TODAY’S MUSLIM CHALLENGE: HOW CAN PAUL HAVE INVENTED THE FAITH AND TRINITY DOCTRINES WHICH HE WAS FORMERLY THE NOTORIOUS PERSECUTOR OF?
1). INTRODUCTION
This post is the first of a new series about the Apostle Paul, an overdue pushback against the unjustified Muslim attacks on him.
A typical Muslim claim will say: “So you believe the story of Paul or Saul who claimed God became human and died on the cross to save sinners and evil doers?”
I suggest below an illustrative not exhaustive series of questions and answers for how to address this question and others like it.
2). THE RESPONSE
(i). Were the Gospels which contain the crucifixion narrative written by Paul?
Answer: No they were not.
(ii). Who were the Apostles as recorded in the early chapters of Acts preaching about?
Answer: Christ crucified and resurrected for the forgiveness of sins.
(iii). Which of the Apostles are named as leaders at this time?
Answer: Peter and John (eg Acts 3:1, 3:11, 4:7, 4:13, 4:19).
(iv). Do we see Muslim opposition specifically to the teaching of Peter or John?
Answer: Not that I am aware of, they save their personal attacks for Paul who is not amongst the Apostles at this stage nor even yet mentioned as an opponent.
(v). Was the doctrine of the Trinity visible at that time?
Answer: Yes it is, as illustrated by Peter’s Pentecost sermon and the prayers for strength after they had been first arrested by the rulers, elders and brought before the high priest:
“When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” [38] “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of 👉 Jesus Christ 👈 for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the 👉 Lord our God 👈 will call.” [40] And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation! ” [41] So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. [43] Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. [44] Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. [45] They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. [46] Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:37-47 HCSB).
“After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “👉 Master 👈, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You said through the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈 by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? [26] The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against 👉 the Lord 👈 and against 👉 His Messiah 👈 [29] And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, [30] while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of 👉 Your holy Servant Jesus 👈.” [31] When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈 and began to speak 👉 God’s message 👈 with boldness” (Acts 4:23-26, 29-31 HCSB)
(vi). Who was the arch persecutor of the early church?
Answer: Saul (Paul) was.
(vii). How can Paul have invented the faith which he was formerly trying to stamp out at source?
Answer: he could not.
“Saul agreed with putting him [Stephen] to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:1-3 HCSB)
(viii). Paul received the gospel independently from the other Apostles, or any human source (Galatians 1:12), but when they met was Paul’s message the same as and well received by the others?
Answer: Yes it was.
According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it was the three key figures of Peter James and Paul who met together in Jerusalem, three years after Paul’s Damascus road experience (Galatians 1:18-19). Paul states that he went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas (Peter), but the verb he used was “historeo”,¹ which means not just to visit but to investigate or research matters. Furthermore he stayed with him for 15 days (Galatians 1:18). He says that he saw none of the other apostles at that time, except James the Lord’s brother (verse 19). So when Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 that the risen Christ appeared individually to both Peter and James, he was effectively saying “I know this because I have heard their story first hand”.
The context of his report in Galatians concerns the content of the Gospel. The Galatians had been embracing “a different gospel” because some had been “distorting the gospel” (Galatians 1:6-7). So Paul didn’t visit Jerusalem to discuss trivialities. In clarifying the gospel which they were preaching, it is overwhelmingly probable that Paul received this authoritative oral creed with its list of witnesses from Peter and James. And Paul did not spend two weeks with Peter if they were in disagreement. Again in Galatians 2 we have confirmation that all the Apostles were united:
“When James, Cephas [Peter], and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised” (Galatians 2:9 HCSB).
3). CONCLUSIONS
The above Q&A sequence puts Muslims in a real bind. If Paul was the inventor of Christ’s redeeming death and resurrection, why were Peter John and the other Apostles preaching it and being persecuted for doing so, in the pre-Pauline earliest nascent phase of the church? Ditto with their recognition and acknowledgement of the Three persons of the Trinity.
If Paul was inspired by Satan in his “invention” of Christianity why was he arrested on the road to Damascus and having a life changing encounter with the risen Christ (the first of several such personal encounters)?
If Paul was being misled by Satan as MusIims claim, then he had no need of any such encounters. He was already doing a good job in His persecution of the church (which wasn’t Islam). What purpose does his Damascene conversion serve, unless to put him on the right road? Surely Muslims must applaud the original Saul of Acts chapter 8? Why then can’t you be honest enough to say so?
And if all this is the case, then it simply doesn’t add up that Paul could have invented what was already established doctrine, which the Jewish authorities were already trying to silence, and which he himself was trying to destroy.
And once he became an Apostle is there any evidence that supports singling out Paul as a heretic, or his message at odds with the rest of the Apostles? Not at all.
So Muslims I have yet to see any attempt to reconcile the claim that Paul invented what he was dedicated to destroying before a certain encounter took place. Now is another chance for you to do so.
Over to you Muslims for on point comments.
Footnote:
¹ Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Eerdmans 1985 (Kittel and Friedrich, editors).
1). INTRODUCTION
This post is the first of a new series about the Apostle Paul, an overdue pushback against the unjustified Muslim attacks on him.
A typical Muslim claim will say: “So you believe the story of Paul or Saul who claimed God became human and died on the cross to save sinners and evil doers?”
I suggest below an illustrative not exhaustive series of questions and answers for how to address this question and others like it.
2). THE RESPONSE
(i). Were the Gospels which contain the crucifixion narrative written by Paul?
Answer: No they were not.
(ii). Who were the Apostles as recorded in the early chapters of Acts preaching about?
Answer: Christ crucified and resurrected for the forgiveness of sins.
(iii). Which of the Apostles are named as leaders at this time?
Answer: Peter and John (eg Acts 3:1, 3:11, 4:7, 4:13, 4:19).
(iv). Do we see Muslim opposition specifically to the teaching of Peter or John?
Answer: Not that I am aware of, they save their personal attacks for Paul who is not amongst the Apostles at this stage nor even yet mentioned as an opponent.
(v). Was the doctrine of the Trinity visible at that time?
Answer: Yes it is, as illustrated by Peter’s Pentecost sermon and the prayers for strength after they had been first arrested by the rulers, elders and brought before the high priest:
“When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” [38] “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of 👉 Jesus Christ 👈 for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the 👉 Lord our God 👈 will call.” [40] And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation! ” [41] So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. [43] Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. [44] Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. [45] They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. [46] Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:37-47 HCSB).
“After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “👉 Master 👈, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You said through the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈 by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? [26] The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against 👉 the Lord 👈 and against 👉 His Messiah 👈 [29] And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, [30] while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of 👉 Your holy Servant Jesus 👈.” [31] When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the 👉 Holy Spirit 👈 and began to speak 👉 God’s message 👈 with boldness” (Acts 4:23-26, 29-31 HCSB)
(vi). Who was the arch persecutor of the early church?
Answer: Saul (Paul) was.
(vii). How can Paul have invented the faith which he was formerly trying to stamp out at source?
Answer: he could not.
“Saul agreed with putting him [Stephen] to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:1-3 HCSB)
(viii). Paul received the gospel independently from the other Apostles, or any human source (Galatians 1:12), but when they met was Paul’s message the same as and well received by the others?
Answer: Yes it was.
According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it was the three key figures of Peter James and Paul who met together in Jerusalem, three years after Paul’s Damascus road experience (Galatians 1:18-19). Paul states that he went to Jerusalem to visit Cephas (Peter), but the verb he used was “historeo”,¹ which means not just to visit but to investigate or research matters. Furthermore he stayed with him for 15 days (Galatians 1:18). He says that he saw none of the other apostles at that time, except James the Lord’s brother (verse 19). So when Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 that the risen Christ appeared individually to both Peter and James, he was effectively saying “I know this because I have heard their story first hand”.
The context of his report in Galatians concerns the content of the Gospel. The Galatians had been embracing “a different gospel” because some had been “distorting the gospel” (Galatians 1:6-7). So Paul didn’t visit Jerusalem to discuss trivialities. In clarifying the gospel which they were preaching, it is overwhelmingly probable that Paul received this authoritative oral creed with its list of witnesses from Peter and James. And Paul did not spend two weeks with Peter if they were in disagreement. Again in Galatians 2 we have confirmation that all the Apostles were united:
“When James, Cephas [Peter], and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised” (Galatians 2:9 HCSB).
3). CONCLUSIONS
The above Q&A sequence puts Muslims in a real bind. If Paul was the inventor of Christ’s redeeming death and resurrection, why were Peter John and the other Apostles preaching it and being persecuted for doing so, in the pre-Pauline earliest nascent phase of the church? Ditto with their recognition and acknowledgement of the Three persons of the Trinity.
If Paul was inspired by Satan in his “invention” of Christianity why was he arrested on the road to Damascus and having a life changing encounter with the risen Christ (the first of several such personal encounters)?
If Paul was being misled by Satan as MusIims claim, then he had no need of any such encounters. He was already doing a good job in His persecution of the church (which wasn’t Islam). What purpose does his Damascene conversion serve, unless to put him on the right road? Surely Muslims must applaud the original Saul of Acts chapter 8? Why then can’t you be honest enough to say so?
And if all this is the case, then it simply doesn’t add up that Paul could have invented what was already established doctrine, which the Jewish authorities were already trying to silence, and which he himself was trying to destroy.
And once he became an Apostle is there any evidence that supports singling out Paul as a heretic, or his message at odds with the rest of the Apostles? Not at all.
So Muslims I have yet to see any attempt to reconcile the claim that Paul invented what he was dedicated to destroying before a certain encounter took place. Now is another chance for you to do so.
Over to you Muslims for on point comments.
Footnote:
¹ Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Eerdmans 1985 (Kittel and Friedrich, editors).