The Cult of Paul

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“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do … My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples … [and] by this everyone will know that you are my disciples: when you show Love for one another … And in fact this is my commandment: that you Love one another just as I have Loved you. And no one has greater Love than this: to lay down one’s life for [another] … In truth, if you understand these things, blessed are you while you enliven them.” ~ Jesus Christ (via John 14:12, John 15:8, John 13:35, John 15:12-13, & John 13:15-17) 66
Paul: an apostle of delightful irony ... I would offer that there is little that is more entertaining (or more important) than catching religious zealots in well-laid traps laid to expose their moral contradictions &/or their ethical hypocrisies (see much of Matthew 12 and almost all of Matthew 23, where Jesus boldly revels in doing just that). Of course, there is little that is more amusing than watching those same zealots create their own snares and then fall awkwardly therein – and this, without needing any outside bait or coaxing. And such is often the case regarding the aggressive rantings found in the biblical epistles of Paul, the self-proclaimed “apostle of Jesus Christ” … As examples thereof, consider the obvious (if not also somewhat disturbing) irony encapsulated within the following passages, passages that reflect far more accurately the character of Paul himself than they did any of his listeners: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie – and worshiped the creature rather than the Creator.” ~ Romans 1:24-25 “But if you call yourself a Jew … and boast of your relation to God, and claim to know His will and to be able to determine what is best … And if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, and a teacher of children … You then, who teach others, will you not teach yourself?” ~ Romans 2:17-20 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned. Avoid them, for such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.” ~ Romans 16:17-18 “And what I do I will continue to do, in order to deny those who wish to be recognized as our equals … For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. As such it is not strange when his minions also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness … And yet their end will match their deeds.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you and are instead turning to a different gospel. Not that there is another gospel, of course, and yet there are some who are confusing you and wishing to pervert the Gospel of Christ.” ~ Galatians 1:6-7 “Am I seeking human approval or God’s approval? Am I merely trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ~ Galatians 1:10 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy or empty deceit – according to human tradition or the elemental spirits of the Universe, and not according to Christ.” ~ Colossians 2:8 67
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The Cult of Paul examining the cont
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“For the time is coming when peop
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“I have set you an example, that
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Forward … the WHY of it all While
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And yet as far as this particular t
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An introductory look at Paul of Tar
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“Now as Saul was going along and
Page 15 and 16: A few of the Bible's“smaller hint
Page 17 and 18: *Paul downplays the innate holiness
Page 19 and 20: "Paul avoids quoting the teaching o
Page 21 and 22: As the previous pages have shown, t
Page 23 and 24: In marked contrast, Jesus is seen t
Page 25 and 26: Contrast #04: their affiliations wi
Page 27 and 28: Contrast #07: how they dealt with t
Page 29 and 30: Jesus & Paul: a look at their perso
Page 31 and 32: Contrast #12: Paul's condemnation &
Page 33 and 34: In quite marked contrast, Jesus Chr
Page 35 and 36: And finally, where Paul is frequent
Page 37 and 38: *Paul lied to King Agrippa about hi
Page 39 and 40: Jesus & Paul: a look at their preac
Page 41 and 42: Jesus Christ, on the other hand, ma
Page 43 and 44: In marked contrast, while it is tru
Page 45 and 46: *Paul was inconsistent in his teach
Page 47 and 48: *Just as revealing, every single on
Page 49 and 50: Jesus & Paul: their conflicting the
Page 51 and 52: Conflict #03: Paul guided by conven
Page 53 and 54: In truth, in the Gospel of Matthew
Page 55 and 56: Conflict #05: Paul believing God to
Page 57 and 58: And yet the nature of God is not th
Page 59 and 60: Conflict #06: Paul believing God to
Page 61 and 62: Conflict #08: Paul equating the “
Page 63 and 64: Finally, and in full harmony with t
Page 65: Even the parable of The Sower in th
Page 69 and 70: “There is, on the one hand, the a
Page 71 and 72: Conclusion: Returning to The Way of
Page 73 and 74: As such, now that the dichotomy bet
Page 75 and 76: “The body that is sown is perisha
Page 77: “I praise You, Father, Lord of he
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The Cult of Paul

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