Paul's Credibility (P2)

Paul's Credibility (Part 2) Paul made some incredible claims in his writings. He claims to be the "mater builder", "the Apostle to the Gentiles" and encourages his converts that they should "imitate and follow him". In this short series we will investigate these claims and determine how Paul could say such bold things.

This study will bring validity and confirmation to the credibility of Paul and to the scriptures he was inspired to write to the Body of Christ.

This is Part 2, and a continuation of Part 1 of the study started here. (Please read Part 1 for context).

How could Paul claim all these things only a few years after Christ's ministry?

It all starts here...

Genesis 12:1-5 Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And IN YOU* all the families [nations] of the earth shall be blessed."

(See Genesis 3:15 Israel was chosen to fulfil the promise given to Adam and Eve)

God's covenant promise to Abraham (Israel) was that in (or through) Israel all the nations of earth would be blessed. Through Israel, salvation would come to the world (Acts 1:8, Zachariah 8:23). However, about 5 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Jews stoned Stephan, and this triggered the downfall of the Jewish nation. Paul writes about the fall (or blinding) of the Jews in Romans 9-11. So, does this not cause a dilemma? How would the Gentiles be blessed if the source of blessing (Israel) has fallen? 

*The answer is: Paul! God keeps His word and saves Paul, a Jew (a descendant of Abraham), and equips him with a new gospel and a mystery message and sends him to the Gentiles. Paul is a credible candidate to continue God's plan of salvation to the Gentiles because God chose him, and because of his heritage.

#1. Gods covenant promise continued through Paul, as ... 

... a Jew

Philippians 3:5 ...circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness under the Law, faultless... 

(Also see Romans 9:3-5 ...my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites... and Romans 11:14)

... a Priest (one who stands between God and the people)

Exodus 19:4-6 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.

Romans 15:15 However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an acceptable offering to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.

1 Corinthians 15:7 Then He [Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth* [prematurely as of one born out of due time].

*Why does Paul say this? Paul was "born out of due time" (prematurely) in the sense that he could serve in the priestly role as a proxy of "believing" Israel, to propagate (transmit) blessings (of the new covenant) through Israel to the Gentiles. (See Abraham's Blessing: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Galatians 3:14)

Paul wrote that one day, "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). The "all Israel" will be Jews who will repent before the second advent of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. They will enter the "millennial" kingdom and begin to serve as priests (Exodus 19:4-6, Zachariah 8:22-23) to the Gentile nations. Until that day comes, Paul serves as a proxy for a redeemed, repentant Israel, in the role of priest. Since Paul was a Jew, since God commissioned him as the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13), God's divine plan to redeem "the body (church)", was faithful to his promise to Abraham (ie: in line with the covenant stipulations given to Abraham that through Israel all the families (Gentile nations) of the earth will be blessed). When Israel repents, at the end of the tribulation, they will fulfil this priestly position to the then surviving Gentiles (via the revived gospel of the kingdom).

(Continue with Part 3 of this study here.)