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Blinded by the Light: The Deception of the Apostle Paul

It was noontime in the desert outside Damascus, back in 30-something A.D. Saul of Tarsus was traveling with companions after “breathing out threatenings and slaughter” (Acts 9:1 ff.1) against the Christian disciples in Damascus, which had earned him letters from the high priest to bind and bring to Jerusalem those followers of Jesus.

Suddenly, a bright light from heaven shone all around. He and his companions were afraid. A voice said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Saul did not recognize the voice and asked who it was. The voice said it was Jesus, whose followers Saul was persecuting. Saul was astonished and asked what he should do.

In two of the three versions of this story, found only in Acts, Saul claims Jesus told him to go into the city and wait for further instructions. And, as the story goes, that's what he did, having to be led by the hand because he was literally blinded by the light.

Thus began a saga that would change the world for two millenia. The purpose of this paper is to establish whether or not Saul of Taursus, who later became known as the apostle Paul, may have been deceived by a counterfeit entity claiming to be Jesus.

1 Quoted scriptures and definitions are from the American King James Version (Stone Engelbrite) (unless otherwise noted), available at eSword.com. As the updater of this version states, “It is a simple word for word update from the King James English. I have taken care to change nothing doctrinally, but to simply update the spelling and vocabulary. I have not changed the grammar because that could alter it doctrinally.” 2

Paul never knew Jesus in the flesh and he rarely mentioned Jesus in his writings.

Yet, he claimed to be one of his apostles, even one of greatest, if not the greatest, apostle, a claim based solely on a bright light and a conversation with a disembodied voice that said it was Jesus. To compound an already tenuous story, there are three versions of this event, one told by the author of Acts, and the other two allegedly told by Paul.

The book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke were both anonymous works written by same author, “a Greek-speaking Christian somewhere outside of Palestine. The author evidently penned his account somewhat later than the Gospel of Mark, perhaps at about the same time as the Gospel of Matthew [around 80-85 AD]. In the second century, the book came to be attributed to Luke, the traveling companion of the apostle Paul.”2

While there is no certainty who wrote the book of Acts, one must remember that whoever wrote it was writing approximately fifty years after the events described in the book, someone who may not have known Jesus personally, and was writing through a pro-Pauline lens.

In Paul's first account of the event, described in Acts 9:3 ff. (narrated in third person, meaning the author is telling the story, not Paul), his traveling companions are said to have heard a voice, but saw no one. The men with him “stood,” i.e., they did not fall to the ground. Only Paul did. There is no indication that the men with Paul saw the light.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there

shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and

2 Ehrman, p.136. See, generally, pp.171-172. 3

heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And he

said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you

persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling

and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said

to him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must

do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a

voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his

eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and

brought him into Damascus. (Acts 9:3-8)

In the second account, told in the first person (indicating that Paul is speaking,

Acts 22:6 ff.), his companions saw the light that shone around Paul, but did not hear the voice. In this version, the Jesus voice identifies itself as Jesus of Nazareth, the men see the light. And, Jesus now adds “appointed for you to do” to what he said originally:

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near

to Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light

round about me. And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me,

Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And I answered, Who are you, Lord?

And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. And they

that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard

not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, LORD?

And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be

told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could 4

not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were

with me, I came into Damascus. (Acts 22:6-11)

In the third account, again narrated in the first person (Acts 26:14 ff.), Paul is in court before King Agrippa and states they all saw the light, and it shone around all of them, they all fell to the ground, but, again, only Paul heard the voice, and we are now told it was speaking in the Hebrew tongue. “Jesus” now adds on more things, like Paul's mission to the Gentiles. Note the phrase “delivering you from the people.”

Paul was before King Agrippa after having caused a riot in Jerusalem, as described in Acts 21:27-29. This embellished telling of the vision story seems like a manipulation of King Agrippa, to help him “see” he is part of God's divine plan to save

Paul. Of course, Paul hoped, the good King could not disobey Paul's heavenly vision for fear of heavenly repercussions:

At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the

brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which

journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a

voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why

persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And I said,

Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But

rise, and stand on your feet: for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to

make you a minister3 and a witness both of these things which you have

3 Minister means an under oarsman, that is, (genitive case) subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable): - minister, officer, servant. Cf. Apostle, a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“ apostle ” ), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. Note the obvious: Paul is now saying he was made a minister before he 5

seen, and of those things in the which I will appear to you; Delivering you

from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you4, To open

their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of

Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance

among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O

king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision…. (Acts 26:13-

19)

was baptized. That is like getting a job before you are qualified or are hired. It is non-sensical.

4 If Jesus had told Paul at the time of the original vision that he was sending Paul to the Gentiles, then why does Acts record this, right after Paul's baptism: “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20) 6

So, twice, Paul claims that only he heard the voice. That means there are no witnesses to Paul being commissioned by Jesus. Another thing to notice is that he does not, in this verse, say he was made an apostle, but that he was made a minister. Yet in numerous other places, he claims he is an apostle.

The significance of this is that Paul's claim immediately fails the long-settled witness test. Deuteronomy 19:15 states that the truth of a matter will be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Matthew 18:15-16 echoes that rule. As does

John 8:17. No one heard the voice but Paul.

Further, Paul makes a serious mistake when he has “Jesus” mention “kicking against the pricks [aka goads].” It was a pagan expression from as early as 410 BC, used in several plays, such as Bacchae – “Dionysus: I would rather do him sacrifice than in a fury kick against the pricks; thou a mortal, he a god.” (Euripides); and Agamemnon –

“Hast eyes and seest not this? Peace-- kick not thus a gainst the pricks, unto thy proper pain!” (Aeschylus). 7

The idiom “kick against the pricks” means to resist the will of a god or authority.

The well-educated Hellenized Paul was putting words in Jesus' mouth, something of which he makes a career. Is it plausible that the Jewish Jesus would have used a pagan

Greek idiom to communicate to Paul? Jesus had no need of worldly artifices to convey his messages. In fact, it went against the grain: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col. 2:8) Hypocritical Paul tells the Colossians this, while having used this very tactic.

So, we have a scenario wherein Paul experiences a supernatural event in the desert. A disembodied voice claims that it is Jesus (of Nazareth). In the third-person version, the men hear “a” voice. In the next version, Paul's first-person account, the men did not hear the voice. In Paul's third version, there is no mention whether the men heard or not, but instead Paul says the voice spoke in the Hebrew tongue.

Assuming that most of Paul's traveling companions were Gentiles, that could explain how they heard “a” voice (but perhaps with no comprehension). Fit these facts to Jesus' warnings about false christs and false prophets:

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man

deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and

shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ,

or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false

prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it

were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” “Why if they shall say to 8 you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. ... For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

(Matthew 24:4-5, 23-27) 9

As Jesus says, when he returns it will be visible to everyone. His alleged manifestation to Paul in the desert was visible to no one but Paul. So, according to

Jesus' warning, what Paul encountered was not the real Jesus. Paul, thus, encountered a false christ and, thus, became a false apostle.

Further, as to Paul's apostleship, the math doesn't support his claim. Matthias was elected to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23-26), so Paul cannot be considered the twelfth apostle. Why can't there be more than twelve apostles? Because Jesus says so!

Revelation 21:14 states, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

Another comparison is in order, that of Paul's desert vision and subsequent baptism, and the baptism of Jesus, in which there was also an otherwordly event and a voice. The Holy Spirit manifested as a dove descending from heaven and a voice stated,

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17) 10

While there are similarities, there are also differences between the two, in that

Jesus' baptism was a public event and there were witnesses. The authors of Matthew,

Mark, and Luke bear witness to the event. In John 1:29 ff., John the Baptist bears witness of Jesus' baptism and provides more details. John 1:33-34 states, “33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34. And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of

God.” Also remember, John the Baptist was a well-known righteous man, born to righteous parents (Zechariah and Elisabeth). So, he was a very strong witness.

John the Baptist's disciples and others5 were in attendance at Jesus' baptism, as

John's baptisms were public events. After Jesus' baptism, when John said, “Behold the lamb of God,” two of John's disciples followed Jesus (one of whom was Andrew, Simon

Peter's brother). It was a well-attended event. Not something that happened in an empty wasteland, like the desert outside of Damascus, with no witnesses.

Another interesting comparison between the visions of Paul and Jesus is the

Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1 ff. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him up a mountain where Jesus confers with Moses and Elijah. The apostles see the figures and hear the conversation, and Peter offers to make tents for them. It, too, contained the elements of a bright cloud and a voice, which also frightened the disciples. In Paul's vision, his traveling companions may or may not have seen the light, were frightened, but did not hear any voice.

5 Mark 1:5 states, “And there went out to him [John the Baptist] all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” 11

Jesus' ministry and Paul's ministry both have similar beginnings, but Paul's sequence was reversed. Whereas, Jesus was baptized and then received the Holy Spirit, directly from heaven, Paul had the vision/voice encounter, was blinded for three days, recovered when an unknown disciple named Ananias laid hands on him (Acts 9:17), which healed his blindness and purportedly transferred the Holy Spirit to Paul, after which Paul was then baptized:

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and

to him said the Lord in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Behold, I am here,

Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Arise, and go into the street which is

called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of

Tarsus: for, behold, he prays, And has seen in a vision a man named

Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his

sight.'

...

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

to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your

sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.' And immediately there fell from

his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight immediately, and

arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:10-18) 12

One could argue that Ananias was a witness. However, it takes two or three witnesses to establish the truth. Further, Ananias did not witness the event when it happened, but allegedly learned of it second-hand (in a vision), probably from the same entity in Paul's vision. Note, Ananias never addresses the voice as “Jesus,” but instead calls it “Lord.” So, how did Ananias know it was Jesus?

Another problem with this text is that in the conversation, the entity did not say that Paul would “be filled with the Holy Ghost,” only that Ananias would restore his sight. So, this begs the question of whether Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit when

Ananias laid hands on him, or whether he was filled with the Holy Spirit when he was baptized. There is no mention, one way or the other. Compare this with the baptisms of

Jesus (above) and the original apostles, and those they baptized:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with

one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as

of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were

sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it

sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and

began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(Acts 2:1-4) [Witnessed by many.]

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them

which heard the word. (Acts 10:44) [Witnessed by friends of Peter,

Cornelius and his kin and friends.] 13

Compare Paul's baptism: no description, nothing. But, perhaps, silence speaks the loudest of all. Another point to consider is that none of the other apostles were afflicted with blindness (or any other bodily ill) prior to their baptism. Perhaps, that is the price Paul paid for “kicking against the pricks”?

However, despite the original apostles' failings, even Peter denying Jesus three times, none of them were ever afflicted by the real master. Further, there is no record that Satan tried to tempt Paul or otherwise divert him from his mission. However,

Satan certainly tried to get at Peter: “And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not….'” (Luke 22:31-32)

After Jesus goes through the temptations in the wilderness, he began preaching the kingdom of God is at hand and started his healing ministry. Paul begins preaching, not the kingdom of heaven is at hand, but Christ in the synagogues and, in one of his first acts, he afflicts a sorcerer named Elymas with blindness (Acts 13:8 ff). This is a troubling first act, reminiscent of the servant in Matthew 18:24, who begged forgiveness for his debt, then turned around and threatened someone who owed him far less. What both acts (of Paul and the wicked debtor) seem to indicate is an unchanged heart. It is also curious that he would afflict a sorcerer so harshly, but let a demoniac hound him for days (more below).

The original Apostles were given the power by Jesus to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils.” (Matthew 10:8). 14

So, did Paul cleanse lepers? There is no mention.

Did he cast out devils? There are only two references. The first imitates Matthew

8:28-29, wherein the devils demonstrate their knowledge of Jesus. Paul actually didn't perform this exorcism. Other exorcists were just using Paul's and Jesus' name, and it did not end well for them:

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took on them to call

over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We

adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. And there were seven sons of

one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit

answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? (Acts

19:13-16)

The second reference is Paul's only exorcism, and it is strange. Paul and his companions were near Philippi when…

... it came to pass, … a certain damsel possessed with a

spirit of divination met us, …. The same followed Paul and us, and cried,

saying, 'These men are the servants of the most high God, which show to

us the way of salvation.' And this did she many days. But Paul, being

grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus

Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (Acts 16:16-18) 15

What is strange about that event is embodied by two questions: (1) why would a

“spirit of divination” (i.e., devil or unclean spirit, someone under the influence of Satan) say, “which show to us the way of salvation”? What care devils about salvation? And,

(2) why did Paul allow her to carry on for “many days” before casting the devil out?

Some comparison's are in order here. First, Jesus' response to the Gadarene demoniac: “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, 'What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God most high? I beseech you, torment me not.' (Luke 8:28) What followed, in short order, was Jesus asking the devil's name (Legion), then granting the request to go into the herd of swine, and their immediate removal into the swine, which herd then went off a cliff. Thus, the devils were dispensed with quickly.

Another time, when Jesus and his disciples were ministering in Tyre and Sidon:

“And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, 'You are the Son of God.' And he straightly charged them that they should not make him known.” (Mark 3:11-12) Thus, Jesus was not looking for free advertising.

And, in Capernaum, “... in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, 'Let us alone; what have we to do with you, you Jesus of Nazareth? are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are; the Holy One of God.' And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Hold your peace, and come out of him.' And when the devil had thrown him in the middle, he came out of him, and hurt him not.” (Luke 4:33-35) 16

Mark has another rendering of the Capernaum exorcism: “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, 'Let us alone; what have we to do with you, you Jesus of Nazareth? are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, the Holy One of God.' And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Hold your peace, and come out of him.' And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.'” (Mark 1:22-26) Exorcisms could be noisy and violent, but not so with Paul's exorcism.

What is clear is that (1) Jesus did not allow the devils to speak for very long; (2) the demons were obviously fearful of Jesus and begged him not to harm them (James

2:19: “You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”); (3) they weren't open to Jesus showing them “the way to salvation,” they just wanted out of his presence as fast as possible; (4) they certainly did not give him free advertising by promoting his salvation, and, (5) of special note, the Philippian devil never said the name “Jesus,” or that people should follow Jesus. It just made a vague reference to “the most high God,” which in those days could have referred to something other than the God of Israel. Perhaps the same “most high God” that Paul met outside of Damascus? It is illogical to think a demon would be promoting the true salvation of

Jesus, as that would constitute a “house divided” (Matthew 12:25) and, thus, self- defeating. 17

Which leads us to the next question, why did Paul delay for “many days” and allow the devil to promote his “salvation”? Why was the demon obviously unafraid of

Paul? Why did it come out of the girl without a fight? The only logical answer is because they were on the same team.

In other words, Paul's “salvation” is antichrist, not of Jesus. This explains why he let the devil promote his salvation for days, to get the information broadcast that demons were “outing” Paul's plan of salvation as worthy. Then, finally, Paul “exorcised” the devil. It was probably scripted, in other words theater, to deceive the people. Jesus says:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied

in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name

done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never

knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23) 18

Jesus' name is that powerful, the invocation of which gets results. People use it, and it gets results. But Jesus knows the heart. And, if the heart is not right, they are not his sheep and he will not know them. He is very clear on that point.

However, Paul claims that Jesus does know him. That it was Jesus who met him on the road to Damascus and commissioned him to be an apostle to the gentiles. If the vision was real, it was not likely Jesus of Nazareth, but an imposter instead – an antichrist. So, Paul's only devil casting reference is also questionable.

Well, how about healing the sick? Are there any reports that Paul healed the sick? There are several mentions. One is a generality, nothing specific that could be verified. Again, it's an imitation of Jesus, whom Paul admits he imitates (see 1

Corinthians 11:1):

And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from

his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the

diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts

19:11-12) 19

See Matthew 9:20 and 14:36; Mark 5:27 and Mark 5:30 and Mark 6:56; Luke

8:44-47, regarding people touching Jesus' clothes and being healed.

Here we have another imitation, Paul healing the sick, but with a big difference.

Jesus was wearing his clothes when he was touched. There is no record of him sending out handkerchiefs or aprons, to heal or to cast out devils at a distance. And, given the violence and resistance of the devils, they put up a fight, wouldn't it be negligent to allow untrained people to try to do it themselves? It's similar to a medical doctor putting cures in the mail to unseen and unknown patients, a doctor who won't be there in case there is a problem.

Again, while Paul appears to be with the program, he's divergent. Why does he do things differently? Is it because his source of power is different?

This next account doesn't give many details...

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and

of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands

on him, and healed him. (Acts 28:8)

And, this next incident also doesn't indicate that he did it in the name of Jesus:

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, weak in his feet, being a

cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard

Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had

faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And

he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:8-10) 20

Peter raised Dorcas from the dead, in Acts 9:36 ff. Did Paul ever raise someone from the dead? There is only one account. It is the story of Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10):

The hour was late, Paul had been speaking for hours, and the room was crowded with many lamps consuming the available oxygen. Eutychus was sitting in a window sill when he was consumed with sleep and fell out of a third-story loft and either killed himself, or was sufficiently knocked out enough for people to think he was:

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus,

being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk

down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble

not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up

again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till

break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and

were not a little comforted. And we went before to ship, and sailed to

Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding

himself to go afoot. (Acts 20:9-13) 21

While most commentators read this passage that Paul resurrected Eutychus, it bears a closer examination because, “For his life is in him” is ambiguous. It could be read that Paul was saying Eutychus wasn't dead or it could be read that Eutychus had been dead and Paul's action brought him back to life. Which was it?

A number of dictionaries and commentaries were consulted to gauge the opinions of scholars as to the interpretation of this passage, as follows:

The Expositor's Bible Commentary states, “It seems to me indeed from the language of St. Paul-"Make ye no ado; for his life is in him"-that the young man had merely fainted, and that St. Paul recognized this fact as soon as he touched him.”

(Nicoll)

As part of his explication of Matthew 9:23, regarding the Jairus death incident,

Hermann Olshausen mentions the Eutychus incident (Olshausen 15-16). He notes that

Jesus said the Jairus child was not dead and states that, “there is no raising from death in the true sense of the word, inasmuch as it is probable that the child was in a state of deep fainting or trance2, … 22

Footnote 2 states: “Physicians distinguish syncope (fainting) from asphyxia

(suspended animation, apparent death); by the latter they understand the suspension of all vital functions, i.e., the state of the body (during life) in which the pulsation of the heart and arteries cannot be perceived, in fact, it is a total suspension of the powers of the mind and body. It is this which must here be supposed. The history of Eutychus

(Acts of the Apostles, 20:7 sqq.) is very similar to it.'” [In other words, it was a case of

“apparent death” (asphyxia). And, with all the lit lamps, asphyxia would be a correct diagnosis, the succumbing to which caused Eutychus to lose consciousness and fall out the window, complicated perhaps by the fall knocking the wind out of him.]

The next three quotations source from an article in the Christian Post (Jackson).

They were proffered so the author could rebut them. He primarily relied on the assumption that Luke, the “beloved physician” was in attendance (presumably because

“Luke” is the author of Acts) and was speaking in first person plural (we). Jackson also cited Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you” to prove

Luke was a physician. An electronic search of the scriptures revealed no other scriptures but that one that indicates Luke was a physician. 23

Ehrman adds to this debate: “For a long time, scholars were convinced that corroborating evidence could be found in the vocabulary used throughout Luke-Acts. It appeared at first glance that the two books used an inordinate number of medical terms

(compared to other writings of the New Testament), indicating, perhaps, that the author was a physician. As it turns out, this impression is altogether false. When scholars actually went to the trouble of comparing the medical terminology with that found in works by other Greek authors of the period, they discovered that “Luke” uses such terms no more frequently that other educated writers of his day (171-172).”

Even if Luke was a physician, the medical knowledge of that day could not have detected near-death cases, as was mentioned by Olshausen above.

The author cites as further proof that Eutychus was not dead because “Luke” was in attendance at the time of the accident and, as a physician, would have said so.

However, another commentator points out that Luke may not have been in attendance.

But first, read what the commentators who believed Eutychus was not dead have to say:

“The late William Barclay, who served as Professor of Divinity and

Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow, says that when the crowd

ran down the stairs, they 'found the lad senseless,' but Paul calmed them,

asserting that his life was 'yet' in him (p. 163). Note the 'yet'; it hints that

the young man did not actually die.” (qtd. in Jackson)

The late F. F. Bruce, of the University of Manchester, in one of his

books, wrote the following: “Luke remembered the occasion vividly 24

because a young man of the community in Troas, Eutychus by name, was

overcome by sleep while Paul was talking and fell down from the third-

floor window-ledge where he had been sitting. He was knocked

unconscious by the fall and his friends feared that he was dead, but Paul

hurried downstairs and embraced him (perhaps applying some form of

artificial respiration) and assured the others, to their great relief, that

Eutychus was still alive” (p. 340).” (qtd. in Jackson)

Richard Oster is a Bible professor at Harding Graduate School in

Memphis, Tennessee. In his work on the latter portion of the book of Acts,

Oster describes the fall suffered by Eutychus, and then adds his editorial

comment: “… if the youth was in fact dead.” He subsequently mentions

that there was a delay caused by Eutychus’ “injury” (p. 108). (qtd. in

Jackson)

As mentioned above, Jackson (among many commentators) uses the fact that

Luke was a physician who was there and would have known if the young man was dead or not, to justify that Eutychus was dead. 25

William Mordaunt Furneaux6 points out an overlooked fact: “It is possible Luke had already started with the others (vers. 13), when the accident happened, and was not himself an eyewitness (329)”. His reasoning derives from the verse in Acts 20:13: “And we went before to ship, and sailed to Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.”

The sequence was (1) Eutychus fell around midnight and was revived by Paul, (2)

Paul departed at dawn, (3) after which Eutychus appeared to the crowd, probably after waking up after a night's sleep, (4) then Luke and companions “went before to ship.” It is unclear exactly when “before” Luke and others (we) left the scene. It could have been before Eutychus arose from sleep in the morning. It could have been before Paul departed at dawn. It could have been before Eutychus' accident. It could have been days earlier. While not entirely clear, it is possible that Luke was not in attendance at the time of the accident. The sequence of the sentences gives the impression that

“Luke” was reporting it based on oral testimony, rather than his own eyewitness testimony. There is precedent of some of the disciples departing days before the others...

And there stayed three months. And when the Jews laid wait for

him [Paul], as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return

through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of

Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of

Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going

6 Dean of Winchester in the early 20th century. 26

before tarried for us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the

days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where

we stayed seven days. (Acts 20:3-6)

It reads that the seven disciples left seven or more days before the rest of the group. It is not clear why such a lengthy amount of time, but it is possible they were going ahead of Paul to get the town ready for Paul's appearance (advertising, public relations, securing a venue, ensuring security, and so on).

The concept of disciples “going before” is consistent with Jesus sending out his disciples: “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.” (Matthew 14:22)

While not stated, this could have been for the same reason as Paul's disciples went before him.

The point is the possibility exists that “Luke” was not in attendance during the event (as he used the first-person plural pronoun “we” to indicate those going before

Paul). It is also possible that “Luke” was not a physician. It is also possible that the author of “Luke” was not “Luke the Physician.” So, genuine doubt exists as to the argument that “Luke was there” and that “Luke was a physician,” who would have known if Eutychus was dead or not. 27

Weymouth's Resultant Greek Testament7 was consulted and what follows is its rendering of the text of Acts 20:10: “Paul, however, went down, threw himself upon him, and folding him in his arms said, 'Do not be alarmed; his life is still in him.'”

The term “still” indicates that Eutychus was still alive. Was there anywhere else that had the same opinion? Yes. A commentary at Net Bible, states:

“20:10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his

arms around him, and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!”44

44 Footnote 44 reads, “ tn Grk “for his life is in him”

(an idiom).”

Several commentators also think Eutychus was not dead. In The Acts of the

Apostles: a Commentary for English Readers (1912), William Mordaunt Furneaux states:

… the embracing of the body is not the act of a person investigating

a case of apparent death, but is evidently intended to recall the miracles of

Elijah (1 Kings 17:2I) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:34). But, Paul did not pray, as

Peter did in the case of Dorcas (Acts 9:40); his words, 'his life is in him,'

imply a swoon rather than death; the lad did not arise at once as might

7 Weymouth’s Resultant Greek Testament (1892). Richard Francis Weymouth based his text on the greatest editors of the nineteenth century: Lachmann, Tregelles, Tischendorf, Lightfoot, Weiss, Alford, Ellicott, Stockmeyer & Riggenbach, the Revisers, and Westcott & Hort. Weymouth’s apparatus was also consulted which gives the results of Stunica, Erasmus, Stephens, Elziver and Scrivener. This work delivered the latest results of textual criticism of the time, drawn from numerous excellent sources. 28 have been expected in the case of a miracle – it was not till the morning brought him back alive; and the language of vers. 12 does not indicate the great sensation which would have been caused by a resurrection from death. (329) 29

According to Strong's Concordance, the word life in Acts 20:10 derives as follows:

“G5590 ψυχή psuchēpsoo-khay' From G5594 [to breathe (voluntarily but gently]; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315] a breathing creature, [H7307] wind, by resemblance, breath, and [H2416] alive.” Thus, it seems

Eutychus’ breath was knocked out of him and likely restarted when Paul “fell on him” and embraced him.

Another thing to note, Paul did not invoke the name of Jesus, like he did in the case of the Philippian devil. Nor did he pray. This could indicate he saw no need, because Eutychus was not dead. The oddity of Paul not praying or commanding

Eutychus to arise in the name of Jesus Christ, instead just falling on him and embracing him (copying the physical actions of Elijah (1 Kings 7:21) and Elisha (2 King 4:31-4:34), who both prayed in the name of the Lord) begs another question: If Eutychus was truly resurrected, then by what power was he resurrected? Acts 9:34 show Peter invoking the name of Jesus to Aeneas: “Jesus Christ makes you whole. Arise and make your bed.

And he arose immediately.” Peter prayed over Dorcas. Jesus prays to the Father for the raising of Lazarus. 30

Turning from scholarly opinion, general research shows that a story (or loft) in biblical times was about six-and-one-half to eight feet tall. (The Bible Illustration Blog.)

So, Eutychus fell approximately twenty to twenty-four feet. According to an article at

The Great Outdoors website (“How Far”), a fall of that length would not necessarily have been fatal. There are many factors including how you fall, what you land on, and even your age. So, the fall was not necessarily a death sentence and Eutychus could have been knocked unconscious and his breath knocked out of him.

If his heart had stopped, the mere act of Paul falling onto him could have jump started it, and he returned not because of a miracle, but because someone had applied a form of CPR to him. The possibility exists.

Thus, the only record of Paul raising a dead person is questionable. The context, such as the lack of sensation a resurrection caused (i.e., people believing, word spreading like lightning, crowds showing up for healings), Paul calmly going back upstairs, eating, and continuing his sermon, and Eutychus not recovering instantly, such as happened in other records of miracles (cf. Lazarus (John 11:1 ff., 11:44, ), Aeneas

(Acts 9:33-34), Dorcas (Acts 9:36-41), the healing of Peter's mother-in law (Luke 4:38-

39)) are suggestive that Eutychus probably was not dead, at least not in the way that

Lazarus or Dorcas were dead, both from illnesses and demised for lengthy amounts of time: Lazarus was dead for four days and Dorcas was dead for a minimum of many hours as people had to walk nine miles, find Peter, then return. 31

One last consideration is that the event might be a work of fiction. Dennis R.

MacDonald of Iliff School of Theology notes that Luke's Eutychus bears a strong resemblance to Homer's Elpenor. (MacDonald)

As shown above, Paul had a questionable record for healing sickness in others, but what about his own health issues, such as the “thorn in the flesh”…

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the

abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above

measure. For this thing I sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from

me. And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is

made perfect in weakness.' (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Jesus freely healed others, why would he not heal Paul? One clue in this is that

Jesus said that infirmities came from bondage to Satan: “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, see, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16)

Jesus also said, “And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the

Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) How, then, is the Father being glorified by refusing to remove Paul's thorn?

Further, it's not a case of “employees can't partake of the food they make.” Jesus was willing to cure Peter's mother-in-law:

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house.

And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they sought 32

him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her:

and immediately she arose and ministered to them. (Luke 4:38-39).

So, it is inconsistent with the Jesus of scripture that he would refuse to heal Paul.

However, if Paul's “Jesus” is in actuality Satan or one of his minions, then it makes sense that Satan would delight in Paul's torment. Remember, Satan wanted Peter “to sift him as wheat” and Jesus prayed to protect Peter (Luke 22:31-32). Why would Jesus allow any of his apostles to be under the influence of Satan? It makes no sense.

And, why would Satan want to prevent Paul becoming “exalted above measure”?

Doesn't Satan delight in people sinning? Is Satan suddenly working for the true God?

Of course not. The answer, it seems, is that Paul's “Jesus” is an antichrist, and Paul is not a true apostle of Jesus.

There is another view, one that views Paul as suffering from epilepsy, which could account for his visions and irrationality:

There is throughout Paul's writings an irrational or pathological

element which could not but repel the disciples of the Rabbis. Possibly his

pessimistic mood was the result of his physical condition; for he suffered

from an illness which affected both body and mind. He speaks of it as "a

thorn in the flesh," and as a heavy stroke by "a messenger of Satan" (II

Cor. xii. 7), which often caused him to realize his utter helplessness, and

made him an object of pity and horror (Gal. iv. 13). It was, as Krenkel

("Beiträge zur Aufhellung der Geschichte und Briefe des Apostels Paulus,"

1890, pp. 47-125) has convincingly shown, epilepsy, called by the Greeks 33

"the holy disease," which frequently put him into a state of ecstasy, a frame

of mind that may have greatly impressed some of his Gentile hearers, but

could not but frighten away and estrange from him the Jew, whose God is

above all the God of reason (comp. II Cor. v. 13; x. 10; xi. 1, 16; xii. 6).

(Jewish Encyclopedia)

Another reference points to Paul as being bipolar…

To judge from those Epistles that have all the traits of genuineness

and give a true insight into his nature, Paul was of a fiery temper,

impulsive and impassioned in the extreme, of ever-changing moods, now

exulting in boundless joy and now sorely depressed and gloomy. (Ibid.)

It has been noted that habitual lying could be a sign of a mental disorder

(Goleman). Keep this in mind, as it will be discussed further below.

Jesus told the seventy: “Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17-20, 10:19)

In a Talmudic reference, Jacob [James, the brother of Jesus], comes

to cure a famous Talmudic rabbi of snakebite. In an echo, the story at the

end of Acts has Paul on his way to Rome curing himself of snakebite on

the island of Malta (even though there are no poisonous snakes on the

island of Malta - [Acts] 28:3-6). (Eisenmann, p.217) 34

This author's reading of the passage (Acts 28:3-6) seemed more like the snakebite had no effect on Paul, rather than him doing something to cure himself, which seems more consistent with Luke 10:17-20.

In any event, note that Eisenmann says (1) Paul's story is an echo of James', and

(2) the discrepancy of there being no poisonous snakes on Malta, which makes the story suspect.

In another echo, Paul changed his own name from Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9). If you remember, Jesus changed Peter's name to Cephas to indicate Peter's role in the church.

There is a pattern in scripture for name changes. God changed Abram's name

(which meant father) to Abraham (which meant father of a great multitude). God changed Jacob's name (which meant that supplants, undermines, the heel) to Israel

(which meant who prevails with God). Saul's name meant demanded or asked for, and was the name of King David's father. (Hitchcock) 35

It is important to note that God did not change Paul's name. Paul, the self-made apostle, changed it himself. While Paul promoted himself to a position of leadership

(apostle) and assumed the mantle of “father” –- “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten8 you through the gospel.” (1 Cor 4:15) – the name he chose for himself is curious. The

Latinized name Paulos or Paulus means small, little, or least. (Hitchcock) It makes one wonder if the following scripture was foreshadowing Paul. Was Jesus providing a clue to the name of the false apostle?

Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,

and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of

heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called

great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)

8 Begotten is problematic. It sounds eerily like Paul is promoting himself to God the Father. 36

[Interesting to note, in Hitchcock's Bible Name Dictionary, the name Saul is placed between Satan and Sceva.]

While the events discussed above seem all over the map, they are being emphasized because there is a pattern, a tit-for-tat, like a game of chess: when the power of the Spirit moves, there seems to be a corresponding reaction from the dark side in an attempt to counteract it. As we have seen, Peter raised Dorcas, so Paul raised

Eutychus. Jesus had a “celestial event” surrounding the beginning of his public ministry. So did Paul. James cured a rabbi of snakebite. Paul cured himself of snakebite (on an island that had no poisonous snakes). Jesus and Peter cast out devils.

So did Paul. The devils knew Jesus by name. The same with Paul. Are we witnessing a game of mimicry? It seems so, but whether by Satan or by well-meaning Paulinists9 is unknown. It does appear, however, that Paul is being “credentialized” by having acts similar to those performed by Jesus and his apostles ascribed to him.

Looking at the bigger picture, perhaps positioning Paul was an opening move by

Satan against Jesus' message. Placing one of his own as an insider, in a position to corrupt doctrines and lead believers astray, would be a brilliant tactical move. The parable of the wheat and the tares is germane to this idea.

Now, consider the church in Ephesus, which was a church Paul founded. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day when he...

… heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am

9 Modern biblical scholarship has unearthed much evidence that the Bible has been redacted (edited) over the centuries. See Ehrman, generally, for the details. 37

Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a

book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia; to Ephesus, and

to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to

Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (Revelation 1:10-11)

Jesus addressed each church, discussed what they were doing right, what they were doing wrong:

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he

that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the

seven golden candlesticks; I know your works, and your labor, and your

patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have

tried them which say they are apostles, and are not , and have found

them liars: (Revelation 2:1-2)

The only record of an apostle ministering at Ephesus is Paul, by his own words:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 1:1) Paul was there for two years, arguing in the synagogues with those who knew the Jewish law, who weren't convinced by Paul's arguments:

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having

passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: (Acts 19:1)

. . .

And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of

three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the 38

kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but

spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and

separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And

this continued [on for] two years; so that all they which dwelled in Asia

heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:8-10)

So, Asia heard Paul's message. Then what happened? Paul laments to Timothy:

“This you know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me….” (2 Timothy

1:15)

Is it a coincidence that Jesus told John to write to all the churches in Asia, where

Paul had managed to alienate the churches there? How did Paul do it? Here is a clue:

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were

of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and

laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that

teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this

place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted

this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus,

an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

(Acts 21:27-29) 39

These passages are telling and highly suggestive that Jesus was commending the church in Ephesus for rejecting Paul, whom he considered a false apostle. Further, it appears Paul is suffering the consequences of not heeding the warnings in Matthew

23:12 (whoever exalts himself shall be humbled) and Proverbs 16:18 (pride goes before destruction).

Coming full circle, let's examine the phrase used at the beginning of this paper,

“breathing out threatenings and slaughter.” What kind of man does that? A violent man. A blasphemous man. A lawless man. Why would the God of Israel be reduced to having to tap such a man for his work? A man whose prayers He wouldn't even listen to:

“He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

(Proverbs 28:9) In God's eyes, Paul's prayers are an abomination. If Paul got an answer, you can be sure it wasn't the God of Israel who was answering.

However, a man like that is imminently qualified to be Satan's disciple. His spiritual state was so low, he was easily deceived. His pride so immense10 that it didn't take much to get him to bite the bait. It can be said with certainty that Paul is not the one sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Maybe it's about time we started listening to the One who is. And, we can start by taking this seriously:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but

inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits.

(Matthew 7:15-16)

10 There are many proofs of Paul's pride. See Appendix B 40

In conclusion, the above information demonstrates enough prima facie fruit to warrant the indictment of Paul for fraud. Simply put, his fruit is rotten. He lies, he doesn't practice what he preaches, and he was never qualified to be an apostle.

Why would Jesus spend three years in the public eye ministering to the people?

So, there would be witnesses. So, his works could be verified. His public works acted as a testimony to him:

But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which

the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of

me, that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36) 41

Why would Jesus be a stickler to adhering to the Law? Because the Law brings life. (See Deuteronomy 30:19, Proverbs 6:23 and Proverbs 13:14.) Why would he flip one-hundred-eighty degrees, and go against everything he said and believed? Why would he become invisible and anoint someone like Saul of Taurus, who preaches a different gospel? Why wouldn't he tell his original Apostles? (“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” Acts 9:26) This flies in the face of everything Jesus taught.

Many commentators, in an attempt to harmonize that which is said to be infallible, deceive themselves into thinking it was a demonstration of Jesus' mercy and his ability to change hearts that Saul “changed.” But, did Saul change? On the surface, it seems like a reasonable explanation. But, Satan is quite adept at making things seem reasonable. As Paul himself says, in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “… don't marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14. Well, speak of the devil. 42

It's time to look beyond the smoke and mirrors of Paul's talk, and look at his walk. He was disrespectful to the original apostles and tried to undermine their authority, even calling them and their gospel “accursed.”11 He preached against the law

(which was in total opposition to Jesus' teachings), he misquoted scripture to align it to his purposes,12 and there is no evidence he ever received the Holy Spirit. (And, wouldn't it have made sense if the original Apostles had baptized him, rather than a relatively unknown man, Ananias?

It is interesting to note the name Ananias is used only two other times in the

Bible, and had connections to death: one was the high priest who sought the death penalty for Jesus and the other, with his wife, Sapphira, held back a portion of what they sold, lied about it, and Ananias died for his lie. So, of the three biblical characters named Ananias, we have a murderer and a liar. Remember what was said about who the father of murderers and liars is:

You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

(John 8:44)

11 See Galatians 1:8-9. 12 See Appendix C. 43

While not conclusive proof, it is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of whom Paul was in communication with.

To sum up, while the original apostles were commissioned to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out devils, and raise the dead, there is little evidence of Paul accomplishing such, much less having ever been commissioned. And, what little is recorded is questionable.

Paul even admitted that he didn't baptize (except on a few occasions, 1

Corinthians 1:11 and Acts 19:1-7) before a dispute arose and rather than become involved, he stopped the practice. What happened to people after he preached is unknown. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, he says “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel….” But, the point of preaching is to win converts and baptize them.

And, another discrepancy is that Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, while Paul preached Christ. Note that Christ did not preach Christ as the salvation of man, he preached the law and good works.

In another example of Paul's “works” mimicking Jesus and the apostles, we must now, of necessity, ask about those whom Paul did baptize, “To what then were they baptized?” Which Lord Jesus were they baptized into? Did Paul do away with baptism altogether, just to avoid controversy? Why is there no record of him or his disciples baptizing after the controversy? Peter tells us that …

... baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth

of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the 44

resurrection of Jesus Christ…. (1 Peter 3:21)

So, Paul dispensed with it. By what authority?

As Paul said, “Christ” sent him to preach the gospel. But, what Christ and what gospel was he preaching? Appendix A is a chart which shows a sampling of the differences between Jesus' gospel and Paul's gospel. And, there are quite a few substantive differences. (And, disturbingly, there are also several passages where Paul refers to the gospel as “my gospel.”)

Despite all the high-sounding talk about love and Christ that Paul spouted, Paul fits the warning Jesus gave about false christs and prophets:

Why by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that said to

me, 'Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven'; but he that does

the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day,

'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have

cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?' And then

will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work

iniquity. (Matthew 7:20-23) 45

Paul may have been unaware of what he had unwittingly joined. He probably had good intentions, otherwise he would not have worked so hard and would not have died for the cause (but, as he demonstrated by appealing to Caesar when the Jews were after him for violation of the Jewish Law, he would have avoided it, even if he had to lie – and he did – if he could have).

To answer the question posed at the beginning of this paper, the answer is yes,

Paul was deceived. He was blinded by the light. Whether by the light of an antichrist spirit or epilepsy, is unknown. But the end result is the same – he became the proverbial blind man leading the blind. For two thousand years.

You may ask yourself why God would allow this. The answer is in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:25-30).

But, Paul has been in the Bible since the beginning. So has Satan. The Bible is infallible defense is no longer viable. Modern biblical scholarship has shown the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, have had numerous redactions and additions performed over time. In addition, the process of “canonization” (deciding what works would be permanently allowed into the Bible) was a highly politicized process and valid sources were excluded. (See Ehrman, generally.) 46

An extra-canonical source, the Gospel of the Nazaraeans, is said, by early Church father Jerome13, to be the source that the earliest followers of Jesus used. That gospel, as well as Jerome's commentary on that source, indicates that errors are inherent in the

Bible. It is not immune from “wheat and tares syndrome” any more than the rest of this fallen world we live in. Changes to the text, as Professor Ehrman elucidates, demonstrate how the New Testament was eventually “smoothed out” to present a unified front, to cohere Christians into a universal church. After Constantine made

Christianity the state religion, the canon was closed. Anything that went against that finalized corpus was omitted and eventually driven underground, usually on pain of death.

So, considering the pressures put on the eradication of “divergent” sources in that era, new light should be cast on ancient sources that have been discovered in modern times (such as the Nag Hammadi library). But, the question immediately raised is this: if indisputable proof arises that contradicts current theology, would it be embraced and allowed, rejoicing that truth had finally come to light? Or would Academia and the

Church sweep away such proof, under the pretext of “Heresy” to protect the status quo?

This author suspects the latter.

13 Jerome was an early Church father who lived c. 347 – 420 AD. He laid the template which became the Latin Vulgate bible. (Biography.com Editors.) 47

On the website which hosts the Gospel of the Nazaraeans (which is an extract from Gospel Parallels, edited by Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr.), the commentary instructs the reader to compare Matthew 18:21-22 (Luke 17:3-4) with the Gospel of the

Nazaraeans . In Against Pelagius, III.2 (Jerome), St. Jerome confirms that portion of the Gospel of the Nazaraeans: “If your brother has sinned by a word, and repented, receive him seven times a day.' Simon, his disciple, said to him, 'Seven times a day?' The

Lord answered, 'Yes, I tell you, as much as seventy times seven times! For in the prophets also, after they were anointed by the Holy Spirit, a word of sin was found.”

The commentary of the Gospel of the Nazaraeans expands: “Sinning by a "word" simply implies that any man might sin in his speech; thus, if he realizes his error and turns from it (i.e., learns from his mistake), then he should be received by his brothers as many times as is necessary. This is called "regeneration," a honing process by which one learns the path to YHVH [God].

In current Bible versions, Matthew 18:22 reads: “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” It truncates from “For in the prophets….”

The commentator asks the reader to compare today's version of Matthew 18:22 to the Gospel of the Nazaraeans. Immediately after 'seventy times seven' it reads: 'For in the prophets also, after they were anointed by the Holy Spirit, a word of sin [sinful speech?] was found in them.' Even the prophets were not free of sin even though they were the "oracles" of Elohim [God].” This makes sense in light of Jesus' comment in

Matthew 19:17, that only God is good (and by inference, without sin). 48

In Jerome's work, ibid., he states, “If you do not allow the authority of this evidence, at least admit its antiquity, and see what has been the opinion of all good churchmen.”

This concludes the narrative portion of this paper. What follows are three

Appendices. The first compares Jesus' gospel with Paul's. The second sets forth examples of Paul's inconsistencies, contradictions, and character flaws. The third explores some of Paul's misquotations.

As Josh McDowell presents in his book about Jesus “evidence that demands a verdict,” so here, the evidence is presented and also demands a verdict. 49

APPENDIX A

Comparison of Jesus' Gospel versus Paul's Gospel

Jesus, God, the Apostles said . . . Paul said . . . “From that time [the conclusion of Following the retelling of Paul's vision to his temptation] Jesus began to preach, King Agrippa, in which he padded the and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of story, Paul says: “But showed first to them heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and

throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and

then to the Gentiles, that they should

repent and turn to God, and do works meet

for repentance.” (Acts 26:20)

Note, Paul preached “justified by

faith” not “works.” His focus was more on

the concept of Christ the savior, rather

than the kingdom of heaven.

“And when they bring you to the “And the times of this ignorance God synagogues, and to magistrates, and winked at; but now commands all men powers, take you no thought how or what every where to repent: Because he has thing you shall answer, or what you shall appointed a day, in the which he will judge say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the world in righteousness by that man the same hour what you ought to say.” whom he has ordained; whereof he has 50

(Luke 12:11-12:12) given assurance to all men, in that he has

raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

(Paul is in Athens when he said the

above. Just prior, he was using the words

of Greek philosophers to win over the

Athenians, using his own intellect instead

of the power of the Holy Spirit. The

Athenians mocked him.)

“And one of the scribes came, ... “For all the Law is fulfilled in one asked him, Which is the first word, even this: 'You shall love your commandment of all? And Jesus neighbor as yourself.'” (Galatians 5:14) answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The

Lord our God is one Lord: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other 51 commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:28-31, quoting Deut. 6:5)

“And the scribe said to him, Well, (As above.)

Master, you have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:32-

34)

“And call no man your father on the “For though you have ten thousand earth: for one is your Father, which is in instructors in Christ, yet have you not heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have

begotten you through the gospel.” (1

Corinthians 4:15) 52

“Think not that I am come to destroy “For he is our peace, who has made the law, or the prophets: I am not come to both one, and has broken down the middle destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say to wall of partition between us; Having you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the or one pronunciation mark [jot or tittle] law of commandments contained in shall in no wise pass from the law, till all ordinances; for to make in himself of two be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18) one new man, so making peace;”

(Ephesians 2:14-15)

“Blotting out the handwriting of

ordinances that was against us, which

was contrary to us, and took it out of the

way, nailing it to his cross;” (Col. 2:14)

“Why, my brothers, you also are

become dead to the law by the body of

Christ; that you should be married to

another, even to him who is raised from

the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to

God.” (Romans 7:4) “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood “That if you shall confess with your up, and tempted him, saying, Master, mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He your heart that God has raised him from 53 said to him, What is written in the law? the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans how read you? And he answering said, 10:9)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered right: this do, and you shall live.” (Luke 10:25-

28)

“And a certain ruler asked him, “For in Jesus Christ neither saying, Good Master, what shall I do to circumcision avails any thing, nor inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to uncircumcision [i.e., works]; but faith him, ... You know the commandments, Do which works by love.” (Galatians 5:6) not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother. And he said,

All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lack you one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in 54 heaven: and come, follow me.” (Luke

18:18-22) “Then Jesus beholding him loved “Knowing that a man is not justified him, and said to him, One thing you lack: by the works of the law, but by the faith of go your way, sell whatever you have, and Jesus Christ, even we have believed in give to the poor, and you shall have Jesus Christ, that we might be justified treasure in heaven: and come, take up by the faith of Christ, and not by the the cross, and follow me.” (Mark works of the law: for by the works of the

10:21) law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians

2:16)

“But I say to you, That every idle “Being justified freely by his grace word that men shall speak, they shall give through the redemption that is in Christ account thereof in the day of judgment.” Jesus: (Romans 3:24)

(Matthew 12:36) “Therefore we conclude that a man is

“For by your words you shall be justified by faith without the deeds of the justified, and by your words you shall be law.” (Romans 3:28) condemned. (Matthew 12:37) “Much more then, being now

justified by his blood, we shall be saved

from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)

“But be not you called Rabbi: for one “And God has set some in the church, 55 is your Master, even Christ; and all you first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly are brothers.” (Matthew 23:8) teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of

healings, helps, governments, diversities of

tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28)

“And he gave some, apostles; and

some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and

some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians

4:11)

“Whereunto I am appointed a

preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of

the Gentiles.” (2 Timothy 1:11)

[Who appointed Paul? Not Jesus.]

“Remember the Sabbath Day and “Let no man therefore judge you in keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8) meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy

day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath

days:” (Colossians 2:16)

“One man esteems one day above

another: another esteems every day alike.

Let every man be fully persuaded in his

own mind. He that regards the day, 56

regards it to the Lord; and he that regards

not the day, to the Lord he does not regard

it.” (Romans 14:5-6)

(Meaning you can take or leave the

Sabbath.) “For where two or three are gathered “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, together in my name, there am I in the when you are gathered together, and my middle of them.” (Matthew 18:20) spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus

Christ….” (1 Corinthians 5:4)

“Then said Jesus to his disciples, If “Be you followers of me, even as I also any man will come after me, let him deny am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) himself, and take up his cross, and follow Where did Jesus say to follow people that me.” (Matthew 16:24) follow him? He didn't.

“For he is not a God of the dead, but “For to this end Christ both died, and of the living: for all live to him.” (Luke rose, and revived, that he might be Lord

20:38) both of the dead and living.” (Romans

14:9)

God: “This is my covenant, which you “Behold, I Paul say to you, that if you shall keep, between me and you and your be circumcised, Christ shall profit you 57 seed after you; Every man child among nothing.” (Galatians 5:2) you shall be circumcised. And you shall “What advantage then has the Jew? or circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and what profit is there of circumcision? it shall be a token of the covenant between (Romans 3:1) me and you.” (Genesis 17:10-11)

Jesus: “For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark [jot and tittle] shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18)

“And I heard a voice from heaven Paul changes Jesus' message by saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead substituting belief and faith for works. which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

“I am come in my Father's name, and “Now to him that is of power to you receive me not: if another shall come establish you according to my gospel, and in his own name, him you will receive.” the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to

(John 5:43) the revelation of the mystery, which was 58

“He that has my commandments, and kept secret since the world began….” keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he (Romans 16:25) that loves me shall be loved of my Father, “In the day when God shall judge the and I will love him, and will manifest secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to myself to him.” (John 14:21) my gospel.” (Romans 2:16)

“And every one that has forsaken “For the wages of sin is death; but the houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, gift of God is eternal life through Jesus or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:29)

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28)

“So likewise, whoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)

“Therefore all things whatever you “For I would not, brothers, that you would that men should do to you, do you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you 59 even so to them: for this is the law and the should be wise in your own conceits; that prophets. Enter you in at the strait gate: blindness in part is happened to Israel, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come that leads to destruction, and many there in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as be which go in thereat: Because strait is it is written, There shall come out of Sion

the gate, and narrow is the way, which the Deliverer, and shall turn away

leads to life, and few there be that find it.” ungodliness from Jacob:” (Romans 11:25-

(Matthew 7:12-14) 26)

[Jesus preaches that we have to do

things to achieve salvation. Paul preaches

we don't have to do anything, just receive a

free gift.]

“If a man love me, he will keep my “That if you shall confess with your words: and my Father will love him, and mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in we will come to him, and make our stayed your heart that God has raised him from with him. He that loves me not keeps not the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans my sayings….” (John 14:23-24) 10:9)

[Jesus never said this, and it is in

opposition to Jesus' message. So, Paul is

not “keeping” Jesus' words.] 60

James says: “But that we write to Paul says eating meat sacrificed to idols them, that they abstain from pollutions of is okay, under certain conditions: “Now as idols, and from fornication, and from touching things offered to idols, we know things strangled, and from blood.” (Acts that we all have knowledge. Knowledge

15:20) puffs up, but charity edifies. And if any

Jesus says: “But I have a few things man think that he knows any thing, he against you, because you have there them knows nothing yet as he ought to know. that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who But if any man love God, the same is taught Balac to cast a stumbling block known of him. As concerning therefore the before the children of Israel, to eat things eating of those things that are offered in sacrificed to idols, and to commit sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is fornication.” (Revelation 2:14) nothing in the world, and that there is

none other God but one. For though there

be that are called gods, whether in heaven

or in earth, (as there be gods many, and

lords many,) But to us there is but one

God, the Father, of whom are all things,

and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom are all things, and we by him.

However, there is not in every man that

knowledge: for some with conscience of the 61

idol to this hour eat it as a thing offered to

an idol; and their conscience being weak is

defiled. But meat commends us not to

God: for neither, if we eat, are we the

better; neither, if we eat not, are we the

worse. But take heed lest by any means

this liberty of yours become a stumbling

block to them that are weak. For if any

man see you which have knowledge sit at

meat in the idol's temple, shall not the

conscience of him which is weak be

emboldened to eat those things which are

offered to idols; And through your

knowledge shall the weak brother perish,

for whom Christ died?” (1 Corinthians 8:1-

11).

“And when he was gone forth into the “But now, after that you have known way, there came one running, and kneeled God, or rather are known of God, how turn to him, and asked him, Good Master, what you again to the weak and beggarly shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? elements, whereunto you desire again to be

And Jesus said to him, Why call you me in bondage?” (Galatians 4:9) 62 good? there is none good but one, that is, [Jesus says follow the law to inherit

God. You know the commandments, Do eternal life. Paul calls the law bondage.] not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother. And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:17-21)

James says: “What does it profit, my Paul says: “Knowing that a man is not brothers, though a man say he has faith, justified by the works of the law, but by the and have not works? can faith save faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed him? ... Even so faith, if it has not works, in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, by the faith of Christ, and not by the works

You have faith, and I have works: show me of the law: for by the works of the law shall your faith without your works, and I will no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) show you my faith by my works. You 63 believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? See you how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which said,

Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)

“Think not that I am come to destroy “Having abolished in his flesh the the law, or the prophets: I am not come to enmity, even the law of commandments destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say to contained in ordinances; for to make in you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke himself of two one new man, so making or one pronunciation mark shall in no peace; (Ephesians 2:15) 64 wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matthew 5:17-19)

Jesus says: “If I bear witness of “How that by revelation he made myself, my witness is not true.” (John known to me the mystery; (as I wrote

5:31) before in few words,” (Ephesians 3:3) (In

most places, Paul bears witness of himself.)

“I have given them your word; and “Which things also we speak, not in the world has hated them, because they the words which man's wisdom teaches, are not of the world, even as I am not of but which the Holy Ghost teaches; the world.” (John 17:14) comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

“Sanctify them through your truth: (1 Corinthians 2:13) your word is truth. (John 17:17) “For I neither received it of man,

neither was I taught it, but by the

revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 65

1:12)

“For if you forgive men their “In whom we have redemption trespasses, your heavenly Father will also through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, forgive you: But if you forgive not men according to the riches of his grace;” their trespasses, neither will your Father (Ephesians 1:7) forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14- “Who was delivered for our offenses

15) [put to death], and was raised again for our

justification.” (Romans 4:25)

“And God spoke all these words, “Why then serves the law? It was saying, I am the LORD your God, which added because of transgressions, till the have brought you out of the land of Egypt, seed should come to whom the promise out of the house of bondage. You shall was made; and it was ordained by angels have no other gods before me.” (Exodus in the hand of a mediator.” (Galatians

20:1-3, et seq.) 3:19)

66

APPENDIX B

Paul's Inconsistencies, Contradictions, & Character Flaws

Paul's Gospel Notes “Though I might also have confidence "A distinguished Talmudic scholar and in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he editor of the Jewish Encyclopaedia, has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I Kaufmann Kohler, wrote in 1902 that more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the 'nothing in Paul's writings showed that he stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an had any acquaintance with rabbinical

Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the learning'--a judgment with which I entirely law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, concur" (Hyam Maccoby, The Mythmaker persecuting the church; touching the Paul and the Invention of Christianity, righteousness which is in the law, Harper & Row, "1987" Pub. (c1986), 204).” blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6) (Kohler)

“I am truly a man which am a Jew, Paul uses his evil deeds as credentials born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought in his defense before the Jewish council, up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and even though he was at the time, not just taught according to the perfect manner of claiming to be a Christian, but an apostle of the law of the fathers, and was zealous Christ himself. toward God, as you all are this day.” (Acts

22:3)

“And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons 67 both men and women. As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound to Jerusalem, for to be punished.” (Acts 22:4-5)

Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem: So, when the crowds came after Paul,

“Then Paul answered, What mean you to he was rescued and allowed to speak to the weep and to break my heart? for I am crowds but they didn't buy it, and the ready not to be bound only, but also to die centurion was going to examine him to find at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord out what was up when “Paul said to the

Jesus.” (Acts 21:13) centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you

to whip a man that is a Roman, and

uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25) He's then

brought before the council, where he

unleashes a divide-and-conquer ploy: “But

when Paul perceived that the one part were

Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he

cried out in the council, Men and brothers,

I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of 68

the hope and resurrection of the dead I am

called in question.” (Acts 23:6) Finally,

Paul is removed for his safety, and gets a

hearing before Felix and lies: “... But this I

confess to you, that after the way which

they call heresy, so worship I the God of

my fathers, believing all things which are

written in the law and in the prophets….”

(a lie) (Acts 24:13-14). Paul is eventually

brought before Festus, who replaces Felix,

“But Festus, willing to do the Jews a

pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Will you

go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of

these things before me? Then said Paul, I

stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I

ought to be judged: (Acts 25:9-10) “ I

appeal to Caesar. (Acts 25:11)

For someone “not afraid to die,” he sure

put up a good fight.

"For I consider that I am not at all Boastful. inferior to the most eminent 69 apostles". ...."As the truth of Christ is in "Let another man praise you, and not me, no one shall stop me from this your own mouth; A stranger, and not your boasting in the regions of Achaia." (2 own lips." (Proverbs 27:2)

Corinthians 11:5) "For I am the least of the apostles, who Boastful. am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all...". (1 Corinthians 15:9-10) “For I suppose I was not a whit behind Boastful. the very most chief apostles.” (2

Corinthians 11:5) "But from those who seemed to be Belittles the Jerusalem apostles. something - whatever they were, it makes Boasts they “added nothing to” him. no difference to me; God shows personal “Paul put down the other apostles as favoritism to no man- for those who “weak.” (Mt 14:31 and pars.) “a term Paul seemed to be something added nothing repeatedly uses in his letters, almost to me. But on the contrary, when they saw always with derogatory intent, when that the gospel for the uncircumcised had describing the leaders of the community, been committed to me, as the gospel for particularly in Jerusalem, and their 70 the circumcised was to Peter (for He who directives (Rom 14:1-2 and 1 Cor 8:7-9:22). worked effectively in Peter for the Occasionally, he parodies this, applying the apostleship to the circumcised also worked term to himself to gain sympathy, but effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and generally he uses it to attack the when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, leadership, in particular those keeping the who seemed to be pillars, perceived the dietary regulations or relying on Mosaic grace that had been given to me, they gave law – even those whom, as he puts it, 'only me and Barnabas the right hand of eat vegetables' – like James.” (Eisenmann) fellowship, that we should go to the

Gentiles and they to the circumcised."

Galatians 2:6-7, 9 "But when Peter had come to Antioch, I Boastful. withstood him to his face, because he Hypocritical. This is the same person was to be blamed; for before certain men who writes, “Be kindly affectionate to one came from James, he would eat with the another with brotherly love, in honor

Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew giving preference to one another." and separated himself, fearing those who (Romans 12:10) were of the circumcision. And the rest of Violated Jesus' counsel: “Moreover if the Jews played the hypocrite with him so your brother shall trespass against you, go that even Barnabas was carried away with and tell him his fault between you and him their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained were not straight forward about the truth 71 of the gospel, I said to Peter before your brother. But if he will not hear you, them all, "if you being a Jew, live in the then take with you one or two more, that in manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, the mouth of two or three witnesses every why do you compel Gentiles to live as word may be established.” (Matthew

Jews?" Galatians 2:11-14 18:15-16)

“And my temptation which was in my Is he thinking he is Jesus, or are people flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but treating him like he is? Is he accepting

received me as an angel of God, even as worship? He doesn't discourage it.

Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 4:14) “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for It appears Paul has taken up Christ's you, and fill up that which is behind of the atonement work. afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his More boasting. body's sake, which is the church:”

(Colossians 1:24)

“Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29) "For though I am free from all men, I The definition of a hypocrite: “a person have made myself a servant to all, that I who feigns some desirable or publicly might win the more; and to the Jews I approved attitude, especially one whose became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; private life, opinions, or statements belie 72 to those who are under the law, as under his or her public statements.” the law, that I might win those who are [dictionary.com] under the law; to those who are without the law as without law... that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1

Corinthians 9:19-22) "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or “But he [Jesus] turned, and said to whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Peter, 'Get you behind me, Satan: you are

Give no offense, either to the Jews or an offense to me: for you mind not the to the Greeks or to the church of God, things that be of God, but those that be of just as I also please all men in all things, men.'” (Matthew 16:23) not seeking my own profit, but the profit of Paul is being hypocritical. He is also many, that they may be saved. Imitate telling his flock to imitate him, lying that me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 he is imitating Christ.

Corinthians 10:31-33)

“Even as I please all men in all things, Paul's own words contradicts himself: not seeking my own profit, but the profit of “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do many, that they may be saved.” (1 I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased 73

Corinthians 10:33) men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

(Galatians 1:10)

“For though I be free from all men, yet “A double-minded man is unstable in all have I made myself servant to all, that I his ways.” (James 1:8) might gain the more. And to the Jews I [Where did Jesus ever act duplicitously, became as a Jew, that I might gain the and then justify it as something noble? He

Jews; to them that are under the law, as didn't, but he did say, speaking to the under the law, that I might gain them that Pharisees, of which Paul claimed to still be are under the law; To them that are a member*]: without law, as without law, (being not *Acts 23:6: But when Paul perceived without law to God, but under the law to that the one part were Sadducees, and the

Christ,) that I might gain them that are other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, without law. To the weak became I as Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the weak, that I might gain the weak: I am son of a Pharisee....” (Acts 23:6) made all things to all men, that I might by “And he said to them, 'You are they all means save some. And this I do for the which justify yourselves before men; but gospel's sake, that I might be partaker God knows your hearts: for that which is thereof with you.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) highly esteemed among men is

“… Beware you of the leaven of the abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke

Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) 16:15) 74

James and the Jerusalem Council make Instead of telling the Galatians what the the determination: "But concerning the Jerusalem council required, Paul omits

Gentiles who believe, we have written and everything, instead tells them a bald-faced decided that they should observe no such lie: “... Only they would that we should thing, except that they should keep remember the poor; the same which I also themselves from things offered to idols, was forward to do. (Galatians 2:9-10) from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."

(Acts 21:25)

"Now concerning the things which I [Did you ever hear Jesus say he doesn't write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie? No, but he did say:] lie." (Galatians 1:20) "Again you have heard that it was said

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, conscience also bearing me witness in the but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’

Holy Ghost,” (Romans 9:1) But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither

“The God and Father of our Lord by heaven, for it is God’s throne’ nor by the

Jesus Christ, which is blessed for ever earth, for it is His footstool; nor by more, knows that I lie not.” (2 Corinthians Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great

11:31) King. Nor shall you swear by your head,

“Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, because you cannot make one hair white or 75 and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your

and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in ‘No’ be ‘No’. For whatever is more than faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:7) these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:33-

“As the truth of Christ is in me, no man 37) shall stop me of this boasting in the regions [Habitual lying is indicative of a mental of Achaia.” (2 Corinthians 11:10) disorder. (Goleman)]

“But when Paul perceived that one Paul told a lie. This is the real reason… part were Sadducees and the other “And when the seven days were almost

Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a they saw him in the temple, stirred up all

Pharisee; concerning the hope and the people, and laid hands on him, Crying resurrection of the dead I am being out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, judged!" And when he had said this, a that teaches all men every where against dissension arose between the Pharisees the people, and the law, and this place: and and the Sadducees; and the assembly was further brought Greeks also into the divided.” (Acts 23:6-7) temple, and has polluted this holy place.

(For they had seen before with him in the

city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they

supposed that Paul had brought into the

temple.) And all the city was moved, and 76

the people ran together: and they took

Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and

immediately the doors were shut.” (Acts

21:27-30)

“For if he that comes preaches another [This means any gospel, other than his,

Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if including the gospel of the original you receive another spirit, which you have apostles. Paul, the false apostle is calling not received, or another gospel, which you the original apostles false apostles, even have not accepted, you might well bear Satanic.] with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:4)

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for

Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2

Corinthians 11:13-15)

“But go you and learn what that “Purge out therefore the old leaven, 77 means, I will have mercy, and not that you may be a new lump, as you are sacrifice: for I am not come to call the unleavened. For even Christ our passover righteous, but sinners to repentance.” is sacrificed for us:” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

(Matthew 9:13) “And walk in love, as Christ also has

loved us, and has given himself for us an

offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet

smelling smell.” (Ephesians 5:2)

“And as you go, preach, saying, The “Let the elders that rule well be counted kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the worthy of double honor, especially they sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast who labor in the word and doctrine. For out devils: freely you have received, freely the scripture said, You shall not muzzle the give.” (Matthew 10:7-8) ox that treads out the corn. And, The

laborer is worthy of his reward.” (1

Timothy 5:17-18)

“If we have sown to you spiritual

things, is it a great thing if we shall reap

your carnal things? If others be partakers

of this power over you, are not we rather?

Nevertheless we have not used this power; 78

but suffer all things, lest we should hinder

the gospel of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:11-

12)

“He that rejects me, and receives not “For as many as have sinned without my words, has one that judges him: the law shall also perish without law: and as word that I have spoken, the same shall many as have sinned in the law shall be judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) judged by the law;” (Romans 2:12)

“Jesus answered and said to him, “And not only they, but ourselves also,

Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be which have the first fruits of the Spirit, born again, he cannot see the kingdom of even we ourselves groan within ourselves,

God.” (John 3:3) waiting for the adoption, to wit, the

“That which is born of the flesh is redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23) flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit “To redeem them that were under the is spirit.” (John 3:6) law, that we might receive the adoption of

sons. (Galatians 4:5)

“Woe to you, when all men shall speak “Providing for honest things, not only well of you! for so did their fathers to the in the sight of the Lord, but also in the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) sight of men.” (2 Corinthians 8:21)

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. 79

Provide things honest in the sight of all

men.” (Romans 12:17)

“For he that in these things serves

Christ is acceptable to God, and approved

of men.” (Romans 14:18)

“Even as I please all men in all

things, not seeking my own profit, but the

profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1

Corinthians 10:33)

“And Jesus answered him, The first of “But we see Jesus, who was made a all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; little lower than the angels for the suffering

The Lord our God is one Lord:” (Mark of death, crowned with glory and honor;

12:29) that he by the grace of God should taste

“And he said to him, Why call you me death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9) good? there is none good but one, that is, “Looking to Jesus the author and

God….” (Matthew 19:7) finisher of our faith; ... is set down at the

[In both these verses, Jesus is right hand of the throne of God.” indicating that he is not God. As you can (Hebrews 12:2) see from Paul's verses, he has put Jesus on “And not only so, but we also joy in the path to godhood, which develops God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by 80 further as Christianity develops.] whom we have now received the

atonement.” (Romans 5:11)

“Why if they shall say to you, Behold, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the

is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Father, who raised him from the dead;)”

(Matthew 24:26) (Galatians 1:1)

“For such are false apostles, deceitful This is who Paul is labeling false workers, transforming themselves into the apostles, etc.: “For if he that comes apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for preaches another Jesus, whom we have not

Satan himself is transformed into an angel preached, or if you receive another spirit, of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his which you have not received, or another ministers also be transformed as the gospel, which you have not accepted, you ministers of righteousness; whose end might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians shall be according to their works.” (2 11:4)

Corinthians 11:13-15) [While there were those sorts, it also

includes the original apostles.]

I robbed other churches, taking wages “The thief comes not, but for to steal, of them, to do you service.” (2 Corinthians and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that

11:8) they might have life, and that they might 81

have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Paul robbed Peter's ministry to the “And when there had been much

Gentiles: disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them,

“For so has the Lord commanded us, Men and brothers, you know how that a saying, I have set you to be a light of the good while ago God made choice among

Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47) [A hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” misquotation – see Appendix C. (Acts 15:7)

“Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, [Paul was never validly ordained or and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, made an apostle.] and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:7)

“And Saul, yet breathing out Violent and murderous. threatenings and slaughter against the “The thief comes not, but for to steal, disciples of the Lord, went to the high and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that priest” (Acts 9:1) they might have life, and that they might

“To deliver such an one to Satan for have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) the destruction of the flesh….” (1

Corinthians 5:5)

“And when the blood of your martyr 82

Stephen was shed, I [Paul] also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.” (Acts 22:20) 83

APPENDIX C

Paul's Misquotations of Scripture

Original Scripture Paul's Version “And the scripture was fulfilled which “As it is written, There is none righteous, said, Abraham believed God, and it was no, not one: There is none that understands, imputed to him for righteousness: and he was there is none that seeks after God. They are all called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23) gone out of the way, they are together become

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, was a just man and perfect in his generations, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12) and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

Job, the righteous man who suffered.

“THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named

Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke

1:5-6)

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.” (Matthew 1:19) 84

“And the angel came in to her, and said,

Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.”

(Luke 1:28)

“And, behold, there was a man in

Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was on him.” (Luke 2:25)

“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity….”

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luke 2:36-37)

John the Baptist

Jesus

James, the Just

“Cursed be he that confirms not the “For as many as are of the works of the words of this law to do them.” law are under the curse: for it is written 85

(Deuteronomy 27:26) [Deuteronomy 27:26], Cursed is every one

[As is evident, Paul misquotes God's that continues not in all things which are word by changing the word “confirms” to written in the book of the law to do them.

“continues,” which effectively changes the But that no man is justified by the law in meaning. It twists it from “one needs to the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just confirm or uphold the law” to “any shall live by faith. And the law is not of transgression of even the most minute law faith: but, The man that does them shall will cause a person to be cursed.” God live in them.” (Galatians 3:10-12) wasn't requiring perfection, just intention.

This truth negates all Paul's ramblings about this subject.]

“If you shall listen to the voice of the “But what said it? The word is near

LORD your God, to keep his you, even in your mouth, and in your commandments and his statutes which are heart: that is, the word of faith, which written in this book of the law, and if you we preach….” (Romans 10:8) turn to the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. ... But the word is very near to you,

in your mouth, and in your heart, that you 86 may do it. (Deuteronomy 30:10-14)

While not a misquotation of scripture, the following text was not written by Paul, but plagiarized from the Essenes, and subtly changed:

"Though I speak with the tongues of “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am men and of angels, and have not charity, I become as sounding brass or a tinkling am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Though I tell what is to come, and cymbal. And though I have the gift of know all secrets, and all wisdom; and prophecy, and understand all mysteries, though I have faith strong as the storm and all knowledge; and though I have all which lifts mountains from their seat, but faith, so that I could remove mountains, have not love, I am nothing. and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to And though I bestow all my goods to feed feed the poor, and give all my fire that I the poor, and though I give my body to be have received from my Father, but have burned, and have not charity, it profits me not love, I am in no wise profited. Love is nothing. Charity suffers long, and is kind; patient, love is kind. Love is not envious, charity envies not; charity brags not itself, works not evil, knows not pride; is not is not puffed up, Does not behave itself rude, neither selfish; is slow to anger, unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily imagines no mischief; rejoices not in provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoices not in 87 injustice, but delights in justice. Love iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all defends all, love believes all, love hopes all, things, believes all things, hopes all things, love bears all; never exhausts itself; but as endures all things. Charity never fails: but for tongues they shall cease, and, as for whether there be prophecies, they shall knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we fail; whether there be tongues, they shall have truth in part, and error in part, but cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall when the fullness of perfection is come, vanish away. For we know in part, and we that which is in part shall be blotted out. prophesy in part. But when that which is

When a man was a child he spoke as a perfect is come, then that which is in part child, understood as a child, thought as a shall be done away. When I was a child, I child; but when he became a man he put spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I away childish things. For now we see thought as a child: but when I became a through a glass and through dark sayings. man, I put away childish things. For now

Now we know in part, but when we are we see through a glass, darkly; but then come before the face of God, we shall not face to face: now I know in part; but then know in part, but even as we are taught by shall I know even as also I am known. And him. And now remain these three: faith now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; and hope and love; but the greatest of these but the greatest of these is charity. is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

(Essene Gospel of Peace) [In textual criticism, comparing sources

“He that loves not knows not God; for can be quite revealing. It can show 88

God is love.” (1 John 4:8) author's intent via what is left, what is

“And we have known and believed the removed, and what is changed. In this love that God has to us. God is love; and he instance, Paul replaced love with charity in that dwells in love dwells in God, and God this plagiarized work. Charity is a “works,” in him.” (1 John 4:16) something Paul relegated to the trash heap

of dead law, but deems it higher than love.]

In Acts, it is said that Paul went to the Yet in another passage, he denies it… apostles right away… “And when Saul was “But when it pleased God, who separated come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join me from my mother's womb, and called me himself to the disciples: but they were all by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I afraid of him, and believed not that he was might preach him among the heathen; a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and immediately I conferred not with flesh and

brought him to the apostles, and declared blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to to them how he had seen the Lord in the them which were apostles before me; but I way, and that he had spoken to him, and went into Arabia, and returned again to how he had preached boldly at Damascus Damascus. Then after three years I went in the name of Jesus. And he was with up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and stayed them coming in and going out at with him fifteen days. But other of the

Jerusalem. (Acts 9:26-28) apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's

brother. Now the things which I write to

you, behold, before God, I lie not.” 89

(Galatians 1:15-20)

“And he [the LORD] said, It is a light “For so has the Lord commanded us thing that you [Jesus] should be my [Paul and Barnabas], saying, I have set you servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, ... I to be a light of the Gentiles, that you

[the LORD] will also give you [Jesus] for a should be for salvation to the ends of the light to the Gentiles, that you may be my earth.” (Acts 13:47) [Is Paul saying salvation to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah Isaiah 49:6 was prophesied with him in

49:6) mind, instead of Jesus?] 90

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