DID PAUL INVENT CHRISTIANITY?

Is the Founder of the Christian Religion Paul of Tarsus or Jesus of Nazareth?

Introduction

Paul of Tarsus

"But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' "(Acts 22:6-8)
This is Paul's account of his encounter with the risen Jesus Christ. Paul said that it was through this event that he stopped persecuting Christianity, becoming its greatest proponent and evangelist.

Many skeptics assert that Paul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) hijacked the early Christian religion, changing the theology from what Jesus originally taught. Usually offered as proof for this claim are the doctrines found in Paul's great theological work, his letter to the Romans. Without a doubt, the book of Romans contains the most complete exposition of orthodox Christian doctrines. Are these doctrines contrary to what Jesus taught? Do they conflict with the teachings of the Old Testament from which they were purportedly derived? If Paul really "invented" Christianity, then one would expect that his teachings would be different from Jesus, the other apostles, and disciples.

The claims of Christianity

Christians claim that Paul of Tarsus met Jesus on a trip to persecute Christians in Damascus. Struck blind for three days, Paul waited for Ananias (one of Jesus' followers) to heal him. Converted by the experience, Paul passionately proclaimed the gospel to the Jewish and Gentile world. This gospel included doctrines including the atonement of sin through Jesus' death on the cross and justification through faith. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, indicated that he received this gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ:

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12)

If it were true that Paul received his teaching directly from Jesus Christ, then surely Jesus Himself would have taught what Paul was preaching.

Paul's teaching of the gospel

Paul's Theology The basis of the gospel is the belief that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. Jesus clearly indicated that His purpose was to come to die on a cross for the sins of the world. This concept was not a new one, since Isaiah first prophesied that the Messiah would die for our sins. Paul, of course taught this doctrine, as did John, Luke, and Peter. Other crucial doctrines taught by Paul were also taught by Jesus and the disciples:

• Belief in Jesus for eternal life
• Righteousness by faith
• Justification by faith
• Forgiveness of sin through faith
• Repentance

For a list of verses, see the table below.

Were Paul's Doctrines Taught by Jesus?

Doctrine	First Taught	Verse	Taught by
			Jesus	Paul	Others
Atonement by death on cross	Isaiah	Isaiah 53:5-12	Matthew 10:38, 16:24, 26:28, Mark 8:34, 14:24, Luke 9:23, 14:27, 22:20, John 12:32-33	1 Corinthians 1:18, 11:25, Ephesians 2:8, 16, Colossi ans 1:20, 2:14	John 1:29, 36, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24, Revelation 5:12-14, 7:14
Believe in Jesus for eternal life	Job	Job 19:25-26	Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 9:24, John 3:16	Romans 5:21, 6:23, 1 Timothy 1:16, Jude 1:21	Acts 11:17-18, 1 John 5:11
Righteousness by faith	Moses, Habakkuk	Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4	Mark 11:22, Luke 7:50	Romans 1:17, 3:22, 3:25-26, 4:3, 9, 11, 13, 5:17, 9:30, 10:4, 10, Galatians 3:6, 11, Philippians 3:9	Hebrews 11:4, 7, 2 Peter 1:1
Justification by faith	Moses	Genesis 15:6, Isaiah 53:11	Luke 7:50, 8:12 Mark 16:16, John 3:18, 5:24	Romans 3:28, 30, 5:1, 18, Galatians 2:16, 3:8, 24	James 2:23
Forgiveness of sin through faith	David	2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 86:5, Jeremiah 31:33-34	Matthew 9:2, 6, 26:27-28, Mark 2:5, 10-11, Luke 5:20, 24, Acts 26:18	Acts 26:18, Ephesians 1:7, 4:32, Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13, 3:13	Luke 1:76-77, Acts 2:38, 5:31, 10:43, 13:38, Hebrews 10:18-20, James 5:15, 1 John 1:7-9, 2:12
Repentance	Isaiah	Isaiah 1:27, 30:15, Ezekiel 18:32	Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 5:32, 13:3, 24:46-47	Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10	Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, 17:30, 20:21, 2 Peter 3:9

Other Teachings

Besides the core doctrines of Christianity, Paul taught on many other theological topics, also taught by Jesus. Below is a list of some of these teachings (found in the gospels) compared to what Paul taught in his letters to the churches.

Was Paul Aware of Jesus' Teachings?

Teaching	Paul	Jesus
Parable of sower	1 Corinthians 3:6-10	Matthew 13:1-23
Stumbling stone	Romans 9:33	Matthew 18:7
Ruling against divorce	1 Corinthians 7:10	Mark 10:11
Support for apostles	1 Corinthians 9:14	Luke 10:7
Institution of Lord's supper	1 Corinthians 11:23-26	Matthew 26:26-28
Command concerning prophets	1 Corinthians 14:37	Matthew 23:34
Lord's return	1 Thessalonians 4:15	Matthew 24:1-51
Blessing of the persecuted	Romans 12:14	Luke 6:27
Don't repay evil with evil	Romans 12:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15	Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27
Pay taxes to authorities	Romans 13:7	Mark 12:12-17
No stumbling block	Romans 14:13	Mark 9:42
Nothing is unclean	Romans 14:14	Mark 7:15
Thief in the night	1 Thessalonians 5:2	Luke 12:39
Peace among yourselves	1 Thessalonians 5:13	Mark 9:50
Peace with everyone	Romans 12:18	Mark 9:50
Do not judge	Romans 13:10	Luke 6:37

Paul's Jesus isn't real?

The claim is often made in skeptical circles that Paul never describes the man Jesus of Nazareth, but only refers to a celestial Jesus. Of course, the claim is false, although the claim seems to be believed by a number of skeptics who probably never read any of Paul's New Testament books. In reality, Paul indicates that Jesus came into the world, and that he himself saw Him. In addition, Paul states that Jesus was a man made of flesh, ate and drank, bled, was crucified, died, and was raised from the dead.These are not the kinds of things that happen to some ghost Jesus. In virtually every book he authored (over 80 verses that I found), Paul clearly makes reference to Jesus the man, who lived and died on earth.

Paul Describes the Physical Jesus

Physical Attribute	Verses
Jesus came into the world	1 Timothy 1:15, Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus was seen by Paul	1 Corinthians 9:1
Jesus was a man	Romans 5:15, 1 Timothy 2:5, Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus was flesh	Romans 1:3, 8:3, 9:5, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Ephesians 2:14-15, 1 Timothy 3:16
Jesus ate and drank	1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Jesus bled	Romans 3:24-25, 5:9, 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:25, 27 Ephesians 1:7, 2:13, Colossians 1:20
Jesus was crucified	1 Corinthians 1:13, 23, 2:2, 8, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 3:1, Philippians 2:8
Jesus died	Romans 5:6, 8, 10 6:3, 5, 9-10, 8:34, 14:9, 15, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 11:26 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Galatians 2:21, Philippians 2:8, 3:10, Colossians 1:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 5:10
Jesus was raised from the dead	Romans 1:4, 4:24-25, 6:4-5 9, 7:4, 8:11, 34, 9:17, 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:4, 12-17, 20, 2 Corinthians 4:14, 5:15 Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:14

Conclusion 

The idea that Paul invented Christianity out of some theological vacuum is completely without merit. Although Paul's Letter to the Romans is radically different from just about any other book of the Bible, the teachings found in the Book of Romans is also found in the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and the teachings of the disciples. So, Paul didn't just make up doctrines to create a new religion. However, he did write the greatest theological treatise of all time in the Book of Romans. Not only are the core doctrines of Christianity found outside Paul's writings, but Paul himself taught many other theological issues that reflect the teachings of Jesus during His years of ministry. Contrary to the claims of some, Paul did not just write about some "cosmic Jesus," but described Jesus as a real man who lived and died on planet earth. In conclusion, Paul of Tarsus did not invent Christianity, but clarified the teachings of the Bible as no other Bible author ever has. In addition to his great theological writings, Paul was Christianity's greatest evangelist.

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