Jesus vs. Paul

I completed my first official “cover to cover” Bible read on Saturday, August 26th 2020. That by no means makes me an expert and I’m sure that I will have a new commentary once I read it again: however, I find no issue with looking back and having open discussion about my insights and questions. I read King James Version and I’m looking at an Aramaic translation or the New King James version for my second Bible read. I’ve bounced around and read the majority of the Bible; however, wanted to do an official read and complete it verbally,  so I wouldn’t skip sections. I found the Old Testament was far more detailed and didn’t seem to leave any room for confusion; however, I found the New Testament lacked details and in my opinion was very unclear when it came to names or specifying people. I found the book of Numbers 7:10-89 humorous to see how detailed, precise, repetitive God was as he inspired the writer to describe the offerings the twelve tribe leaders presented for the dedication of the alter. God could have stated all Princes brought the “following”and summarized 89 verses into one paragraph, merely adding that they all brought the same offerings. Yet God feels the need to have the writer repeat the list of offerings over and over again. Understandably,  had I read the scripture in my mind, I would have skimmed past the verses and jumped to the next page; however, by reading the scriptures verbally, it was as if the repetition started to sound more like a fun rhyme and I was smiling at God’s character as I envisioned a man sitting next to a candle with an ink pad and a feather, writing all night long. I truly felt as though God was embedding a principle in my mind, not only is he very clear and by no means and author of confusion, he also seemed to want me to understand that he had the same expectation for all the tribe leaders.

I struggled with the book of Acts 9:18 when Ananias baptizes Paul without water. He seems to receive his sight and the holy ghost immediately and prior to a water baptism. Unlike the Old Testament when God lists the names of tribes and you find yourself tempted to skim read because you wont retain the information, we can’t go to scripture and find the exact disciple of Jesus Christ that baptized Ananias?  I also couldn’t stop comparing the difference between Jesus Christ my Lord’s teachings and Paul the Apostles. Here are my notes that I took of their differences, I’m still spending time with the Lord regarding my concerns with parts of the New Testament and my questions regarding whether or not Paul was truly a disciple of Jesus Christ? If you are a disciple you follow the teachings of your master. I feel like many of Paul’s teachings completely contradict Jesus Christ’s teachings, leaving me wondering if Christians are selecting to be either follower’s of Jesus or follower’s of Paul’s? Here are  a few points and scriptures below:

• One point that stands out in my mind is that Jesus said oaths were from the evil (Matthew 5:37 KJV) one and Paul said that oaths were the end of strife.  (Hebrews 6:16). The book of Acts actually states that Jesus’s disciples wanted Paul dead and didn’t believe he was a true disciple. (Acts 9:26-29).

Matthew 5:37 (KJV) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

• Paul baptizes contrary to Jesus’s direct instructions. He baptizes in the name of the Lord Jesus and practices the laying on of hands. If he was truly a disciple of Jesus, he would have known how to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost with full immersion of water. If Paul followed Jesus and baptized correctly as Jesus allowed John the Baptist to baptize him as an example, the laying on of hands would not be necessary. Although Jesus states in (John 14:12) that his disciples would be able to do miracles even greater because Jesus will go to the Father. Jesus didn’t need to be baptized by John the Baptist as he was sinless, yet he provided exact instructions and an example on how baptism should be done. if anyone wants to argue that it’s okay for a disciple to disregard Jesus Christ’s exact instructions I’m concerned are you?

 

• Matthew 10:2 lists the names of the disciples that spent intimate time with Jesus prior to crucifixion. Aside from Peter, how many of the original disciples followed along with Paul? Peter had denied Jesus three times and Jesus is directly quoted in scripture as stating if we deny him before men he will deny us before the Father. (Matthew 10:33). Can we confirm Peter will be granted entrance to the Kingdom of God? If he repented and were baptized perhaps? Or can we state that Jesus joking? Or that he doesn’t mean what he says? I personally don’t think he would state it, if he didn’t mean it?

 

• Jesus didn’t shame anyone, which was evident with the woman at the well (John 4:16) and the woman who was about to be stoned to death and Jesus wouldn’t throw a stone at her.  Paul writes epistles stating that you should shame and push out disorderly people from the church and I see  this direction as social control to reject people who don’t comply with an agenda. Yet, Jesus provides an example to his disciples in scriptures when he invites Peter and Judas to his last supper. Jesus knew Peter would deny him and that Judas had turned him in to be murdered for money,  yet he still sat with them. How disorderly is conspiracy to murder a Brother for money?

 

• Jesus was truly not in favor of cursing. He used the fig tree as an example to his disciples of it’s power. Paul writes epistles and states if they are not followed the person will be accursed. He also curses a sorcerer blind in scripture. Looking back at the Old Testament, we can also see Elisha cursing people in (2 Kings 2:23-25) and while we can say they both play important characters in the Bible, the word shows us that like us all, they’re still sinners.  I feel it’s definitely wrong that Paul sinned, perhaps he repented after? I’m more concerned with the issue that he’s adding to scriptures that people who don’t follow his epistles should be accursed.  If he’s a disciple of Jesus Christ, he should be following Jesus’s instruction regarding cursing. Jesus wouldn’t support adding cursing people if they chose not to follow him,  Jesus gave people the option.

I know that God is sovereign and everything happens for his will and purpose, I’m still just deeply moved by the differences between Paul and Jesus and how some of the disciples of Jesus listed in Matthew 10:2 seem to disappear after Jesus Christ’s resurrection. I feel that it’s a test and God wants me to hear his voice and teachings and is testing to see if I can detect the difference.

I’m open to hearing people and their views and opinions as I’m not concerned with who is right or wrong, merely more interested in the truth and growing closer to Jesus and the church that he started and left with the disciples who spent intimate time with him while he was alive.

I feel very strongly that Christianity didn’t begin 325 years after Jesus died and the Council of Nicaea wanted to paganize Christianity for a government propaganda to bring peace to a kingdom by trying to merge two religions by pushing out authentic Christianity, it began the day Jesus Christ was resurrected and his disciples listed in Matthew 10:2 followed him and taught others how to mirror his footsteps. Just a quick comment with regards to the photo above of Judas kissing Jesus, I by no means believe Jesus looks like the man in my picture it’s merely to point out that the only kiss Jesus received was deceptive and he never kissed his disciples in the scripture. Yet Paul leads the church to kiss one another and it moves me wrong because I merely see it as symbolic of Jesus Christ and his Church being kissed goodbye prior to his crucifixion? Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how I see it.

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

JESUS

Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

(The only thing JESUS cursed was a fig tree as an example to his disciples the power of it).

Matthew 21:19
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

PAUL

Acts 13:9-11 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Galatians 1:6-10

⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

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.

⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

(Would Jesus be happy if Paul was adding curses to the gospel, given his teachings on cursing and why  his disciples shouldn’t do it? If you curse someone and see misfortune or death hit that person you might sincerely regret cursing them and be moved with guilt and shame after? If you have a heart of compassion you’d feel terribly if you cursed someone in anger and then had to confront the outcome?)

JESUS

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Paul    (No biblical reference to the disciple that was taught by Jesus baptizing Paul. No biblical reference to confirm that he was discipled or taught JESUS Christ’s teachings. He doesn’t appear to even know what Jesus taught by his actions and clearly almost seems to enjoy laying his hands in people as if he’s the God giving the Holy Ghost to people. JESUS taught his true disciple to baptize? If he were a true disciple, wouldn’t he have learned the proper way either from a disciple or by God’s direction through the Holy Ghost? God is very clear in the Old Testament about not leaving room for confusion even if he needs to repeat the same list of tribe offerings 12 times in the book of  Numbers 7:10-89 so you know all the leaders offered the same list of items. We have conspiracy theories that have been birthed from the New Testament clearly due to a lack of details you don’t see in the Old Testament.

Acts 19:5

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Acts 19:15

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(Saul/Paul is baptized by a disciple not listed in Matthew 10:2 the only reference made to a true disciple of Christ baptizing was in Acts and it was Phillip and the scripture doesn’t specify the names of the people he baptized. In the Old Testament God the lists the tribes and names like we should remember them and most people want to skim through pages of names, yet in the New Testament were left with no confirming information to ensure “Ananias” is credible or licit.)

Acts 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.18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

(Peter supports baptizing in only the name of the Lord also contrary to Jesus’s direct direction. Peter is also depicted as denying Jesus three times and Jesus is quoted as stating you will not see the Kingdom if you deny him before men. (see Matthew 10:33).

Acts 10:44-48

⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter demands all the money of a married couple and when they try to offer half he accuses them of being filled by Satan. See Acts 5:³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

JESUS

Matthew 7:23 KJV
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 5:17 KJV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Note how Paul clearly takes all commandments as if it’s no longer punishable to sin. We are saved solely through faith in Jesus and no law or guidelines are necessary. Yet JESUS is directly quoted that he plans to turn people away that work lawlessness.

**** Even MORE importantly note that Peter WAS a TRUE DISCIPLE of JESUS CHRIST. He’s listed Matthew 10:2. Note how Paul responds to Peter in Galatians 2:14. He’s basically stating that Peter doesn’t follow the laws of the Jews so how can he preach to the Gentiles that they should? Despite the fact that Peter was taught be Jesus we have to remember that Judas the man who turned JESUS over to be crucified for money was also listed as a disciple of Jesus in Matthew 10:2.

Galatians 2:14 KJV

¹⁴ But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Paul – Galatians 2:11-21

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Paul:

Galatians 2:21 I don’t frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

( Clearly here. Jesus died so we have an opportunity to repent, be baptized and change our ways. If we slip we are to repent and work diligently to correct the issue. If we continue knowingly behaving lawlessly, Jesus is quoted at stating he will be turning people away. The saved by grace is misleading people into believing they can just behave as they want and only merely believe and process and they’re saved. We should believe God and his son’s quotes words should take precedence if Paul’s. )

Galatians 3:5-

“He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”6 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

7 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

( *** Abraham obeyed God to the point he’d Kill his own son and God stopped him and want to test him to see if he’d obey. Clearly Paul is leaving out the obedience portion found in Genesis 22:1-20 KJV).

(Paul says)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV  6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2 Thessalonians 3:14

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

(Jesus)

Mark 2:17 KJV

16: And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:12

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Point: Jesus did NOT withdraw from Judas even when he knew Judas would betray him. Jesus also did withdrawal from Peter even knowing Peter would betray him by denying him three times publicly?

 

The Gospel of John 18:13-27 describes the account of the three denials as follows: Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.

Matthew 26:75 “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”

Matthew 10:33

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

 (Jesus at 12 yrs old. Questioning the intellectual – only scripture of Jesus as a child aside from him being a baby in a manger- this is the Head of the Church.)

Luke 2:46 KJV And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

(Paul)

2 Timothy 3:14 ¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Titus 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Titus 3:2    To  speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Hebrews 6:2 (Paul, what baptism doctrine are you following Paul? Jesus or your own? Jesus gave direct baptism instructions why do you feel it’s necessary to create a new process?)

² Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

(Paul)

Hebrews 6:16

¹⁶ For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

*** Pointing out that James was a true disciple listed in Matthew 10:2. He states in James 5:12 not to take oaths, just as Jesus taught.

(Jesus)

Matthew 5:33-37  ³³ “Again you have heard that ^(A)it was said to those of ^[a]old, ^(B)‘You shall not swear falsely, but ^(C)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you,^(D)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is^(E)God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of^(F)the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ^37 (G)But let ^[b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

(Paul in Hebrews 6:18-20 KJV) ¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

²⁰ Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

(God in Nahum 3:5)

Nahum 3:4-5.   ⁴ Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.

⁵ Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

(Paul – Hebrews 7:27) ²⁶ For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

(Jesus)

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Mark 2:15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Hebrews 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

One final note about the argument that Jesus built his church on Peter. Notice that the scripture doesn’t indicate Jesus’s hand movements or what he’s motioning to. I believe he’s telling Peter, You are Peter and then he’s pointing to himself, “and upon this rock I will build my church. Notice that just verses later Jesus rebukes satan out of Peter. The church can’t rest on Peter, it would fall as a Kingdom can’t be divided against a Kingdom. I believe that Jesus Christ is the foundation and the rock the builders rejected and still do to this day. His words, the scriptures are red are the words of God and I will leave you with this: