Paul the pharisee & the Holy Spirit
Paul's False Teaching on the Holy Spirit
We live in a time where the majority of Christians feel they are led by the “Holy Spirit” to reject the Torah of our Heavenly Father. If we reject the Torah of our Heavenly Father, it is clearly not because we are so filled with His Spirit! Many of the beliefs regarding the Holy Spirit come from Paul’s letters. Did Paul’s letters contain any false statements about the Holy Spirit or Spirit of Elohim?
1 Col 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand…. that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.
That is a very interesting claim that even initially seems quite unlikely to be true. Is there anything in the book of Acts which supports or refutes Paul’s claim about the Holy Spirit?
Acts 8:5-25
… then Philip went down to the city of Samaria & preached the Messiah unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing & seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies & that were lame were healed… But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of Elohim & the name of YAHUSHA HaMashiach, they were baptized, both men & women… Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Elohim, they sent unto them Peter & John: who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh): (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of Adonai YAHUSHA.) Then they laid their hands on them & they received the Ruach HaKodesh (or Holy Spirit).
Paul’s claim of 1 Col 12:3 is proven incorrect, since that verse asserts that believers wouldn’t even be able to acknowledge YAHUSHA as Lord without having the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, Acts 8:5-25 mentions that Philip preached to the people of Samaria about YAHUSHA HaMashiach. The Samaritans believed, acknowledged YAHUSHA as their Lord, & were also even baptized in His name. Yet they didn’t receive the “Holy Spirit” until Apostles Peter & John came, prayed for them, & laid their hands upon them.
Can we find any verses from Adonai YAHUSHA that support or refute Paul’s claim about the Holy Spirit?
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Paul claims that no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, Adonai YAHUSHA says that he will reject many who call him “Lord”, because they are workers of iniquity. The original greek word used here is G458, anomia, which entails being without Torah, either through violation or ignorance of it. G458, anomia, is basically a variation of G3551, nomos, with the addition of the prefix, a, meaning without. According to Strong’s concordance, G3551, Nomos, refers to the Torah or “Mosaic Law.” Nomos is the same word used in Matthew 5:17 where YAHUSHA says, “Think not that I have come to destroy the Torah (Nomos) or the Prophets.”
YAHUSHA’s teaching of Matthew 7:21-23 directly refutes Paul’s claim of 1 Col 12:3. Paul says that no one can call YAHUSHA Lord, unless they have the Holy Spirit. Conversely, YAHUSHA indicates that His rejection awaits all those calling Him Lord, but not doing the will of our Heavenly Father! Deuteronomy 10:12-13 indicates that it is our Heavenly Father’s will that we keep His Commandments.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what doth YHWH thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of YHWH, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Paul's Self Contradictory Accounts of What the Voice From Heaven Said
Another problematic aspect of Paul’s teachings on the Holy Spirit is found in the following passage…
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, & bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
As mentioned previously in the section entitled, “What did the voice from Heaven say to Paul?”, Paul was unable to accurately & consistently recall or recount what the voice from Heaven told him! In Acts 22:5-11, he gives one version of what the voice from Heaven told him (to the men of Israel who had seized him).
Acts 22:5-11
…“Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?… I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest… Arise & go into Damascus & there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.”
In Acts 26:13-19, he gives a completely new & different version of what the voice said to him (before Agrippa).
Acts 26:13-19
…“Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks… I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise & stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister & a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen & of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people & from the gentiles unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes & to turn them from darkness to light & from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins & inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
This is clearly problematic because it implies that either Paul was unable to remember what the voice from heaven told him, or that he was being dishonest in that regard on at least one occasion since he contradicted himself. Either way, the reader is forced to admit that Paul the pharisee is an unreliable witness at best in regards to what the voice from Heaven told him on the road to Damascus! It clearly follows that Paul could not have the Holy Spirit, since YAHUSHA said the Holy Spirit would remind His Apostles of everything YAHUSHA said to them.
As mentioned previously, Paul’s apologists will invariably try to blame Luke for the discrepancy in what the voice from Heaven allegedly told Paul according to the different versions of Acts 22:7-10 & Acts 26:14-18. However, Luke was able to show that Peter had no such problems in recounting his vision to different audiences in Acts 10 & 11. Perhaps Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to record Paul giving different accounts of what the voice from Heaven told him, depending on whom he was speaking to!
Paul's Repeated Disobedience to the Holy Spirit
In addition, the book of Acts records that Paul repeatedly disobeyed the Holy Spirit…
Acts 13:2 documents that the Holy Spirit required Barnabas & Paul to work together. Acts 15:36-40 documents that Paul had a major disagreement with Barnabas, they separated, & never worked together again.
Thus Paul disobeyed the Holy Spirit’s requirement that he work with Barnabas.
Similarly, Acts 21:3-4 & Acts 21:10-13 document that the Holy Spirit used other individuals to repeatedly instruct Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul disobeyed & went anyway.
jesuswordsonly.com points out that if Paul were so full of the Holy Spirit, why would it be necessary for the Spirit to tell Paul through two different individuals that he shouldn’t go to Jerusalem? https://jesuswordsonly.com/recommendedreading/356-did-paul-ever-truly-meet-jesus.html
Paul the pharisee a NT Balaam?
Remember the story of Balaam, the son of Beor, from Numbers 22 who was a prophet that repeatedly communicated with our Creator. The book of Joshua indicates that Balaam was put to death by the children of Israel. In Revelation 2:14, our Saviour indicates that Balaam had been put to death for causing the children of Israel to sin, or transgress our Creator’s Torah. Similarly, even if Paul was once called by the Spirit of YHWH, the fact that he wrote so frequently against keeping our Creator’s Torah has literally been instrumental in causing billions of Christians to disobey our Creator for thousands of years. That definitely qualifies Paul the pharisee as a false prophet according to Deuteronomy 13:5 & Matthew 7:15-20. YAHUSHA criticizes those who hold to the doctrine of Balaam in Revelations 2:14. Jesuswordsonly.com notes that Paul the pharisee is very much a NT equivalent of Balaam…
https://jesuswordsonly.com/books/jesuswordsonly/109-chapter-seven-jwo.html
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Judges 6:34
But the Spirit of YHWH came upon Gideon, & he blew a trumpet....
Judges 11:29
Then the Spirit of YHWH came upon Jephthah, & he passed over Gilead...
Judges 14:6
And the Spirit of YHWH came mightily upon Samson, & he rent the lion as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
2nd Samuel 23:1-2
Now these be the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse said,
and the man who was raised up on high,
the anointed of the Elohim of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
The Spirit of YHWH spake by me,
and His Word was in my tongue.
The "Holy Spirit" is the Spirit of YHWH our Creator. The Holy Spirit is not some autonomous entity independent of YHWH our Creator. The "Holy Spirit" is the Spirit of YHWH! Is the Spirit of YHWH going to suddenly & arbitrarily inspire someone like Paul the pharisee to write against, disparage, or otherwise cause people to disobey YHWH's own Torah at the end of YHWH's Scriptures? Absolutely not… Our Creator told us that His Spirit will cause us to be obedient to Him…
Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
So in regards to Paul & the Holy Spirit, the book of Acts reveals that Paul repeatedly disobeyed the Holy Spirit(13:2/Acts 15:36-40 , Acts 21:3-4, & Acts 21:10-12). The prophet from 1 Kings 13 died for disobeying YHWH even once! Nadab & Abihu, Priests of YHWH & sons of Aaron, also died for disobeying YHWH even once! Similarly, Adam & Eve, Balaam, Moses, Nadab & Abihu, King Saul (the first king of Israel), King David, & Jonah also suffered significant consequences for disobeying YHWH even once.
Paul’s claim about the Holy Spirit found in 1 Col 12:3, is proven false by the experience of the Samaritans & the Apostles found in Acts 8:5-25, & by the words of our Righteous Savior Himself, YAHUSHA HaMashiach in Matthew 7:21-23! Why should anyone believe anything else that Paul the pharisee has to write about the Holy Spirit?
Paul was unable or unwilling to consistently recall the few statements the voice from Heaven told him on the road to Damascus(Acts 22:5-11 vs. Acts 26:12-20). In contrast, John 14:26 reveals that the Messiah had told His real Apostles that the "Holy Spirit" would bring in to remembrance everything that He had told them!
Paul also repeatedly taught that believers in the Messiah were not supposed to keep YHWH's Torah or Law(Romans 6:14-15, Galatians 5:18, etc.), thus meeting the Deuteronomy 13:5 definition of a false prophet. The Spirit of YHWH never inspired any of YHWH's true prophets to speak or write against YHWH's Torah or Law. On the contrary, YHWH told us in Ezekiel 36:27 that His Spirit would cause people to be obedient to Him! Paul's writings, which are undeniably against YHWH's Torah, were therefore clearly not inspired by the Spirit of YHWH!
Passages Referenced in Above Text
Acts 10
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side:he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten:but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice:and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing:for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek:what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for:I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side:who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Yahusha HaMashiach :(he is Lord of all:) That word, .... I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 11:1-18
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of Elohim. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying:and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Adonai:for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What Elohim hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Ruach Elohim fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of Adonai, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Ruach Elohim. Forasmuch then as Elohim gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on Adonai Yahusha HaMashiach; what was I, that I could withstand Elohim? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified Elohim, saying, Then hath Elohim also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 15:36-40
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.
Acts 21:3-4
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:10-13
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.