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Michael Eden: A Thought Provoking Overview of Problems in Paul's Thought

One of the best and succinct articles ever written on the problems in Paul's was presented by Michael Eden in Was Paul a false apostle? Scripture reveals he preached "another" gospel (7/31/2003 August 1, 2003). It is reprinted here with minor redactions and bracketed inserts as well as formating changes to make it more readable and ensure its availability:

Verse Dedications

I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false." Revelation 2:2 (NIV)

"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" Matthew 16:12 (KJV)

THE 'LEAVEN' OF THE APOSTLE PAUL:

Was the apostle Paul a false prophet? Did Paul preach 'another' gospel than that of Jesus Christ? Why wasn't Paul chosen as one of the original twelve, or chosen to replace the apostle that betrayed Christ? Why did Paul's 'conversion' result in blindness, when Christ performed miracles of restoring sight to many in the gospels? Why does Paul brazenly admit to things like:

(stealing) "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service." II Cor 11:8

(boasting) "Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast." II Cor 11:18

(speaking NOT on behalf of Lord) "That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting" II Cor 11:17

(trickery and deceit) "Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!" II Cor 12:16

We've been warned before about "devils in disguise" as "angels of light"... Here is a scriptural look into the mind of a deceiver - via the pages of Corinthians I and II. The devil's in the details:

(Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him, rather than Christ)

"Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me." I Cor 4:15/16

(Paul decides to pass judgment on someone)

"And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just if I were present." I Cor 5:3

(Paul decides to consult with Satan, not Jesus, concerning the man he passed judgment on)

"hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." I Cor 5:5

(Paul thinks he is better than anyone else)

"I wish that all men were as I am." I Cor 7:7

****

(Paul advocates that husbands should start living the single life again)

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;" I Cor 7:29

(Paul advocates staying the same and not progressing forward)

"Each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him." I Cor 7:20

(What does Paul have against marriage?)

"An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs:" I Cor 7:34

"But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband." I Cor 7:34


(strange talk)

"In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is - and I think that I too have the spirit of God." I Cor 7:40

(Paul expects to make money off the gospel that Christ commanded to be preached freely)

"In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." I Cor 9:14

"If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" I Cor 9:11

(Paul loves the sin of pride)

"I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast." I Cor 9:15

(Paul decrees that a hairstyle can keep you from being a good Christian)

"Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a discrace to him," I Cor 11:14

****

PAUL DISTORTION OF THE WORD OF GOD:

Here... Paul mis-quoted scripture. In II Cor 6:2 Paul asserts that God said something that God didn't:

For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of my salvation I helped you." II Cor 6:2

What Isaiah 49:8 REALLY says is:

This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances," Isaiah 49:8

Why did Paul ... distort scripture? And how would any believer defend this as something "O.K."?

II CORINHTIANS BOASTING, DECEPTION, AND FOOLISHNESS:

So that no one will accuse me of taking anything out of context - I will include surrounding passages in addition to referencing the chapter number and passage numbers for this next example:

"Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast." II Cor 11:18

---surrounding passages---

"In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool." II Cor 11:17

"You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!" II Cor 11:19


Here is Paul not only boasting as "the world does" - but expressing a "self-confident" attitude in this boasting! And then, shockingly, Paul confesses that what he says is not coming from the Lord. (Who then is it coming from?) Then Paul admits that he is talking "as a fool"

A boasting, self-confident, self-proclaimed foolish talker who admits that he is not speaking godly wisdom?

(Paul causes the Corinthians pain and hurt on several instances)

"So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you." II Cor 2:1

"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it -- I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while." II Cor 7:8


(Paul shows envy of other apostles, false humility, a need for congratulation, and more foolish talk)

"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the 'super-apostles', even though I am nothing." II Cor 12:11

****
(Paul resorts to sneaky, under-handed tactics - WWJD?)

"And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal whith us in the things they boast about." II Cor 11:12

(Nothing seems to stop Paul from his boasting)

"I must go on boasting." II Cor 12:1

(Paul's threat to punish - what happened to the love of Christ?)

"On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others," II Cor 13:2 B

UNCOUTH RANTINGS

And there are 14 epistles full of evidence of misquoting scripture, boasting, not speaking on behalf of the Lord, strange doctrines, opinion presented as truth, envy, false humility, and some particularly venemous rants - such as the following:

(Paul advocates castration for those who disagree with his doctrine on circumcision)

"Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" Gal 5:11/12

Paul's tasteless rant aimed at those of the circumcision - he wants some to just go ahead and cut it all off...? Why do people defend [Paul] when he exposes HIMSELF as that via the scripture? ...

Whether these passages were the only thing on a page - or whether they appear in the bulk of a page - they are still 'evil leaven'. And if it was just one verse that was questionable - that would be one thing... But it's verse after verse after verse.

Eden - Subsequent Brief Follow-Up

August 10, 2003 - link

For those who ask who my teacher is - it is Jesus Christ.
The scriptures reveal many things to those who seek the Truth.

In the case of Paul, Jesus showed me through the Holy Spirit, that he was not a true apostle. And if anyone reads his epistles very carefully - they will find evidence of Paul mis-quoting scripture, presenting personal opinions as truth, boasting, passing judgment, speaking harshly, lying, etc...

this passage ALONE should send up 'red flags':

"That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting" II Cor 11:17

Here in the very pages of scripture is a man admitting that he speaks things "not after the Lord" and admits to speaking "foolishly" in addition to speaking all of this in the "confidence of boasting"

Can you say 'What's wrong with this picture?'

...more demonic 'leaven':


(Paul vengefully advocates that his enemies - circumcised Jews - castrate themselves)

"Brothers, If I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" Gal 5:11-12


(Paul insults/passes mean judgment on circumcised Jews)

"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh." Phil 3:2


(Paul blasphemously claims to know whose names are written in the book of life!)

"Yes , and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." Phil 4:2


(Paul stirs up the other apostles with accusation and hostility)

"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong." Gal 2:11


Blessings and Truth to all saints in Jesus Christ
Michael111