Did the Apostle Paul invent the Jesus of faith?

From our series entitled, "The Evidence for the Historical Jesus", this clip answers the question: Did the Apostle Paul invent the Jesus of faith?

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Historical Jesus
• Jesus
• God
• John Ankerberg
• Gary Habermas
• Jesus of Faith

[usedbrain]

Then they prayed to God (compare Ac 1:24 with 1Sa 16:7; Ac 15:7, 8) that He should designate which of the two he had chosen to replace the unfaithful apostle. Following their prayer, they cast lots and the lot fell upon Matthias.—Ac 1:15-26; compare Pr 16:33.Then they prayed to God (compare Ac 1:24 with 1Sa 16:7; Ac 15:7, 8) that He should designate which of the two he had chosen to replace the unfaithful apostle....

[usedbrain]

I hope this helps to clarify the Scriptural roll of Pauls Apostleship.

[usedbrain]

What, then, was the purpose of Pauls apostleship? Jesus himself stated that it was for a particular purpose—not as a replacement for Judas—but that Paul might serve as an apostle [sent one] to the nations (Ac 9:4-6, 15), and Paul recognized this as the purpose of his apostleship. (Ga 1:15, 16; 2:7, 8; Ro 1:5; 1Ti 2:7) This being so, his apostleship was not needed to serve as a foundation when spiritual Israel was established on Pentecost, 33 C.E.

[usedbrain]

....Then, too, Pauls first canonical letter was evidently not written until about 50 C.E. or as much as 17 years after the foundation of the new nation of spiritual Israel on Pentecost of 33 C.E. These facts, plus the evidence submitted earlier in this article, thus clarify the matter. It seems reasonable, therefore, that Gods original choice, namely, Matthias, as the one to replace Judas among the twelve apostles of the Lamb, remained firm and unaffected by the later apostleship of Paul.

[usedbrain]

But sober consideration makes evident that Paul also outshone many of the original 12 apostles, some of whom are rarely even named outside the apostolic lists. By the time that Paul was converted, the Christian congregation, spiritual Israel, had been established, or founded, and had been growing for perhaps a year or even more. .....

[usedbrain]

....In these respects Paul outshone Matthias, who receives no further direct mention after Acts chapter 1.

[usedbrain]

Whose name then appears among those on the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem of Johns vision—Matthias or Pauls? (Re 21:2, 14) One line of reasoning would make it appear that Paul is the more likely one. He contributed so much to the Christian congregation by his ministry and particularly by his writing a large portion of the Christian Greek Scriptures (14 letters being attributed to him).....

[usedbrain]

.... This was after Pentecost of 33 C.E. but before Pauls conversion. Hence Matthias is here acknowledged as one of the twelve, and he shared with the other apostles in laying hands on the seven designates.—Ac 6:1-6.

[usedbrain]

....The record shows this was not the case. Luke, the writer of Acts, was Pauls traveling companion and associate during certain missions, and the book of Acts therefore undoubtedly reflects and coincides with Pauls own view of matters. That book refers to the twelve as appointing the seven men who were to handle the matter of the food distribution problem.....

[usedbrain]

At Pentecost the outpouring of holy spirit gave the apostles unique powers; they are the only ones shown to have been able to lay hands on newly baptized ones and communicate to them miraculous gifts of the spirit. If Matthias were not in reality Gods choice, his inability to do this would have been apparent to all. ....