Yesterday
✞ Jesus' Ministry vs. Paul's Ministry
Controversy has arisen regarding Jesus versus Paul as scholars debate the different emphases and messages of Jesus and Paul. For example, Jesus and his apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom. Paul did not. Paul preached the gospel of the grace of God. What are we to make of this? Can the two be reconciled?
Let's be clear from the outset. The messages of Jesus and Paul were fundamentally different. Reconciliation of their messages cannot be done by harmonization. Instead, we must seek a biblical understanding of the texts of both in order to effect a reconciliation.
Some theologians have recognized problems in this but most fail to provide biblical solutions to resolve the differences between Jesus and Paul.
Many theological professionals (pastors and professors) continue to misunderstand why we find differences between Jesus and Paul's message. Because of this, they have no foundation to reconcile the differences. Bur here’s a clue: let the reader consider why God kept Paul separated from the Twelve after his conversion and why Paul’s contact with the Twelve was extremely limited.
The Messages of Jesus and Paul
The (down below) chart identifies the chief differences in the ministries and message of Jesus and Paul. Each will be analyzed.
Jesus' Gospel
John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve preached *the gospel of the kingdom* (Matthew 3.2, 4.17). This gospel was the long-anticipated and *prophesied gospel(good news) that the King of Israel had arrived. He would establish His kingdom on earth and rule the earth according to what Israel’s prophets foretold (Psalm 2.6, 8; Zechariah 14.9; Luke 1.31-33). Its focus was Jewish during this kingdom reign.
The message and ministry of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve required repentance (Mark 1.15), water baptism (Matthew 3.6; Acts 2.38, 8.34-38, 19.4), and belief that Jesus was the promised Messiah (Matthew 16.13-16; John 11.25-27).
Paul’s Gospel
Paul preached *the gospel of the grace of God* (Acts 20.24; 1 *Corinthians 15.1-4). Paul placed little emphasis on repentance or baptism in his evangelistic ministry. I believe I would not be wrong in stating that Paul only mentioned repentance in reference to unbelievers once (1) in his letters (Romans 2.4). With regard to water baptism, Paul declared, “Christ DID NOT send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1.14-17). Later, he wrote that there was only one (1) baptism (Ephesian 4.5). Since Paul obviously meant that the one baptism(Spiritual-Not water) was baptism *by* the Holy Spirit, we must conclude that according to Paul, water baptism has no Scriptural support as a necessity for today.
To reconcile Jesus and Paul we must be faithful to the *text* and recognize that major differences exist between the two ministries of Jesus and Paul. Jesus and the Twelve ministered to *Jews under the Mosaic Law and preached the gospel of the kingdom.
Paul ministered to Gentiles mostly (Romans 11.13) under grace, as opposed to Law, and revealed the *mysteries the ascended Lord (not the earthly Messiah) had revealed to him. He revealed believers of his gospel, *the gospel of the grace of God* (Acts 20.24; *1 Corinthians 15.1-4; Romans 2.16, 16.25), were members of the body of Christ of which Christ was its Head, not its King. Finally, in addition to the differences noted above are the “secrets” (μυστήριον) the risen Lord revealed unto Paul alone.
The gospel of the grace of God is the gospel for today, which is he died for our sins and rose to provide us with eternal life. To be save today one *MUST* believe Jesus died to pay your sin debt, was buried and rose from the dead to give you the gift of eternal life? This is what is required to receive salvation.(1 Cor. 15: 1-4.) And of course faith is the conviction that something is true that we rely-on or trust-in and not merely intellectual understanding.
Place your faith in Jesus, his death for your sins and resurrection from the tomb to save you now!
Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God. (Apostle Paul)
It never fails that it would be an Independent Baptist, such as Shane Bytheway, who would have an asinine comment to make, when this I posted to my Facebook page. Not the first, either! I am still awaiting his response, which I will post, when and if received:
Shane Bytheway Don't let Jason Cooley see this...he'll freak out! He thinks Paul was just plagiarizing Christ.
Helga Hickman It would take a REAL STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, Shane Bytheway, actually, A VERITABLE LEAP, for anyone to RATIONALLY try to reconcile the gospel of the kingdom, preached by Jesus, with the gospel of the MYSTERY KEPT HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, NOW revealed to ONLY Paul by the ascended Christ! No self-respecting King James Bible believer can CHOOSE to ignore the role given to Paul alone by Christ himself! This utter DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GOSPELS is what is well emphasized in the chart!
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL,
and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY,
WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,
26 BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Romans 16:25-27
WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW:
FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT,
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.
1 Corinthians 2:8
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
THAT IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING.
1 Timothy 1:16
No one who parrots that they believe in the inerrant and infallible word of God for all matters in faith and practice, can deny the role given to Paul ALONE by Christ himself, for the body of Christ, in this the era of grace!- Helga Hickman And for those who presume to "see" the church of today existent ANYWHERE BEFORE the revelation to Paul, may be on psychotropic drugs, for it is made quite clear that it is PAUL, who be the very first member of the body of Christ!
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
THAT IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING.
1 Timothy 1:16
Here he has just answered, and, no doubt, there will be more coming. Also, no doubt, when he runs out of explanations, he will put me in my place, I being a woman, you know!!
- Helga Hickman Exactly, Shane Bytheway, but take not my word for it, but that which is written in the word of God, which is obviously foreign to you!
What part of IN ME FIRST..., FOR A PATTERN..., MYSTERY KEPT HIDDEN SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, BUT NOW,... do you not get? Not to mention,...
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world,
that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW:
FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT,
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
Try reading the Pauline epistles, and live up to the claim the Independent Baptists make, that they believe in the inerrant infallible word of God, for, in truth, they do not!
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- Shane Bytheway Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
- Helga Hickman They were "in Christ," as were the apostles!
Not the same as the body of Christ. That should be obvious.
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We are one family. Don't try to humiliate your family member thinking Christianity to be religion. The letters of St. Paul is part of bible. Now you want the Bible(The Word of God) to be parted? Why do you find differences. Paul's teachings reflects Christ's love for us.
ReplyDeleteMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
Deletebecause thou hast rejected knowledge,
I will also reject thee,…
Hosea 4:6
This God said almost 3,000 years ago!
This is still going on because of well-meaning people like you!
The character of God never changes, but the way God deals with humans has changed!
Listen to “Basic Bible Comprehension,” by the late pastor Keith Blades, to grasp a sense of this.
http://rainhadocanto10-evangelicalchristian.blogspot.com/2013/11/basic-bible-comprehension-by-pastor.html
Also, “The Dispensations,” by Pastor Tom Bruscha, that addresses just that.
http://rainhadocanto10-evangelicalchristian.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-dispensations-by-pastor-tom-bruscha.html
Just remember,
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
it is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 18:13
Jesus came ONLY to save Israel and HIS people, the Jews, telling them the kingdom of heaven is at hand! His ministry, as well as that of the apostles who followed him IN THE FLESH is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN THE CALLING OF PAUL TO THE MINISTRY to preach the MYSTERY gospel!
We follow a RESURRECTED CHRIST!
The cross was an element of SHAME for the 12 apostles, reason why they needed repent and be baptized for the remission of sins!
The cross is an element of VICTORY in Paul’s epistles, because he preaches a RESURRECTED CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM WE ARE SAVED, which NONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES PREACHED!
Jesus and the 12 apostles preached a physical kingdom, here on earth!
Our destiny is heaven!
And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:7
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen IN ME, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:9
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; IN WHICH ARE SOME THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, WHICH THEY THAT ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST, AS THEY DO ALSO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.
2 Peter 3:14-16
Paul, CONTINUOUSLY makes mention to MY GOSPEL!
We had better heed!
Consider what I say;
and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2 Timothy 2:7 (Authorized King James Bible)