Paul's Credibility (P6)

Paul's Credibility (Part 6) 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 6. To gain the full context of this article, start in Part 1 here.

Interesting similarities between Abraham and Paul

With all the evidence and scriptures I have shared in the last 5-parts of this study, I'd like to end it with an interesting list of similarities between Abraham and Paul. I'm not going to try and prove anything with this list, except to draw your attention to the patterns and connections in the comparison. You can look into it for yourself and see if God's design is in this.

• 3 Judgements; a precursor to both Abraham and Paul's callings,
  
  
• After the Flood, Babel and Sodom and Gomorrah, God stopped working through mankind (as one race) and turned to a single man, Abraham, to continue His plan through a new nation.
• After Israel rejected and killed the Prophets (God), their Messiah (Christ) and Stephan (Spirit), God stopped working through them (temporarily) and turned to a single man, Paul, to continue His plan through a new creation (the Gentiles).
  
  
• Like Abraham; Saul leaves his "country" to a "land" God shows him (Acts 9:15)
  
  
• Abram becomes Abraham (this is God who renamed Abraham's name!); Saul becomes Paul (this is not God's doing, but Saul himself that changes his name to relate more to the Greeks/Gentiles to whom he was ministering. It's just another interesting connection).
  
  
• Abraham was saved by faith alone; Paul's gospel is modelled on this very fact,
  
  
• Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
• Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Also Gen.15:6; Rom.1:16)
  
  
• Both men have reference to circumcision; one in the flesh, one in spirit,
  
  
• Physical (fleshly) circumcision identifies Jews
  Genesis 17:9-14 ... This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. ... 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.
• Spiritual circumcision identifies members of body of Christ
  Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 
  (See also: Romans 2:25-29)

I trust you enjoyed this study of the Credibility of Paul.