Could Paul have invented Christianity? But what is Christianity? Christianity is belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ and believing that as the WORD, Jesus Christ (Messiah) IS God (John 1:1) come in the flesh (Isaiah 40:3-5, John 1:14) as the Only Son of God/son of man. If you believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and keep his commandments, you will be SAVED and inherit ETERNAL LIFE.
The son of man, as is the attribute of God alone, will JUDGE the world: “When the SON OF MAN comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:31-32).
In the book of Daniel (in the Tanakh Jewish scripture/OT) written long before the Romans, Paul or Nicea), Daniel saw in the throne of heaven the ‘son of man’ (whom Jesus many times said he was) come before the ‘Ancient of days’ (the Father) and the Ancient of days gave him an EVERLASTING kingdom:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a SON OF MAN, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, GLORY and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language WORSHIPED him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his KINGDOM is one that will NEVER BE DESTROYED .”(Daniel 7:13-14).
It requires either cognitive dissonance, hypocrisy or undiluted ignorance to claim that Paul invented Christianity when Christianity was already in existence and had been taught by Jesus and the disciples BEFORE Paul!
Who opposes what Jesus taught: Paul or Muhammad? What did Jesus and Paul teach?
1. JESUS AND PAUL TAUGHT THAT GOD IS ONE.
The Torah teaches that God is ONE (Deuteronomy 6:4)
JESUS taught that God is ONE (Mark 12:29). Jesus said “I and the Father are ONE” (John 10:30). The Hebrew word translated “one” in Deuteronomy 6:4 is ECHAD. It means “unity,” not “singularity”. It is also used in Genesis 2:24 in referring to a husband and wife leaving their families and becoming “one” (ECHAD) flesh. The Arabic equivalent, AHAD, means “one of” and is usually used to indicate part of a whole. There is a Hebrew word that means “absolute singularity,” (YACHID), but it is never used in the Hebrew Scriptures in reference to God!
PAUL taught that God is ONE
“A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.” (Galatians 3:20)
2. JESUS AND PAUL BOTH TAUGHT SALVATION THROUGH BELIEF IN THE DEATH (CRUCIFIXION) AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Jesus taught about SALVATION through belief in his death and resurrection:
The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the ‘arm of the Lord’ who would DIE for the sins of many but would will go on to LIVE and “see his offsprings” (Isaiah 53:12). The offsprings are the children of god:
“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
” (John 1:12)
Jesus said to her, “I am the RESURRECTION and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”, She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”
Paul also taught about SALVATION through belief in his death and resurrection:
“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED.”
(Romans 10:9).
3. JESUS TAUGHT THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD. PAUL TAUGHT THE SAME.
JESUS:
“ALL THINGS have been handed over to ME by my Father, and NO ONE knows the Son except the Father, and NO ONE knows the Father EXCEPT the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”
(Matthew 11:27)
PAUL:
“and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the SON OF GOD. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 9:19-22
Paul did not invent a new theology on Jesus but was following the teachings of the Law of Moses (Torah) and PROPHETS of old who taught that the ONE to come, the Messiah, is the SON OF GOD and is MIGHTY GOD (Genesis 49:10, 1 Chronicles 17:11-15, Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah 9:1-6, Luke 1:31)
For to us a child is born, to us a SON is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, MIGHTY GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
4. JESUS AND PAUL BOTH TAUGHT TO FOLLOW THE COMMANDMENTS (GOD’S LAW)
JESUS taught salvation through faith in his crucifixion but instructs believers to abide by the law (commandments). What benefit is it to have faith but lead a lawless or unrighteous life?
This is Jesus teaching on FAITH.
‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25)
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21
PAUL:
Paul never called for the law to be done away with. However, Paul was repeating what Jesus taught: the REQUIREMENT for eternity in heaven had shifted from just OBSERVING THE LAW to being saved by GRACE through FAITH (belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ).
“For the LAW was given through Moses; GRACE and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
For although the law was good, pure and holy, the Israelites were of the flesh and the law caused sin to increase. The Law of Moses was ACCUSATORY but the Covenant of Jesus (of GRACE) would be founded on MERCY and the keeping of God’s commandments.
Jesus Christ taught the same about the Law of Moses.
Jesus said:
“Do not think that I will ACCUSE you to the Father: there is one that ACCUSETH you, even MOSES (the law), in whom ye trust.”
John 5:45
This did not mean that communities must therefore abondon the law as this would obviously lead to lawlessness! Muslims are misled to believe Paul advocated for lawlessness! No. Christians are required to fulfill the 10 commandments through loving God and loving others as they love themselves. Jesus said all the 10 commandments (the LAW) hang on the commandment to love God and your Neighbor (Mathew 22:38-40).
If you love me then you won’t steal from me.
It’s impossible for Christians to love God and others without observing the LAW! However, the REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION is through FAITH in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What did Paul say about the LAW?
“Do we then overthrow the law by this FAITH? By no means! On the contrary, we UPHOLD the LAW .” (Romans 3:31)
Paul confirms that love IS the fulfillment of the law:
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the FULFILLMENT of the LAW .” (Romans 13:10)
Unlike Paul, Jibreel and Muhammad contradicted Jesus as the Son of God crucified on the cross for the salvation of mankind.
Who corrupted the Gospel: Paul or Muhammad? https://youtu.be/0rPBvBJLsZ0