Did Pharisee Paul Make Other False Claims?
It has been shown that Paul’s repeated claims of being an Apostle are simply not true or correct. Are there any other examples of Paul’s LIES & dishonesty which he himself repeatedly acknowledged in Romans 3:7 & 2 Co 12:16?
Acts 15 & Galatians 2(See bottom of page) both describe the same sequence of events. The "A15G2 Sequence" just below this text summarizes essentially the same sequence of events, outlined both in Acts 15 & Galatians chapter 2.
Paul & Barnabas were in Antioch when men from Judea came to Antioch & told the congregation there that gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. This created confusion in the congregation regarding this issue, as Paul & Barnabas disagreed with their assertion. Paul & Barnabas were therefore sent from Antioch to Jerusalem to question James & the Apostles on this matter. James & the Apostles heard their query. James & the Apostles gave a verbal as well as written response to this question. James & the Apostles then sent Judas & Silas with a letter as written response back to Antioch with Paul & Barnabas. The Apostolic response to their question was conveyed to the congregation in Antioch by Judas, Silas, Barnabas, & Paul. A careful review of Acts chapter 15 reveals that Paul the pharisee made several claims in Galatians chapter 2 that simply can not be true!! Some of those claims will be reviewed in the following several pages….
A15G2 Sequence
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Men from Judea came to Antioch preaching that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved- Acts 15:1 & Galatians 2:4. (Both chapters describe same initial conflict)
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This produced disagreement & confusion in the congregation of Antioch- Acts 15:2 & implied in Galatians 2 account.
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Barnabas & Paul disagree with men from Judea’s assertion that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved-Acts 15:2 Galatians 2:5.
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Barnabas & Paul sent to question Apostles & Elders in Jerusalem about this matter- Acts 15:2 & Galatians 2:1-4.
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James, the Apostles, & Elders give audience to Barnabas & Paul, hearing their question- Acts 15:4 & Galatians 2:6-9.(This is the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.)
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James, the Apostles, & Elders discuss the question of whether gentiles should be circumcised to be saved- Acts 15:5-12 & implied in Galatians account.
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James announces their decision on the matter: Acts 15:13-21 & Galatians 2:10. (According to James in Acts 15: avoid idolatry, sexual immorality, things strangled, & blood; according to Paul in Galatians 2:10: “remember the poor”.)
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James, the Apostles, & Elders send Judas & Silas back to Antioch with Barnabas & Paul to convey the decision- Acts 15:22-30 & Galatians 2:12 . (Judas & Silas sent to Antioch with Barnabas & Paul; no mention of Peter going to Antioch at that time according to the Acts account.)
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Decision on the matter conveyed to the congregation in Antioch- Acts 15:31-33, not mentioned specifically in Galatians account.
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Barnabas & Paul have a major disagreement, which caused them to separate- Acts 15:36-40 & Galatians 2:13. (This major disagreement between Barnabas & Paul occurred only once, & they never worked together again. Both Acts 15 & Galatians 2 mention same initial conflict, relatively the same sequence (except Paul’s account becomes fictional & self serving), & the same final disagreement between Barnabas & Paul. This clearly indicates that both chapters were discussing the same sequence of events.
Passages Referred to in Above Text
Acts 15
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 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. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them.
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, 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 word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore 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.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, 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, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching .... and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Galatians 2
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, 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. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.