Was Paul the pharisee A Good Teacher of The Gentiles?
Paul was a pharisee who studied under Gamaliel. Paul is often portrayed by Christian ministers, Messianic Rabbis, etc., as an unparalleled expert on the Scriptures. Paul the pharisee is made out to be an extremely brilliant Torah scholar who had an incredible understanding & knowledge of the Scriptures.
Paul himself claimed to be a teacher of the Gentiles...
1 Tim 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an Apostle (I speak the truth in Messiah & lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith & verity…
1 Tim 2:7 is a very interesting verse because Paul claims that he was “ordained” a preacher & an Apostle. Paul insists that he is speaking the truth & not lying about this. To be ordained an Apostle certainly implies some sort of formal ceremony. The verse should cause one to wonder who exactly “ordained” Paul to be an Apostle, given that Paul’s “Apostleship” was never mentioned or acknowledged even once by YAHUSHA or any of His Twelve Apostles! On the contrary, Acts 1:15-26 documents that Peter & the other disciples gathered together to ordain Matthias as the replacement Apostle for Judas. Matthias was well qualified since he had been a witness of YAHUSHA's ministry from His baptism through to His Resurrection & Ascension. Paul the pharisee on the other hand was still persecuting YAHUSHA's followers all the way up to Acts 9!
Who was it that had the authority to "ordain" Paul an Apostle? Why is there no other mention in the New Testament of the ceremony in which Paul was “ordained” an Apostle? Is it because such a ceremony never took place, & Paul was not being truthful in this verse??
Before commenting on what kind of teacher Paul the pharisee was, let’s try to determine what kind of student he was!
Acts 22:3
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Paul implies that he was a student of Gamaliel’s, yet we don’t really know if he was a good student or not! Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Christian & Messianic pastors & preachers all make the assumption that Paul the pharisee was a good student of Gamaliel’s. This is despite blatantly obvious evidence to the contrary!
In terms of Gamaliel’s teachings, the only thing we have from the New Testament is found in Acts 5:34-39.
Acts 5:34-39
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
The context of his statement is found in Acts 5:12-33. In this passage, the Apostles were healing many people in Jerusalem. They were also preaching the Truth about YAHUSHA & of His Resurrection. Their preaching was so effective that many in Jerusalem believed. The religious leaders seized them, & threw them into prison. Fortunately one of our Heavenly Father’s angels released them, & told them to go preach in the temple. They did so, & the religious leaders had them brought to them again. Peter gave his defense that they were supposed to obey our Heavenly Father more than men. Peter also told the religious leaders that they were responsible for beating, mistreating, & killing our Savior. Nevertheless, He Resurrected, & Ascended to Heaven.
Gamaliel then stood, & advised that they be given some room. He advised the religious leaders to leave the Apostles alone. He reasoned that if these people were not serving Elohim; then they would ultimately disperse, & nothing would come of them. On the other hand if they were serving Elohim, then the religious leaders shouldn’t be found fighting against our Heavenly Father!!
Gamaliel’s statement is really full of wisdom that was seldom heard from other religious leaders in Acts. Paul the pharisee, as one of his students, failed to reach the same conclusion as his teacher. He also failed to heed his teacher’s warning. The fact that pharisee Paul foolishly failed to follow Gamaliel’s instructions in this regard can be seen by pharisee Paul’s persecution of YAHUSHA’s believers & faithful followers, as documented in Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2. Paul the pharisee admits this himself in his first person account of Acts 26:9-11.
Acts 8:1
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Acts 9:1-2
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 26:9-11
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
If Paul really were such a great Torah scholar & student of Gamaliel’s how could he come to the obviously wrong conclusion that he should be persecuting the innocent followers of our Savior, & forcing them to blaspheme?? Paul the pharisee clearly failed to obtain the wisdom that Gamaliel was trying to impart to his students!
As mentioned previously, Christian & Messianic ministers & pastors try to portray Paul the pharisee as an unparalleled expert on the Scriptures, & a hero of the faith. Is this portrayal of Paul the pharisee that has been trumpeted for so long by the modern religious authorities really true? Let's remember what our Savior had to say about the Pharisees…
Matthew 23:13-16
¹³But woe unto you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in….¹⁵Woe unto you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea & land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. ¹⁶Woe unto you, ye blind guides...
Hmmm, doesn’t sound like YAHUSHA was very impressed with the Pharisaical school of thought, does it? When Matthew 23 (see below) is read or the rest of the Gospels, it is very difficult to find our Saviour having anything positive to say about pharisees at all!! In Matthew 23:16, our Savior called the pharisees blind guides!!
Remember also that Paul the pharisee identified himself as being a pharisee practically to the very end of his ministry. In Acts 23:6, Paul the pharisee identifies himself as a pharisee before the Sanhedrin in his defense before them. Shortly after this, he was taken to Felix in Caesarea. Paul subsequently gave his defense before Festus & Agrippa indicating his pharisaical upbringing & lifestyle in Acts 26:5.
Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Acts 26:5
My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
It has been shown that Paul the pharisee was definitely not a good student of Gamaliel’s as he failed to follow Gamaliel’s sage instructions of Acts 5:34-39 regarding the followers of & believers in Messiah YAHUSHA.
1 Tim 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an Apostle (I speak the truth in Messiah & lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith & verity…
As mentioned previously, Paul the pharisee claimed to be a teacher of the gentiles in faith & truth! What is the Truth?
John 17:17
Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is the Truth.
According to our Savior, The Word of our Heavenly Father, His Torah, & the writings of His Prophets is the Truth! Did Pharisee Paul, the self-proclaimed “Apostle” to the Gentiles, teach Gentiles the Truth about Heavenly Father’s Torah & YAHUSHA's Teachings?
Passages Referenced in Above Text
Acts 5:12-33
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. -- There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Matthew 23
Then spake Yahusha to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever he bids you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for One is your Master, even Messiah; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, which is in Heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of YHWH!!