The Unique Value of the Apostle Paul’s Writings to Understanding Jesus


As a highly intelligent and well informed Jewish scholar authorized by the Jewish hierarchy to stamp out Christianity, Paul had full access to all the dirt on Jesus (if any existed) and all the arguments against the Christian interpretation of Jesus’ life and message. What makes this particularly relevant is that any perceived influence on Jesus by a foreign religion would have been seen as scandalous by orthodox Jews. It would have so infuriated them as to have dominated their whole attack on Christianity. The first of the Ten Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me,” and the second is “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . .” (Exodus 20:2-5).

Although the Apostle Paul was not a disciple of Jesus while Jesus was living, Paul’s message was fully approved by Peter and the other disciples:

    Galatians 2:1-2,6-9 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles . . . But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man)—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles); and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

    Acts 9:26-28 When Saul [also known as Paul] had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. He was with them entering into Jerusalem

    Acts 15:2,4,7,12-13,22,25-26  . . . they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. . . . When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them . . . When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them . . . All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. After they were silent, James answered . . . Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas . . . it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    2 Peter 3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you

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