Jesus and Paul: Different Gospels? (N. T. Wright Q&A)

[robertcummins]

If Paul is correct, then why do Christians still die? When I read the NT I see Paul and Jesus on opposite ends of the spectrum. Jesus teaches works and LAW matter, Paul teaches Lawlessness. This even as a child bothered me, though the Church preached say Lord Lord. Almost every Christian I have met tells me Law longer applies then say a verse. I then ask who said this Paul or Jesus they say Jesus only for me to look it up and it is Paul. This is a HUGE thing to me if Pauls words trump that of Jesus the Christ?

[stephenallen]

I would like to talk with this speaker and get his thoughts on the fact that Jesus himself told Peter that he would be the rock of which the church was built on and also told Peter to go and minister to the gentiles. Somehow even with Jesus saying that Paul ended up being the one that wrote most of the New testament and ended up being the one that preached to the gentiles. I would also like to know what he thinks about there being 13 apostles. 12 is a significant and important number for the 12 tribes of Israel. They replaced Judas with Mathias so where does Paul come in? I am not trying to be combative I honestly would like answers for this information. What about in Revelation when it talks about the Church of Ephesus Jesus tells them that someone came there claiming to be an apostle and was not. The only person the Bible tells us that traveled to Ephesus was Paul and the Ephesians rejected him. Could this be the apostle Jesus is talking about? Also why is it that the only person to call Paul an apostle in the Bible is Paul. I am not a Bible scholar but these things seem odd to me if you could please help that would be great.

[liamdoyle]

Paul also explains very clearly that he met with Peter, James and John and laid before these direct followers of Jesus the message Paul preached, and they added nothing to it - because they were preaching the same thing.

No conflict here.

[TrustinJC]

Soooo the apostles who walked with Christ and were there for his crucifixion and resurrection were not able to put it all together? Really? It required Paul to do that? Do you not see how laughable that is?
According to this guy, even though the apostles were given the great Commission and told to go into the world and spread the Good News gospel, because Paul claims that he was specifically picked for the task, we are supposed to believe Paul. Smells fishy to me.

[mikebarnes]

The simple truth is that Paul did not know Jesus and therefore his teacings were is own and not what Jesus would have taught. Christianity is a hybid religion which borrows fron many sources to make it an easily acceptable system of belief. Even pagans would find elements compatible with paganism. Ironically other groups who claimed knowledge of Jesus were deemed heretical.

[patrickwoolery]

@2:30
“But Paul who sees the end from the beginning “
Apparently Paul is omnipresent?

[arthurmorgan]

have you ever wondered why paul never talks abt narrow way, he never quotes the sermon on the mount in his gospel. no mention of hell. but whenever christians speak of gospel, they speak of all these things.

[Dingbat]

Paul say the Gentiles will be judged by his Gospel, not the Gospel of Matthew Mark Luke or John

[acesin-etpp]

that is just mental gymnastics. teachings of jesus and Paul are like road maps that run in opposite direction, on leading to heaven latter leading to hell.

[MyWatchIsEnded]

The Wolf of the tribe of Benjamin which comes to destroy the kingdom of God and to scatter the garments of the Lord.

Isn't it convenient that Paul is a member of the tribe of Benjamin?

[VFXShawn]

N.T. Wright does not address the difference between "the gospel of the kingdom" preached by Jesus and the twelve to the nation of Israel, and "the gospel of the grace of God" preached by Paul to the Gentiles.

Romans 15:8
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

Jesus came to fulfill the promises and prophecies made to Israel as their Messiah. Jesus sent his jewish disciples to preach "the gospel of the kingdom" to the 12 tribes of Israel:

Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, Peter stood up and preached to Israel by saying

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Peter was telling Israel to repent of rejecting Christ, so that when Christ returns to the Earth, they can have their sins blotted out (future tense), which is something the prophets have been foretelling since the beginning of the world. Water baptism was absolutely necessary to become members of this coming kingdom. Now compare this to what Paul said about his ministry:

Colossians 1:25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. 27 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

What Paul preached was not foretold since the world began, and did not include water baptism, or an earthly kingdom located in Israel, it was a mystery which Christ from heaven revealed exclusively to him after being rejected by Israel. Contrary to the "the gospel of the Kingdom", which concerned Israel's promises and covenants and prophecies, Paul preached "the gospel of grace", which emphasized God's saving power to all who by faith believed in Christ's death, burial and resurrection, without any works of the kingdom such as water baptism. Paul was the first to glory in the cross and to preach it as the means of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles alike. Peter was preaching that Israel had killed their Messiah, and that they needed to repent so Christ could return and setup the prophesied Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Paul was preaching to Jew and Gentile alike that Christ accomplished the means of human salvation by the cross, without any mention of a future earthly kingdom located in Israel. Anyone who says these two messages are the same is either not being honest with themselves or the scriptures. The "gospel of the kingdom" was the good news of Israel's promises coming true and receiving an earthly kingdom, "the gospel of the grace of God" is the good news for today until "the fullness of the Gentiles" comes in (Romans 11), at which point God will return to dealing with the nation of Israel as per the Kingdom program, and bring them all to repentance and deliver to them the promised earthly kingdom. These are not the same message.

[tubaman]

What Scripture was Paul referring to? (at 2:00 mins)

[carlnikolov]

Didn't Jesus say he didn't come to change the law ...to still follow the Torah laws.... circumcision as well as kosher foods etc. And being Jewish as part of the faith...and Paul just threw that all out the window?

[shawnl]

Paul the 13th apostle says follow me as I follow Christ. Not follow Christ as I follow Christ.

[findmeanewplanet]

Nope. When I first started studying the Bible heavy I realized something was off with Paul's message. Even Jesus came with the same style of message as those before him. He states [can't remember where, I thinks its in Matthew] a prophet will come bearing the old while adding something new.

Jesus preaches obedience to the WORD of God. Jesus is not the WORD himself, he is the carrier of that WORD. Hint "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." This WORD was given to many to bring people back to the Truth. It is said by most major religions that when man was formed the LAW or the WORD of God was placed in him/them/us.

It is also said we are easily deceived if we don't follow that LAW/WORD (ahem, Cain. Uhm, Adam & Eve, Jonah, King Saul, Pharoah, etc, etc, etc...) Note the Psalm 1:2 "...But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night..." The LAW or WORD is already within us!

Jesus even shows us that his apostles didn't even believe or could fully grasp what he says and I believe most of them turned him into a deity because they lack the depth to fully grasp the messages he came with. However, Paul is on a whole other level. He turns Jesus into the an actual deity to be worshipped, prayed to and ask things of which is a direct violation of Deuteronomy 4
"You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven."
The WORD is to be followed not worship.

One last note. "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,

38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent..."

43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God [4] ?"

Every person ever coming with God's Word said God itself sent them. Paul came on the authority of Jesus which is contrary to the teachings of the old and new testament. Jesus followers and Paul may not have realized it but they distorted the Good News and caused idol worship.

[phyllisjackson]

Praise the Lord and thanks for the information 🙏 an enquiring mind wants to know what the Scriptures is saying to be sure of understanding what the Lord wants me to know
Blessings.

[dongee]

There are glaring differences, no amount of words and convoluted explanations will overcome this.

[theology_detective.]

Dear brother, , you said that Jesus is like the music writter and Paul is the teacher of how to sing it.... So tell me Paul never Met Jesus what proof shows that Paul got the original music note from the writter Jusus

[isogrifo]

Question 2: Why did Paul say the church in Asia turned away from him, and Revelation commend the church in Asia for rejecting a false apostle?

[mickeydecurious]

The Old testament says that the Messiah will bring all nations to him while he's alive 🤔💭
I don't see how you can prove Paul by using Paul's writings, and I don't see how paul knew what was going on when he put himself in jail instead of taking the Cross like the rest of the disciples 🤔💭