Monday, September 18, 2017

SENSES NOVELS – SAUL OF TARSUS

Some who have read Synesthesia, have accused me of not liking the apostle Paul very much. I admit that no matter how many times I read his letters to the church, I’m struck by his manner. For the longest time, I questioned why he felt he had the right to chastise the Churches in the letters.

If have read it correctly, Saul of Tarsus was one of the most brutal characters in the New Testament. He hounded and persecuted the Christians, whom he considered traitorous Jews, to their death. For those who might be wondering, no, I do not doubt his conversion. I don’t even question his commitment. I simply question his authority.

It astounds me in many ways that so many seemed to accept his leadership almost without question. One of the people who did not, it appears, is Peter. I think it comes back, for me, to the books of the Bible that were decided upon at the Council of Nicea. The learned Bishops of the time selected what would and would not be included.

I’m sure that Paul wrote the letters to the Churches. My central question keeps coming back to what authority did Paul have over these Churches and who gave it to him? While he did talk with the early apostles, who agreed with what he would preach to the Gentiles, this is where Paul says he got his authority,
"For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12)."

I don’t question that the Lord gave Paul a revelation. Based on that, I do accept that Paul is an apostle of Christ. I will still ask questions and poke and prod, that is my nature.

KM

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