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<td valign="top" >"The world is full of religious teachers [and] prophets. All of them claim to be able to speak authoritatively. How do we know whom to believe?" Steven Davis</td>
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<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<p><a href="/recommendedreading/401-music-store-manager.html">Only Jesus</a> (great song by Big Daddy)</p>
<p><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/jwoogm-20?node=1&amp;page=2">What Did Jesus Say?</a> (2012) - 7 topics&nbsp;</p>
<p>None above affiliated with me</p> </div>
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<h1>Positives About Paul</h1>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">There are many exhortations in Paul that are edifying. Not profound like the words of Jesus, yet simple and poetical and true. There is no denying this. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">The question becomes whether these positives should influence us to give Paul an<em><strong> inspired</strong></em> status to make these truths that much more important. Cannot we just enjoy these verses without investing Paul an authority which appears clearly dubious and directly refuted by our Lord Jesus in numerous passages? Without constantly giving Paul the holy mantle that the "Bible" speaks when Paul speaks, implying a greater authority than can be validly proven?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">Hence enjoy these passages from Paul like a fine wine....it tastes good in small and innocuous doses. But to take all of Paul's words as true represents to drink to excess and an extreme. It will make you ill and sick, as it is filled with untruths and inadvertent blasphemies. (See our article "<a href="/recommendedreading/188-blasphemy-a-paul.html">Paul and Blasphemy</a>.") So drink in Paul carefully, in small amounts, and in the safest alcohol content -- passages that are inoccuous &nbsp;and self-evidently true, yet spoken eloquently. But no more than that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">Here are verses I still like from Paul's writings:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">&ldquo;correctly handle the word of truth.&rdquo; (2 Tim. 2:15).</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">&ldquo;each should test his own actions&rdquo; (Gal. 6:4) and &ldquo;test everything, and hold on to the good&rdquo; (1 Thess. 5:21).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Other favorites are:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 22.390625px;">&nbsp;&ldquo;In [Christ] who is the source of my strength I have strength for everything&rdquo; (Phil 4:13).</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'times new roman', times; line-height: 22.390625px; font-size: 18pt;">&nbsp;&ldquo;Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good&rdquo; (Rom 12:21, RSV).</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'times new roman', times; line-height: 22.390625px; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'times new roman', times; line-height: 22.390625px;">&ldquo;With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don&rsquo;t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity&rdquo; (Rom 12:1-2, Phillips)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">&ldquo;Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand&rdquo; (Eph 6:13, RSV).</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">&ldquo;If God is for us, who is against us? &nbsp;(Rom 8:31-32, RSV).</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">&nbsp;&ldquo;For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek&rdquo; (Rom 1:16, RSVCE).</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">&nbsp;&ldquo;Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth&rdquo; (1 Cor 13:4-6).</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">"In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Philippians%204%3A6">Philippians 4:6</a>, ASV.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">14&nbsp;</span>Do everything without grumbling<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;or arguing,</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">15&nbsp;</span>so that you may become blameless<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;and pure, &ldquo;children of God<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;without fault in a warped and crooked generation.&rdquo;<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A14-15&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-29407a" style="color: #b37162; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A14-15&amp;version=NIV">Philippians 2:14-15</a> NIV.)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">16&nbsp;</span>So I say, walk by the Spirit,<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">17&nbsp;</span>For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span>&nbsp;They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+5%3A16-17&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-29180a" style="color: #b37162; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>&nbsp;you want. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+5%3A16-17&amp;version=NIV">Galatians 5:16-17</a> NIV)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">4&nbsp;</span>not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A3-4&amp;version=NIV">Philippians 2:3b-4</a>, NIV.)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">28&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">&nbsp;doing something useful with their own hands,</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">that they may have something to share with those in need. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+4%3A28&amp;version=NIV">Ephesians 4:28 </a>NIV.)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="color: #222222; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><strong>&rdquo;&nbsp;</strong></span><strong style="color: #222222; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Col</span></strong><strong style="color: #222222; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">.&nbsp;3:23</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Satan knows how to mix in truth slyly with error using his dupe -- Paul. (See our article "<a href="/recommendedreading/292-jesus-prophecy-about-who-identified-himself-as-jesus-to-paul.html">Who Did Paul Meet Outside Damascus?</a>") So don't be surprised when Paul utters self-evident truths and inspiring exhortations. Satan is a good poet. We cannot deny his character. If you don't let these verses &nbsp;seduce you to accept untruths, you can appreciate the gold among the dross.&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">False Positives in Paul</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Here are verses that when compared to Jesus' words, are false positives -- misleadingly thought to be innocuous. However, in truth, they are adverse to Jesus' points:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11&nbsp;</sup>Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be&nbsp;content.</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12&nbsp;</sup>I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and&nbsp;hunger, abundance and&nbsp;need.</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13&nbsp;</sup>I can do all things&nbsp;through him who strengthens me. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A11-13&amp;version=ESV">Phillipians 4:11-13</a>.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">This leaves open that one can hope to be "content in much" as a Christian. But Jesus said and warned the exact opposite in Matthew 8:20 -- and said even the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Seduction Away From Jesus</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;" data-mce-mark="1">A perfect example of the danger of having affection for Paul's eloquence is you will be dismissive of Jesus' words on the identical point, even though stated just as eloquently or more so. Specifically, I am studying Crown Ministries program. In Howard Dayton's <em>Life Group Manual</em> (2007) at page 67 he has a section that reads, including the title:</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;" data-mce-mark="1">1. <strong>Practice the Golden Rule</strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">But Dayton does not quote the author of the Golden Rule under this section heading -- Jesus. Rather, Dayton then tells us the Golden Rule is in this passage:&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,&nbsp;4&nbsp;not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+2%3A3-4&amp;version=NIV" style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Philippians 2:3b-4 NIV</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">So Jesus' most famous words, that even non-Christians know as the Golden Rule, is unabashedly described as stated by Paul! Wow! The result of looking at Paul has been simply mesmerizing to so many that they don't see Jesus anymore. They just see Paul, and make him like a new Christ.</span></span></p>
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