Were "All Things Lawful" For Paul The Pharisee?
This site attempts to reveal some of the false claims made by Paul the pharisee. This is being done in an effort to determine what was the dishonesty that Paul repeatedly admitted to in Romans 3:7 & 2 Cor 12:16. Of all the false claims made by Paul, perhaps the most startling & blatantly false is his assertion that, “all things are lawful” for him! Paul made this claim not once or twice, or even three times, but four times! In contrast, neither Adonai YAHUSHA, nor any of our Heavenly Father’s true prophets ever made such a similar claim, even once!
1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι ὑπό τινος
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει πάντα μοί ἔξεστιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πάντα οἰκοδομεῖ
The key phrase here is the, “Πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν”, which Paul repeats four times in the two verses above. Πάντα ( Panta, G3956,- all, all things) μοι (moi, G3427,-unto me) ἔξεστιν (exestin,G1832,- are lawful). The greek word translated as lawful is exestin, G1832. G1832 is the same word used by John the Baptist when he told Herod that it was not “lawful” for Herod to have his brother’s wife. G1832 was also the word used when Adonai YAHUSHA said that it is “lawful to do well on the Sabbath.”
First, it must be acknowledged that Paul the pharisee was not making this claim to those well versed in the Torah; like James, the Apostles, & elders in Jerusalem. We can only imagine their likely response! Instead, Paul the pharisee repeatedly wrote this claim to gentile congregations, who may not have been very familiar with the Torah of our Heavenly Father. This would naturally give them the impression that all things were lawful for them as well, although “all things” may not necessarily be practical or convenient.
Paul’s devotees in the religion of Christianity, try to defend these verses as expressions of “Christian liberty” (from Torah), yet not as a license to sin. For those believers in the Messiah who affirm that the Torah is meant for all people to obey, supporters of Paul are forced to try to rationalize & defend these statements. One of the methods employed in this effort is to assume that Paul is quoting a slogan widely believed to be true among the Corinthians. Some translations even go as far as adding to Paul’s text, “you say all things are lawful for me”, or some variation thereof. This in itself should be a red flag that something is horribly wrong with these verses! People intrinsically realize the falsehood & error of the verse, & they feel compelled to correct it or rephrase it, so that the verses can somehow become more acceptable.
Nevertheless, it is clear from the KJV that the original greek text of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians contained nothing to indicate that Paul was quoting or even addressing some misconception of the Corinthians. Instead, Corinthians 1 only contains Paul’s very clear & repeated assertions that, “all things are lawful for me”. Many devotees of Paul the pharisee will argue that the context of the passages containing that phrase show that Paul couldn’t possibly mean what he clearly wrote. Yet the claim that, “all things are lawful for me” is such a bold & outrageous claim that it renders the context of the passages containing these claims practically irrelevant! In fact, countless sermons have been built around this verse alone, irrespective of its context.
Another possible defense that Paul’s devotees may employee will be in regards to the use of the word, ἔξεστιν, (exestin,G1832,- is/are lawful). Pauline devotees may argue that Paul’s use of G1832 was not necessarily in reference to the Law or Torah of our Heavenly Father. In regards to this defence, Paul uses the word five times in the following verses; 1 Cor 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23, & 2 Cor 12:1-4. The fifth passage is in Paul’s tale of a man who was caught up into the third heaven hearing things which were “not lawful” for a man to utter. This clearly can not be referring to civil or secular law. Similarly, the passages from 1st Corinthians are also not referring to civil or secular law from a contextual standpoint.
Even if the assumption is made that Paul is referring to to civil or secular law, & not the Torah; nevertheless, the statements remain false! All things were not lawful in 1st century Rome. Similarly, there have been no civil or secular governments since Rome in which all things were lawful.
The Torah of our Heavenly Father makes it absolutely clear that not all things are lawful. It is not lawful to cook or clean on the Sabbath, it’s not lawful to buy or sell on the Sabbath, it’s not lawful to kindle a flame on the Sabbath, etc. There is simply no possible situation in which Paul’s repeated assertions of 1 Cor 6:12 or 1 Cor 10:23 could possibly be true; either in civil, secular jurisprudence, or according to the Torah of our Heavenly Father!!
Some Paulinists may claim that νόμος, (nomos, G3551, the Law) is the Greek word employed in the New Testament to refer to the Torah. Since Paul used ἔξεστιν, (exestin,G1832,- are lawful) in 1 Cor 6:12 & 1 Cor 10:23, he could not have been referring to the Torah of our Heavenly Father. However, Nomos, G3551, is a noun referring to Law or Torah. Exestin, G1832, is simply the verb describing what is or is not lawful, or in accordance with the Law. Again, even if Paul were referring to civic or secular law, his repeated claims of 1 Cor 6:12 & 1 Cor 10:23 would still be false! All things were not lawful in 1st century Rome, nor has there been any civil or secular government since that time in which all things are lawful!
If our Heavenly Father had never given the Torah to the Children of Israel, or if He had told them to simply go & do whatever they please; then Paul’s claims of 1 Corinthians 6:12 & 1 Corinthians 10:23 may have had some chance of being true. Yet, this is simply not the case. The Torah documents our Heavenly Father’s Words on what is & what is not lawful.
The claim that, “all things are lawful for me”, which Paul the pharisee made on four occasions in his letters, is an obviously false assertion that could not possibly be true under any circumstance imaginable. Our Heavenly Father’s Torah explains what is & what isn’t Lawful. Paul’s claims are essentially an attempted negation of our Heavenly Father’s Torah.
Paul’s letters themselves reveal the utterly nonsensical nature of his claim that “all things are lawful” for him. In 1 Co 5:1-5, Paul instructs the congregation at Corinth to “deliver unto Satan” for destruction of the flesh an individual who was allegedly guilty of fornication with his father’s wife. All things were clearly not lawful for that individual!
Similarly, in 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul admits that he delivered two individuals to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme! One interesting aspect of Paul’s decision to deliver the blasphemers to Satan is Paul’s own admission in Acts 26:11 that prior to his conversion, he forced believers to blaspheme!
Why would any of Paul’s judgements of 1 Co 5:1-5 & 1 Timothy1:20 be necessary if all things really were lawful, as Paul asserts four times in 1 Co 6:12 & 1 Co 10:23? Naturally, Paul himself contradicts & debunks his own outrageously false claims of 1 Co 6:12 & 1 Co 10:23! Nevertheless, our Savior Master YAHUSHA never encouraged that anyone be "delivered to Satan" for punishment of their sins. On the contrary, he taught us that all men should repent; & that we should pray that our Heavenly Father should, “deliver us from evil”.
Paul stated four times that “all things were lawful for him” in 1 Co 6:12 & 1 Co 10:23. Even among Paul’s religious devotees, is there anyone who actually believes that all things were lawful for Paul, or for everyone else by extension? Aren’t the claims of 1 Co 6:12 & 1 Co 10:23 clearly & obviously false? Is there any possible situation in which all things are lawful?
Aren’t Paul’s claims of 1 Co 6:12, & 1 Co 10:23 perfect examples of the lies & dishonesty that Paul repeatedly admitted to in Romans 3:7 & 2 Co 12:16?
Passages Referenced in Above Text
Romans 3:7
For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my LIE unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
2 Corinthians 12:16
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with GUILE.
1 Cor 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Cor 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
2 Cor 12:1-4
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
1 Co 5:1-5
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:20
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.