Saul Of Tarsus In Non-christian Works Options

[jzere]

it would not be easy to find an apostle more revered by the christians & more reviled by non-christians than saul of tarsus. whether it be his jewish (pharisaic) credentials, persecution of early christians, or the theology arisen in his name, non-christian censure is likely to follow.

one critical view is that he wanted to (spiritually) corrupt the people by leading them to what was false. but if he was indeed teaching abominations, would it not be very "unpharisaic"?



put simply, the idea that paul was violating the teachings of christ, & also the law, makes him appear more of a gentile than a jew. is anybody aware of his portrayal in non-christian sources?


tc.

wish u joy. :-)

[jzere]

found something:

James Tabor argues that Ebionites rejected doctrines and traditions, which they believed had been added to Mosaic Law, including scribal alterations of the texts of scripture; Shlomo Pines counters that all these teachings are "Gnostic Christian" in origin and are characteristics of the Elcesaite sect, which have been mistakenly or falsely attributed to Ebionites. 

Ebionites revered John the Baptizer as the precursor to Jesus, and the Desposyni (a sacred name reserved only for Jesus' blood relatives), especially James the Just, as his legitimate successors, rather than Peter. Ebionites, however, denounced Paul as an apostate from the Law and a false apostle. Epiphanius claims that some Ebionites gossiped that Paul was a Greek who converted to Judaism in order to marry the High Priest's daughter, and then apostasized when she rejected him (Panarion 16:9).

tc.

wish u joy. :-)

[jzere]

peter rebukes simon magus & his vision-

v know of paul's vision of christ (which physically blinded him), following which he "became" an apostle of christ. v also know his rebuking of peter in galatians. in this clementine literature v have peter condemning simon magus, who is identified by some as paul:

17.19 -- Opposition to Peter Unreasonable.



"If, then, our Jesus appeared to you in a vision, made Himself known to you, and spoke to you, it was as one who is enraged with an adversary; and this is the reason why it was through visions and dreams, or through revelations that were from without, that He spoke to you. 

"But can any one be rendered fit for instruction through apparitions? And if you will say, 'It is possible,' then I ask, 'Why did our teacher abide and discourse a whole year to those who were awake?' And how are we to believe your word, when you tell us that He appeared to you? And how did He appear to you, when you entertain opinions contrary to His teaching? 

"But if you were seen and taught by Him, and became His apostle for a single hour, proclaim His utterances, interpret His sayings, love His apostles, contend not with me who companied with Him. For in direct opposition to me, who am a firm rock, the foundation of the Church, you now stand. If you were not opposed to me, you would not accuse me, and revile the truth proclaimed by me, in order that I may not be believed when I state what I myself have heard with my own ears from the Lord, as if I were evidently a person that was condemned and in bad repute.  

"But if you say that I am condemned, you bring an accusation against God, who revealed the Christ to me, and you inveigh against Him who pronounced me blessed on account of the revelation. But if, indeed, you really wish to work in the cause of truth, learn first of all from us what we have learned from Him, and, becoming a disciple of the truth, become a fellow-worker with us."

tc.

wish u joy. :-)

[jesusfighter]

Can you site a direct violation to the teachings of Christ from Scripture?