Thanx to truthseeker for contributing an excellent Scriptural view of how we know that Paul was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ!
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Does the Bible say that Paul is a Heretic?
In order to proclaim that salvation comes through the LAW – then PAUL and his writings must be declared false. The claim – Paul is one of the false apostles mentioned as a liar according to Revelation 2:2, “…and how thou canst not bear them which are evil, and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars…”
This claim is nothing new. Paul was constantly proving that he was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He claims apostleship in Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, I and II Timothy 1:1, and Titus 1:1.
Galatians 1 says that he is “…an apostle, not of men, neither by men, but by Jesus Christ.” He said, “But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called by His grace…” Galatians 1:15
He stayed with Peter after he spent time in Arabia:
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
He went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. The Circumcision, false brethren, came in to “…spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” Galatians 2:1-5
This account is captured by Luke in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas disputed with men from Judea who said gentile converts needed to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and were welcomed by the Apostles. “And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the Apostles, and Elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.” Acts 15:4
Peter stood up and said, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the words of the Gospel, and believe….why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.” Acts 15: 7-12
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ‘Ye must be circumcised, and keep the Law, to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.” Acts 15:24 & 25
Galatians 2:9, “And when James, Cephas (Peter) and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Peter acknowledges Paul again in II Peter 3:15 & 16, “…Even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you; 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 other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
Evidence that the devils know WHO are true: “And the evil spirit answered, and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?’” Acts 19:15
So if you believe that Paul was a heretic, then you have to throw out the book of Acts. Luke wrote Acts – so if Acts is false, then you can’t trust him, so you have to throw out the Gospel of Luke too. Peter obviously believed in Paul. If Paul is a false worker, then you can’t trust Peter’s writings either.
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* added note from sheep wrecked:
Luke records that Jesus called Paul to bear His Name to the nations:
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.
