Contrast #15: honesty vs deceit … (09/30/18)

Seeing as how Jesus called the devil “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44), openly warned his followers of “the yeast of the Pharisees” (see Matthew 16:11-12 – properly juxtaposed with Acts 23:6, Galatians 1:14, & Philippians 3:5) and other “false prophets” who will work to “deceive the elect” (see Matthew 24:24 – […]

Jesus & Paul – a very different preaching … (09/29/18)

It can come as no surprise that two men with such dramatically different upbringings would develop such dramatically different personalities, and it can come as even less of a surprise that such dramatically different personalities would reflect themselves in such dramatically different styles of preaching … “It is frankly more than a bit disappointing to […]

Contrast #16: in quietude vs boasting … (09/28/18)

While there are admittedly exceptions to this generality found within the Scriptures – with Paul sometimes writing reservedly (a la his letter to Philemon) and Jesus every now and then booming his message with fervor (a la Matthew 23 or Luke 11:37-52), for the most part it holds true that Paul was fond of brash […]

Contrast #17: calmly vs heated … (09/27/18)

As mentioned previously (primarily on pages 31 & 32 herein), Paul tended to inspire vehement argument and aggressive opposition whenever & wherever he preached. Indeed, he is seen arguing with Hellenists in Acts 9:29, debating with Judean Jews in Acts 15:2, disagreeing sharply with Barnabas in Acts 15:39, haranguing Thessalonians in Acts 17:2, quarreling with […]

Contrast #18: for strangers vs to friends … (09/26/18)

It makes easy sense that relatively cowardly individuals with low self-esteem (see Contrast #09 on page 29 and Contrast #14 on page 34) would tend to gravitate towards speaking to gatherings of people who are either already well-known &/or who are likely to accept whatever is being sold or shared. And this is precisely what […]

Contrast #19: citing Scripture vs manipulating it … (09/25/18)

While it is true that both Paul and Jesus used external sources (including the Hebrew Bible – today known by many as the Old Testament) to illustrate their teachings and emphasize their sermons, it is just as true that they did so in very different ways for very different reasons … *Whereas Paul was fond […]

Contrast #20: consistent vs malleable … (09/24/18)

In examining the writings of and about Jesus and Paul in the Bible, it becomes readily apparent to the earnest reader that whereas Jesus’ fundamental teachings remain remarkably consistent throughout the Gospels, Paul’s quite clearly do not. Indeed, Paul himself even goes so far as to openly boast about his knack for theological bendability, at […]

Jesus & Paul – their conflicting theologies … (09/23/18)

“Paul was the very first corrupter of the doctrine of Jesus Christ; a doctrine very different from the one practiced by those who would call me infidel while elevating themselves as preachers of the Gospel … Indeed, these “Christian” impostors have compounded from the Halcyon Mysteries a religious system fully beyond the comprehension of humankind, […]

Conflict #01) reforming the Law vs replacing it … (09/22/18)

While Paul regularly claims to affirm the validity of the Jewish Law (see Romans 2:12-13, Romans 3:31, Romans 7:12-25, Romans 8:4, Romans 10:5, & Galatians 3:19-21), these professings cannot be deemed sincere in light of the essence of his theology that dismisses and often even denigrates the same … *Where Paul claims that “the very […]

Conflict #02: innate divinity vs original sin … (09/21/18)

While Paul regularly focused on our tendency to fail as humans and thereby be less than divine (a la “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ~ Romans 3:23 – see also 2 Corinthians 12:7-9), Jesus continually reminded his followers that they could always transcend such selfishness and thereby reflect their […]

Conflict #03: guided by Fruit vs led by ease … (09/20/18)

A finer examination of the New Testament shows that Paul regularly coddled to religious traditions that were not in alignment with his own spiritual beliefs, essentially allowing the demands of public opinion to influence, guide, or even alter his behaviors. Even though Paul was adamant throughout his ministry that the Jewish Law was no longer […]