Dr. Bart Ehrman is a best selling author because he knows how to work the crowds and touches on the sensitive topics once considered too sacred to touch. What do I think about Paul's view of Jesus Christ? There is no doubt Paul knew all the accounts the other Gospel writers wrote about Jesus Christ, one interesting area to ponder is to think about how many people brought demon possessed people to be cleaned by God's Son Jesus Christ. In Hollywood, we often see the demons with huge amounts of power while the simpleton priests are battling the demons who curse the person trying to do a exorcism. The reality to those who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Most High Living God is much different.
Paul knew Mark, Matthew and Luke's accounts of the power Jesus Christ had over the unclean spirits. St. Paul was given different gifts including the authority to expel the unclean spirits under the name of "Jesus the Nazarene, The Messiah". The book of Daniel speaks of the angel Gabriel being stuck for forty days until the Arch Angel Micheal removed the Prince of Persia chains holding back Gabriel from delivering the message to Daniel and answer his prayers. Compare the power that Jesus of Nazareth to the angels who were hindered by the demons, "Legion" in the following scripture could have been ten to ten thousand if we use a Roman Legion average soldier count.
"Luke 8:
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes,[ c ] across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil[ d ] spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power.
30 Jesus demanded, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.[ e ]
32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.
So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
I find it interesting Jesus allowed the demons to kill off the swine his fellow Jews were raising (against the mosaic law) to sell for profit to people who were not following the Law. This region wanted Jesus out of there as fast as possible, they were terrified of the power of God and Jesus was more than happy to leave since they did not want to hear the Good News.
These Cowards were terrified Jesus would order them to go to the Abyss or even destroy them. The power Jesus Christ had compared to the angels is beyond our comprehension and I do not think Paul thought Jesus Christ to be a Angel. His words follow the train of thought, Jesus was a creation of incredible power only second to the Father (YHWH). Pauls following words in this various passages don't seem to tell me he thought Jesus was some type of angel, I think Paul knew from his revelations "He speaks of someone he knew who had a vision of the Third Heaven", Dr. Bart is trying to sell books and really, I don't think he cares either way what is true as long as he hits all the shows and sells lots of books. What do you think "Band On The Run" from all Pauls writings?
I found it interesting Jesus did now allow the demon possessed man to come with him even though he begged Jesus to come and travel with him. Jesus used the man to preach to these weird people and witness to all that region.
Does Pauls words written here sound like he is talking about a angel?
GALATIANS 1:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.".
PHILIPIANS 1:
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[b]-for this will bring much glory and praise to God."
PHILLIPIANS 2:
"
Have the Attitude of Christ
2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,[ a ]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[ b ];
he took the humble position of a slave[ c ]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[ d ]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
