Do Paul's Letters Really Count?

by almostbitten 51 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  BurnTheShips

  I read about it for the first time in the Book of Acts. I am very surprised that I haven't seen this position advanced more frequently--it seems like such an obvious possibility that a smart guy like Paul might have realized that he could do more damage to the group from within.

  So he was so willing to subvert Christianity that he was willing to suffer for it for it? The whippings, the prison sentences, the privations. Because he was martyred, you know. Doesn't sound to me like someone that was willing to damage Christianity from within to me at all.
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  almostbitten

  Witnessgirl.
  
  Glad to get the juices flowing--something the WTS would NOT do.
  
  You said, "If he wasn't, then the quote seems a little silly, at least as it is used by the Society.
  
  Therein lies a point. The Society only uses that tidbit of a quote while ignoring that Paul was referencing OT Scripture frequently. The Society throws that out there to squash any peepings of dissent by guilt tripping others into believing that if you question Paul's words (and the Orgs strict application of it), then you are questioning God. This is why I can't stress to Bible readers/believers enough to READ IT FOR YOURSELVES--and not just a piece here and a piece there. Context, folks, context.
  
  On another point, I clearly understand a need for structure and order. But how many Christians are really aware that their faith is more Paul-like than Christ-like? What even prompted me to raise this question to begin with was something I heard on TV: if Paul had any idea how people would theologize his letters, he would have been more careful when he wrote them (a paraphrase from a man featured in "Banned from the Bible" on the History Channel).
  
  Oh, witnessgirl, in reference to your mentioning 3 Corinthians: Why kind of morons was Paul dealing with over in Corinth that they couldn't seem to get their act together? Three letters? Dayuuuummmmm!!!
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  journey-on

  Sorry, Burn. I don't remember Paul being martyred. It is thought and espoused by the Church that he was, but it isn't confirmed for a certainty.

  And, yes, he bucked heads with Peter (a REAL apostle trained by Jesus himself) and actually Paul splintered off from Peter's direction. I think there

  were probably three Christian directions: Jewish Christianity, Gnostic Chritianity, and Pauline Christianity. Paul won out because the early

  church supported his doctrines. And, of course, they would because it provided more control over the people using fear and a futile struggle for approval.
• 

  hillary_step

  Burn The Ships,

  So he was so willing to subvert Christianity that he was willing to suffer for it for it? The whippings, the prison sentences, the privations. Because he was martyred, you know. Doesn't sound to me like someone that was willing to damage Christianity from within to me at all.

  Yes, like lots of deluded religionists, he somehow imagined that by taking a good beating for his beliefs it actually made him a better person.

  The reality is that he is the only person on public record, at least that I have discovered, who has actually bored somebody to death. I was amazed that the family of Eutychus did not sue him for boring their poor son to death. Mind you, they may have realised that even if successful the only thing they would have got from him was a white cane.

  HS
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  BurnTheShips

  Sorry, Burn. I don't remember Paul being martyred. It is thought and espoused by the Church that he was, but it isn't confirmed for a certainty.

  What constitutes "confirmed for a certainty" for you? That it is in or isn't in Scripture? There are several early christian writings that deal with the death of Paul. Clement of Rome (Phil 4:3) mentions his death in his own writings and he was a contemporary of Paul. There is also Ignatius, a contemporary of Paul, and one who also shared in martyrdom at Rome, who mentions Paul's martyrdom.

  http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.v.ii.xii.html?highlight=paul#highlight

  As for "splintering off Peter", what evidence do you have of this?

  BTS
• 

  myelaine

  dear HS...

  I think paul led an exciting life...he was passionate about it...like elijah......
• 

  dawg

  I love this question... here's the facts the way I see them... Paul was a raging lunatic, he was known for murdering early Christians and for falling off a donkey while riding to Damascus after he was hit by a light.
  
  Even though Acts says Christ chose him, it was referring to the white light while riding to Damascus, not to Paul having actually being chosen by Christ-Acts is referring to more of Paul's delusions. Paul didn't know Christ, never met him.. he was just murderous, delusional nut job that changed almost everything Christ taught.
  
  Paul, is the JC Cannon of his day, a hearer of voices, a seer of imaginary white lights. How do we know Paul was chosen? He says he was of course.
  
  Last, the Catholic Church can't be trusted for crap... Paul shouldn't be in the Bible... hes a whack job, plain and simple... and worse than that, he hated women.
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  BurnTheShips

  Paul shouldn't be in the Bible...

  Of course, we are going to take your raving anti-Christian opinion as authoritative on this.
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  Mr. Majestic

  Some of what Paul said has really messed up my life. Some of the things that he advocates are just plain wrong. Living to his recommended lifestyle and suffering the results causes me to know that what he wrote cannot be right at all…..

  I have a hate for the things that Paul wrote….
• 

  beksbks

  ...but within a church setting it only makes sense to recognise the man as the spiritual head of the family...submissive to God as the wife is submissive to the husband.

  Well isn't that a lovely roundabout. The wife is submissive because Paul said so. What a load.

  How do we know Paul was chosen? He says he was of course.

  Yeayy Dawg.

  Paul's ego was his impetus. Just like the aforementioned Koresh, Jones, Russell and Rutherford. What makes power and ego a modern affliction? Ohhh I forgot. The bible is inspired, infallible. Even though it was men who decided what to canonize.

  Jose help me, I agree with Journey.