doing. See Galatians 1:6-9. Paul was commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to be His Apostle. This is recorded in Acts 9:15 and context.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Muslim challenge to me:
When John was in prison, Jesus came to Galilee and preached his gospel. What gospel did Jesus preach in Galilee? Then there is no New Testament.
That is what Jesus warned you in 2 John 1:9-11 that whoever does not abide in the teaching of Jesus does not have God.
How can you say this Paul’s New Testament is the word of God?
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14).
What Gospel was he preaching? Certainly not the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, which didn’t exist in his lifetime.
My response:
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is firmly based upon the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the first century primary source records of what Jesus did and taught.
How can you logically make reference to Mark 1:14 if you do not consider the writing that contains it to truly represent the message of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Muslim response to me in the form of a meme which states:
“Pagen Paul calls Jesus apostels Matthew, Peter, Mark, John, etc, of being false apostels of Christ, deceitful workers 2 Corinthians 11:13.”
My response:
In order to understand a verse such as 2 Corinthians 11:13 it is necessary to understand the contexts correctly.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
In this case, Paul is not being critical of Matthew, Peter, Mark, or John. He never accused them of being false apostles.
Paul is accusing the Judaizers of being false apostles. These were individuals who attempted to derail the work of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. The Judaizers taught that to become a Christian, a person must first become a Jew. This is explained in detail in Acts chapter 15:
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Paul is not criticizing Peter. Peter, if you read his writings in the New Testament, called Paul’s writings Scripture:
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 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;
2Pe 3:16 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.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Peter in his very last words at this end of his second letter speaks of Paul as “our beloved brother Paul.” Peter speaks of Paul’s letters as being hard to understand for the unlearned and unstable, for those enemies of Paul wrest or twist what Paul has written, “as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” Peter, therefore, very clearly considers the writings of Paul to be Scripture.
Mark worked with Peter, and the Gospel that Mark wrote reflects the teaching and preaching of Peter. Paul refers to Mark in one of his letters very favorably:
2 Timothy 4:11
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
King James Version
John was one of the three “pillars of the church” who extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas:
Galatians 2:9
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
King James Version
That means that Peter (Cephas), James, and John fully accepted the validity of Paul’s ministry.
All this evidence directly contradicts your claim. Therefore, you are mistaken in your understanding of the historical record given in the New Testament.
Based on what Peter wrote about the writings of Paul, anyone who twists them does so to their own eternal destruction. May the Lord Himself grant you grace and wisdom as you more carefully read the Bible from now on.