WHO IS THIS SAINT PAUL? ST. Paul was a Jew who was born in Tarsus in what is now Turkey. When he was born the country was part of the Romans empire, and thus although by race and religion a Jew. He yet enjoyed the privilege of being a Roman citizen. What is known is that he was fanatical in his hatred for Christians and engaged himself in hunting out Christians from hidden and bringing them to be tortured and killed. He was present of the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 22:20). Read also (1Tim.1:13). St. Paul a member of the elite circle of the society, who took to heart the Greek advanced civilization (as many people now-a days take pride in being westernized prevailed upon the simple minded Christian to avoid the law. The fact that he himself had never ever met Jesus Christ, and those opposed him were constant companions of Christ, is most revealing. While in his way to Damascus he is reported to have experienced a vision of Christ, and thus became a staunch propagator of Christianity which he claimed had been revealed to him by Jesus in vision. This revealed version of Christianity was fundamentally different from what the chosen disciples of Jesus to be the teachings of the Master, so that there was a serious conflict between Paul and the original followers of Christ who like Jesus had never deviated from the law of Moses and the strict Judaic monotheism (2Timothy 2:9). HOW PAUL WAS CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY Let us examine from the Holy Scripture the bases of Pauls claims. This sterms from the incident of his conversion to Christianity on his way to Damascus. This incident which is referred to three times in the acts of the apostle, and each time it is differently related the first person of the story runs like this: Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him Saul, Saul, why do you persecuting me? And he said, who are you lord? And he said, who are you lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do the men who were traveling with him stood speechless hearing the voice but seeing no one. Acts 9:3-7. In this version the incident KIA related by the author of the Acts the point worth nothing are: a. The light which Paul saw flashed about him it is not related others saw the light, but they did hear the voice. b. It was Paul who fell to the ground. c. He and the men who were with him heard the voice but they saw no one. d. The voice of Jesus ordered him to enter the city and there he would be told what he was to do. The second version of the story runs like this as reported in the same book, the word are purported to be spoken by Paul before the tribune and crowd of Jews as he was answering charges of preaching against the law and dating the temple by bringing Greeks in to it. As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me and I fell to the grown and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And I answered, who are you lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting. Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said what shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told that is appointed for you to do. Acts 22:6-10. The version agrees with the first version in respect of: a. What Paul was told enter the city and there he would be told all that is appointed for you to do; It however disagrees with the first version in that the first says that they saw the light. In this second version he stated that those who were with Paul saw the light but did not heard the voice. The third version of this vital incident in Christian history is also contained in Pauls own word as related in the same holy book Acts of apostle. Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priest. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the son shining around me and those who journey with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language Saul, Saul, why do you persecuting me? It is heard for you to kick against the pricks and I said, who are you lord? And the lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you delivering you from the people and from Gentiles to whom I send you to open their eyes. That they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me ((Acts 26:12-18) Now hear we see great divergences with statement in chapter 9 and 22 of this very same book. a. According to this third version it is not Paul alone who saw the light related in the first version, but all, as related in the second version. b. Here Paul says that they all fell to the ground. This contradicts the first and the second version relate that it was Paul only who fell. c. Instead of being instructed by mysterious voice of Jesus to enter the city where Paul would be told what to do. This version gives detailed instructions as imparted to Paul there and then of being appoint as the apostle of Jesus who promises him that he will appear to him again. and violating all of Jesuss teachings to his disciples when he was with them, teaches justification by faith alone. Why should Paul be so expensive in this third version? It is because he is here addressing King Agrippa? But we may pause to wonder what we would think of a witness who relates one story to the police, changing it a little when he faces the magistrates and gives a completely different version when the case reaches the high court. But no one can describe Paul better than description he has given of himself in his letter to the Corintians. Read (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). PAUL OR JESUS? FAITH OR WORKS? Firstly, consider the sermon on the mount quite early in the sermon Jesus made clear his mission: Think not that I come to abolish the law and the Prophets, I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them In the above quoted passage, the sermon on the mount consist of the most important teaching of Jesus Christ. His task not to combat the purely legalistic externalization of religion among the Jews by the addition of the spirit of religion. Jesus said again, for assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-18). It was because he (Jesus) knew that after his ascension some of his followers would denounce the law he made it clear in this way For false Christ and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect (Matt. 24:24). But, St. Paul the self appointed says NO to the law, abolished the mosaic law, Acts 13:39. Paul again: But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive so that we serve not under the old written code but in the life of the spirit. (Rom. 7:6). Paul: We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile dinners, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus in Jesus Chest, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ not by WORKS of the LAW, because by WORKS of the LAW shall no one be justified (Gal. 2:15-16 ). Paul: for we hold that a man is justified by faith a part from works of the law(Rom 3:28) Read also Gal. 5:4-5 etc. IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS Says the master Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) (John 14:15.) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven, I say to you that unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven(Matt. 5:19-20). Jesus Christ, laid emphasis on TEACHING and DOING when he said; Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but he who does them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ himself obeyed the law faithfully and even corrected the Pharisees misinterpretation of the law for example, his disciples in their hunger plucked the ears of corn on Sabbath day. When the Pharisees objected, Jesus Christ replied, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath (Mk. 2:27) but he never said anything against the law, including the dietary laws. You see, if that is what Jesus had intended to be the tenet of Christianity, he could have declare so when he was with his chosen disciples before of his ascension or did he advocate the theory of unchangeablility of Mosaic Law? DID SAINT PAUL WANTS PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT SINCERE IN HIS PRONOUNCEMENTS WHEN HE WAS WITH THE PEOPLE? REASON FOR DIFFERENCES In ay event, if there is any division between a Muslim and a Christian on the ground of dogma, belief, ethnic or morality. Then the cause of such conflict would be traced to an utterance of Paul found in his own gospel as he says has too, in 2 Timothy 2:8. e.g book of Corinthians, philippians, Galatians, Thessalonians, etc. In the Bible, the Christians preferred and give more weight to what the hearsay of the disciples apostle and other witnesses than the master himself (i.e Jesus). And when you asked any Christian who is your master, no hesitation will say Jesus. Alas, the Christians always overlooked to Jesuss saying in Matthew 10:24. I quote: A disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his master. Jesus said that salvation ONLY comes through keeping of the commandments Matthew 19:16-17. But Paul go against and nail the law and the commandment to the cross, and claims the salvation can ONLY be obtained through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul says: If Christ be not risen from the death, then our preaching is vain, and our faith also vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). My dear Christians, all the twelve chosen disciples of him (Jesus), they saw him live, sitting, eating, drink,work with him. No one wrote and confirmed in any gospel or gospels as St. Paul the selves spouted disciple did in his own gospel in this words: Remember that, Jesus Christ of the seed of David was RAISED from DEAD according to MY GOSPEL(2 Tim. 2:28). Let no any Bible thumpers or hot gospeller try to intimidate you by saying, you do not have the holy spirit in you to enable you comprehend the Bible. Let them know that: the Bible is not for any private interpretation(1 peter 3:3). Hence the facts should be presented as they are and not according to prejudices. APOSTLE PAUL, ACO-Founder of Christianity: So Barnabas went to tours to look for Paul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch for a whole year, they (Paul and Barnabas) met with the Church and taught a large company of people and the disciples were for the first called Christians(Acts 11:25). NOTE: This verse enlightens us that it was at Antioch decade after Jesus had left this earth, that a religion named Christianity was born. What then was the religion of Jesus Christ? He could not have been a Christian because in his entire lifetime the word Christian was non--existent, but came into use long after his departure from this earth. After all, Christians they say, means Christ followers. So how could Jesus Christ have been a follower of Jesus Christ? The truth is that Christ never preached nor invited any person to become a Christian. Instead what he preached was total submission of mans will to the will of God Matthew 7:21; John 5:30. And that in Arabic language is called ISLAM. PAUL THE ANTICHRIST Therefor, leaving (discarding) the principles of doctrine of Christ, let us go into perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from DEAD works and of faith toward God...(Hebrews 6:1). NOTE: What perfection of Paul could be better than and superior to the principles of the doctrine of Christ? This verse is but a confirmation that Paul discarded and abandoned the true teaching of Jesus Christ for his own self made teachings. For no human being Will be justified in his sight by WORKS of the law... (Rom. 3:20-21). Luke tells us, Jesus circumcised when he was right days old (2: 21). But Paul abolished the circumcision by saying, lndeen I Paul said to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing(Galatians 5:2). PORK, was forbiddinn to eat accoding to the Scriptures, in the Bible Read Leviticus 11:7-8, Deut. 14:8. And Paul says: Eat whatever is sold in the market without raising any question on the grown of conscience. (1 Corinthians 10:25). JESUS SAID: Many people will believe and worship me in vain, believing in doctrine teaching by men not by God (Matthew 15:9). CURSED CHRIST! Paul not only cursed the Law given by God, even the prophet sent by God. This is one those deeds of Paul about which Jesus Christ predicted beforehand, “you will know them by the deeds they do.” “Christ has ransomed us from the curse of the Law in as much as he became a curse for us,” (Letter of Paul to Gal.3:13). Jesus Peace be upon him is blessed, not curse! We Muslims have instructions from Allah to pray always, “Peace be upon them,” (pbut) for all Prophets, because they are the honored and the blessed people, chosen by Allah Almighty Himself, for the noble purpose of the guidance of mankind. On an enemy can wish to them to be cursed, for the obvious reasons. The Gospel and the Qur’an show the correct and the deserved attitude towards Jesus (pbuh): In the Gospels: “A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has cared for His people.” Luke 7:16) “Behold My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul delights; I will invest him with My spirit, and I will announce justice to the nations.” Matt. 12:18). “He (Jesus) shall be great and will be called son of the Highest,” Luke 1:31). In the Qur’an: “…his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah (God).” (3:45) “He (Jesus) said, ‘I am indeed a servant of Allah; He has given me revelation and made me a Prophet; and He has made me blessed where so ever I be…” (19:30-31) “So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life again.” (19:330 WHY PAUL CURSED CHRIST? “Christ has ransomed us from the curse of Law in as much as He became a cursed for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Letter of Paul to the Gal. 3:13) “From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. “…the evil person expresses evil form the evil that is stored in his heart. For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45, Matt. 12:35) The above statement of Jesus is a very useful criterion to judge the hidden intentions of a person. What Paul stored in his heart was the hatred for Jesus and his preaching. It is history that Paul was a staunch and rebellious enemy of Jesus and his followers. Even after the departure of Jesus, Paul continued to kill and persecute his followers: “Meanwhile Saul (previous) name of Paul), still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him letters to the synagogues at Damascus. So that if he found any who belonged to the way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2) “I (Paul) I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, I persuaded this way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison.” Acts 22:3-4) Paul hated Jesus Christ (pbuh) to such an extent that he wished to list Jesus among the category of false Prophets and criminals, who are accursed by God, by interpreting the old Scriptures according to his own desires: “And that (false) prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death.” Deu.13:5, also Deu. 21:22-23) Paul’s preaching Demands; The Death of Christ! “Remember, Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendent of Devid-that is my Gospel,” (The letter of Paul to Timothy 2:8) “…we were reconciled to God through the death of His son...” (Paul to Rom. 5:10) “But if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching amounts to nothing and your faith is futile.” (The first letter of Paul to Corinthians 15:14) Paul suddenly and apparently brought faith in Jesus and stated to preach in his name, but the real motive behind his preaching was to quench the thirst of his enmity against Jesus (pbuh) by putting him in the rank of an impostor and a false prophet who deserved an accursed death. To fulfill his motive he allegedly proclaimed “the death on the cross” of Jesus and made it a basic requirement of “the faith” to be preached. But as mentioned before, Jesus did not die on the cross, he remained alive and met his disciples with his physical body, after the alleged crucifixion. In order to explain these events and to simultaneously justify his claim, Paul purposely innovated “the Resurrection of Christ” theory, as mentioned before. The following statements of Jesus appears more meaningful now and answers to the above description: “But wary of the false prophets, who come to you in the guise of sheep while at hearth they are voracious wolves.” Matthew 7:15) Jesus Grieved of Accursed Death: Jesus Christ (pbuh) was familiar with the Law of Moses; he knew that, “one hanged is under the curse of God” (Deu. 21:23). For this reason he was grieved, and prayed earnestly: “Then he (Jesus) said to them, ‘My soul is mortally grieved; stay here and keep watch with me.’ And moving forward a little, he fell on his face praying, ‘My Father if it possible, let this cup pass from me, however not as I will but as you will.” (Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34, Luke 22:42). Jesus Saved From Accursed Death: In the Gospel: “…whatever you ask for in prayer, we believe that you are receiving it, and will be yours.” Mark 11:24) “Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.” Luke 22:43) In the Holy Qur’an: “That they said (in boast), ‘we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah (God), but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so; it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no certain knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of surety they killed him not. Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in power, wise.” (4:157,158) REVELATION OR CONCOCTION! In his letter to Galatians 1:11, Paul Claimed that he received revelation from divine origin. But so many self contradictions and discrepancies are found in his teachings that is rather impossible to believed in his claimed. Let see some few: Full God or Emptied God: “Christ Jesus who, though existing in the form of God, did not consider his equality with God something to cling to, but emptied Himself as he took on the form of a slave” ( Letter to Philippians 2:6) or “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Letter to Colossians 1: 19) God or Mediator or None: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1letter to Timothy 2:5) or “But there is no call for an intermediary in case of one, and God is one.” (Letter to Galatians 3:20) The Law Abolished or The Law upheld: “He brought the hostility to an end, by abolishing the Law of commandments with its regulation” (Letter to Ephesians 2:14) or “Do we then overthrow the Law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the Law.” (Letter to Romans 3:31) Righteousness; with the Law or without the Law: “…not a single human being will be made righteousness in God’s sight through observance of the Law.” (Letter to Romans 3:20) Or “For not the hearers of the Law are righteous before God but those who practice the Law will be pronounced righteous.” (Letter to 2:13) 5. Salvations; by Confession or by Deeds: “…if you confess with your lips to the Lord Jesus and believe in your hear that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Letter to Romans 10:9) Or “For he (God) will repay according to each one’s deeds ; to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immorality, he will eternal life.” (Letter to Romans 2:6) etc. The Holy Qur’an has announced a very miserable punishment for those who claim that their concocted writings are a revelation to them from God: “Then woe to those who write the book with their own hands and then say, This is from Allah,’ to purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them that they earn thereby.” (Q. 2:79) SELF IMPOSED; SELF EXPOSED! Self imposed apostle to Gentiles: “For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle, I am telling you the truth; I am not lying a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and in truth.”(1 Timo.2:7) “For I want you to know, brothers, 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 I receive it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” “I did not at once confer with any human being, neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before I was, but I went away into Arabia and came back to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed in his company for 15 days; but I saw no other apostle except James, the brother of lord. Now what I am writing to you I say in the presence of God, that I am not lying. (Letter to Galatians 1:11-16) Questions arise here: If he is not lying, and he received direct revelation from Jesus (pbuh), then why are his teachings so evidently contradictory to the teachings of Jesus Christ? After accepting faith in Jesus why did he not go immediately to the real disciples of Jesus to learn the original massage and actual teaching of Jesus? What was the reason to go into seclusion for three years? Answers are given by eminent Christian scholars of recent times, who studied the Bible with impartial minds; The famous Christian historian James Mackinon admits openly: “The train of thought is distinctively his own. Whatever it is altogether in accord with the mind of Jesus is not so evident in spite of his claim to direct revelation…at the same time, Jesus’s conception of the law is hardly in accordance with that of Paul…of this respect paul’s –claim that he received his Gospel by revelation from Christ is rather problematic. James Mackinon states in his work “From Christ to Constantine” as follows: “At his conversion he went away into Arabia (Nabataea) apparently to think out the implications of his new faith, rather than to preach to Nabataeans. It was only three years later that he went to Jerusalem to visit Peter and James, the lord’s brother, presumably to consult them on the tradition about Jesus” The Encyclopedia Britannica states: “Paul quickly saw the need to stay in a quite and peaceful area where he could reflect over his new position. Hence he went to the Southern region of Damascus…the main problem facing him was to interpret the law and teachings of Jesus in a new form in the light of his own novel experience” The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the work of Paul: “One group among the writers, represented for example by w. wrede, who were by no means opposed to Paul, opines that Paul, changed Christianity to such an extent that he has become its second founder. In reality he is the founder of that church Christianity’ which is totally different from the Christianity brought by Jesus. They say that ‘follow Jesus or follow Paul, but both cannot be followed simultaneously.” Self exposed hypocrite: “Although I am free from everyone, I have enslaved myself to all of them in order to win a larger number. To the Jews I behave as a Jew to win Jews; to those under the Law as one who is under the Law, although I am not under the Law. To those who without law I am as without law, although not lawless toward God but committed to Christ’s Law, in order to win those who are without Law.” (The first letter of Paul to Corinthians 9:19) PAUL: “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I also did so in Jerusalem and I shut up many of the saints in prison….” Read Acts 26: 9 – 11. He wrote his own opinion in the Bible: “Now concerning virgins I have no command from the Lord, but I give my own opinion…” (1 Corinthians 7:15 – 25) Paul said; “therefore, I think…” (1 Corinthians 7:26) Paul said; “… according to my opinion… I certainly think…...’’ (1 Corinthians 7:40) Paul said again “see I Paul am telling you….”. (Gal. 5:2) I am thankful I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that none of you may say that you were baptized in my name. Yes I do baptized the household of Stephan as. As for the rest, I do not know weather I baptized anybody else…’ (1 Corinthians 1:14-16) NOTE: Paul made three statements in the above passage: I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius. Yes I also baptized the household of Stephanas. I do not know weather I baptized anyone else. The first statement that he baptized no one else except Crispus and Gaius was a mistake. He realized the mistake and quickly corrected it in the second statement. His third statement shows that he wasn’t even sure of the facts at all. Both the mistake and the correction were preserved in the “book of God”? We certainly are not against the correction, but what about the mistake? Is that the word of God too, or is it an inspired mistake? Paul: “But be it so, I do not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty (cunning), I caught you with guile (deceiving trickery)” (2 Corinthians 12:16) Paul: We know that the law is spiritual but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate: Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me, that is in my flesh. I can will what is right, I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it. (Romans 7:14 – 20) “I repeat, let no man think me foolish, but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying, I asy not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool, in this boastful confidence. Since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.” (2 Corinthians 11:16-17) To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that. But whatever anyone to boast of I am speaking as a fool (not as a apostle of God), I also dare boast of that….” “I am talking like a mad man.” (2 Corinth Paul, A Cunning Man: But be it so, I do not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty (cunning) I caught you with guild (deceiving trickery) (2 Corinthians 12:16). Deaths said with a loud voice, Paul, Paul you are mad, your great learning is turning you mad. (Acts 26:13-14) NOTE: If Paul the founder of Christianity, an alleged apostle, and the writer of fourteen (14) out of the twenty-seven (27) books of the new testament is a lunatic, one who talks out of foolishness, then what else can be expected of his followers? For as only the blain men could led by a blind man. ALTHOUGH: Seeing they see not, hearing they hear not, neither do they understand ( because they are spiritually polluted, brain washed and programmed) Matthew13:13). JESUS SAYS: Truly, Truly I say to you, he who hears my words and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life. (John 5:24). Dear Brethren, he who has ear and eyes, let him/her use it. The Truth is ONE. ISLAM IS ALWAYS SPREAD BY WORDS NOT BY SWORD. NOTE: Please am sort with my expressions, I dont mean to hurt anybodys feeling. Thanks.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 06:36:25 +0000
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