Unity Between Jesus and Paul
A new Christianity Today article called “Jesus vs. Paul” looks at the current debate among evangelical New Testament scholars (and their students) who seem to be divided into two main camps: those who emphasize Jesus and the kingdom, and those who focus on Paul and justification by faith. Stan Guthrie, who wrote our Bible study of the same name says, “While this seems to be a knotty problem, unprecedented in church history, such theological turf wars are all too common. As Paul disapprovingly told the Corinthians, ‘One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?’ (1 Cor. 1:12-13). For Paul, it’s all about Jesus.”
“So how do we bring Jesus and Paul together, while doing justice to both? How do we hold to the doctrine of the full inspiration of Scripture, allowing Paul and Jesus to speak for themselves rather than fitting them into our preconceived theological categories? Which gets priority? Which comes first—kingdom or justification?”
Consider this:
The above two paragraphs appeared in Christianity Magazine recently apparently seeking to unite Jesus and Paul as if there were some question about the unity of doctrine espoused by Paul or by Jesus.
In the first place there is no reason to consider that Paul taught or intimated that there was ever any conflict between the teaching of Jesus and his teaching. The only conflict that we find in the early church between the Apostles of Christ was between Peter and Paul over the matter of racism (i.e. Gal 2:11-17 – 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face , because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, lives after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (KJV).
Consider This:
The Major roadblocks to Christian unity of God’s people resides in the theological concepts that have been introduced by theologians that do not exist in the texts of the New Testament. The concepts that have divided those that sought the true unity for which Jesus pleaded in John’s Gospel {e.g. John 17:6-22 – 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 21 That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. (KJV)
The division that exist in the religious world today exist because of false interpretations and false assumptions regarding the meanings of selected passages of Scripture by individuals who are bent upon causing schism in the church. The individuals who are responsible for schism in each generation will find some passage or passages of Scripture and place an interpretation upon that passage or passages that meet their particular point or understanding and then create more schism which eventually brings into existence another church with some new name that God will surely bring to naught; even if the person or persons initiating the division are/were honest in their commitment and zeal for their particular doctrine –
NOTE … concerning God’s attitude toward schism or beginning a new denomination … Rev. 22:18-19 – 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV) 2 John 9-11 – 9 Whosoever transgressed, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
CONCLUSION:
Yes; the Lord built but one church; but man has built many churches with many different names and many different doctrines. These will surely answer for their apostasy – “SOMEDAY”