Constructing A Case For Paul's Apostleship

• Defining The Issues:

          -There is a theory that the Apostle Paul corrupted the original teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament. It is claimed that present-day Christianity has fallen victim to the allegedly apostate theology of Paul, namely regarding his teachings on Christians not being under the Mosaic Law and the deity of Christ. These kinds of arguments are usually circulated by members of the Hebrew Roots Movement and Black Hebrew Israelites. Muslims also make the claim that Paul was a false apostle. However, it is not difficult to pit two individuals against each other (i.e. Paul vs. Jesus) by taking their statements out of context. The Apostle Paul did not contradict the teachings of Christ, but elaborated on His teachings. He did this both in writing and in speech. The evidence in favor of Paul being a genuine apostle is so strong, that it is incredulous that anyone would even try to discredit his apostleship as being fraudulent.

• The Apostle Paul Satisfies Basic Historical Criterion Of Authenticity:

          -Paul's apostleship satisfies several historical criteria that strengthen its credibility. First, the principle of multiple attestation applies, as his ministry is documented not only in his own epistles but also in the Acts of the Apostles, offering independent yet consistent accounts. Second, the criterion of coherence supports his role as an apostle since his teachings align with the core message of the early Christian movement and the theology reflected in other New Testament writings. Additionally, the principle of early attestation is met, as Paul’s letters are some of the earliest Christian documents, written within decades of the events they describe, providing firsthand insight into his ministry. His close association with key figures such as Peter and James, combined with their endorsement of his mission (as seen in Galatians 2), further meets the criterion of external corroboration. Lastly, Paul's dramatic conversion, characterized by his shift from a persecutor of Christians to one of their most ardent advocates, exemplifies transformative testimony, which bolsters the authenticity of his apostleship. Together, these criteria create a compelling historical case for Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle.

• Examples Of Agreement Between Paul And The Gospel Writers:

          -Jesus Christ is a man (Philippians 2:6; 1 Timothy 3:16)

          -Christ is a descendant of King David (Romans 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:8)
          -The ordinance of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
          -Jesus Christ died to make atonement for our sins (Romans 4:25; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
          -Jesus Christ died, was buried in a tomb, resurrected from the grave, and appeared to people (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-6)
          -Christ testified before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13-16)
          -Jesus Christ was crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2; Galatians 3:1)
          -He ascended into heaven to be glorified (Philippians 2:6; 1 Timothy 3:16)

• Luke Records Eye-Witnesses Being Present During The Time Of Saul's Conversion:

          -"Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one." (Acts 9:3-7)

           *Without good reason to doubt this portion of Acts as being reliable historical material, observe that Jesus Christ commissioned Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Further, the men who had accompanied him were baffled at this encounter, which is not what we would expect of a forgery (i.e. they should have been supporting him in his conversion if details were made up).

• Both Paul And Barnabas Preached The Gospel To Jews: 

          -“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses...As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God." (Acts 13:38-39, 42-43)

           *If Paul were a false apostle, then it is certain that Barnabas would not have accompanied him in preaching. In addition, the apostles and elders accepted Paul's teaching on circumcision during the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, showcasing unity among the early Christian leaders with him. 

• The Apostle Peter Believed Paul To Be A Beloved Brother Who Produced Inspired Scripture:

          -"And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures." (2 Peter 3:15-16)

           *Even if we rejected Petrine authorship of this epistle, it would still be outside affirmation of the authenticity of Paul's apostleship. Other men in the early church who accepted Paul as a genuine apostle would be Clement of Rome and Polycarp. 

• The Apostle Paul Had Supernatural Abilities Like That Of The Other Apostles:

          -"The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works." (2 Corinthians 12:12)

           *Paul has credibility since he made reference to personal faults (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; 1 Timothy 1:12-16). He openly rebuked Peter for not living according to the gospel (Galatians 2:11-14), showing that he held firmly to principles he believed to be true.