The Cult of Paul

An introductory look at Paul of Tarsus
While there are several extra-biblical sources that mention Paul (including Clement's 1 st
epistle to the Romans, Ignatius' letter to the Romans, and Polycarp's letter to the Philippians – all
written during the late 1 st &/or early 2 nd centuries), the primary historical wellspring related to the
life and teachings of Saul of Tarsus is the Bible itself – both the book of Acts (written by Paul's
traveling companion and ostensible friend, Luke) and the authenticated biblical works written by
Paul himself (1 Thessalonians, Philippians, Philemon, Galatians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians,
Romans & Colossians). In these latter writings, Paul is heard to instruct his would-be followers
in all manner of things theological – among them the over-arching worth (or lack thereof) of
the Judaic Law (what some called “the Law and the prophets” in his day and what many call “the
Old Testament” today), the non-necessity of circumcision, the power of grace, the necessity of
faith over works, the way to Salvation via atonement, the nature of the Holy Spirit, the nature
of Jesus as the only Son of God, the reception of spiritual gifts, the donning of “the armor of
God”, how to properly worship the Divine, the specific qualifications for church organization
and membership, and how others were to conduct themselves in their relationships with
believers & non-believers alike.
And yet what makes Paul's letters most intriguing is their authoritative tone. Paul is not
writing as one giving mere advice to companions or cohorts. No, he is writing as one who
knows – as one whose opinions must be obeyed – as one who is an authoritative “apostle” of
Christ. And Paul goes so far as to explicitly announce the same on a number of occasions.
Consider this passage from his letter to the Galatians as proof enough of the same: “For I want
you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin;
for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but instead received it through a
revelation of Jesus Christ. You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism; how I was
violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond
many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased
to reveal his Son in me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any
human being.” (Galatians 1:11-16) And this is in fact the case, for if we examine the biblical texts
closely, we see that Paul never once met Jesus Christ in the flesh and never once heard Jesus
preach or teach in person. Indeed, when we first meet Paul in the Bible, he is seen as a violent
persecutor of a non-violent group of Jesus-adherents who called themselves “Followers of The
Way” (read from Acts 7:54 – where Paul is seen witnessing and even approving of the dramatically
immoral stoning of Stephen – through Acts 8:3 & thereafter Acts 9:1-2 & Galatians 1:13, where Paul
himself admits to committing those same acts of abuse). Thereafter we read that Paul experienced
his aforementioned “revelation” on the Road to Damascus – presumably from the spirit of
Jesus Christ (Acts 9:3-6) – and goes blind for three days as a result (Acts 9:8-9). Then, oddly
enough, after regaining his sight Paul goes on to spend the rest of his life championing a
Jesus-based theology that is nowhere to be found in the Gospel-teachings of Jesus himself
(even having the gall to call his newly converted followers “Christians” – see Acts 11:26). In truth,
when we read Paul's letters, we hear him go on & on & on about being a “servant” of Jesus or
being “in Jesus Christ” or working “though Jesus” or being informed “by Jesus' revelation”,
and yet Jesus himself is almost completely absent from Paul's written works – with almost no
mention of his teachings, and almost no mention of his life.
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