The word of Paul is not the Word of God (1)


By Femi Aribisala

If God were to inspire me to write a book, the words in my book would still be my words.  They would  not be the word of God. 
 
Ask a Christian a question about Jesus, and he might answer with a quotation from Paul.  But who tells us Paul speaks for Jesus?  Why do we need Paul to speak for Jesus when Jesus speaks for himself?  Why do we need Paul to speak for Jesus when Jesus himself warns us: “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time?” (Mark 13:23).  If Jesus has told us all we need to know, why do we need someone else to add to, or subtract from, what he said?
 
Limitations of scripture
 
The word of God is, and will forever be, with God. (John 1:1).  God created all things with his word. He spoke his word to the patriarchs and the prophets of Israel. Then he sent his word to the world in the person of Jesus, his Son.  The word of God now sits at the right hand of God from where he speaks into the hearts and minds of sons of God and judges all things.  There is no scriptural basis whatsoever for concluding that this word of God is the same as the word of Paul.
 
Daniel says: “I, Daniel, understood from the scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.” (Daniel 9:2).  This shows that the scriptures are separate and distinct from the word of God.  The scriptures are given by men.  The word of God is given by God.  The scriptures are written by men.  The word of God is spoken by God. 
 
Accordingly, Jesus points out that the word of God gives life: scriptures do not. He says to the Jews: “You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40). 
 
Paul says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16).  But this does not make the scriptures the word of God.  There is a difference between what God says and what God inspires.  If God were to inspire me to write a book, the words in my book would still be my words.  They would not be the word of God.  All that can be said is that my words were written by the inspiration of God.  If God were to inspire me to do a painting, it would not thereby be the painting of God? It would still be my painting.
 
Second Peter
 
Contrary to popular perception, the writer of 2 Peter does Paul no favours. He says: “No prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21).  However, Paul is not a prophet.  2 Peter does not classify Paul’s writing as prophecy but as “scripture.”  Christians need to understand that the law and the prophets are the highest form of inspired Jewish writings.  Other “writings” are considered of lower cadre. 
 
2 Peter does not even acknowledge Paul as an apostle of Christ.  Instead, it pointedly refers to him as “Brother Paul.”  It does not say Paul writes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Instead, it says Paul writes: “according to the wisdom that God gave him.” (2 Peter 3:15).  That is certainly not a high commendation. It actually means 2 Peter does not accept Paul’s writings as the word of God.  At best, they are words of wisdom.  I also write according to the wisdom God gave me. But that does not make my writings the word of God.
 
Moreover, the major concern of 2 Peter is that Paul’s letters are inclined to lead unstable believers astray.  I share that concern.  However, there is no danger in the word of God leading anybody astray.  Nowhere in the scriptures are we counseled to be careful that the word of God might lead us astray.  2 Peter says some of Paul’s writings are “hard to understand.”  Again, this immediately shows they cannot be the word of God.  The word of God is not hard to understand.  On the contrary, it “gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130).
 
Word of Paul
 
When Paul wrote his letter to Timothy declaring the scriptures to be the inspiration of God, the New Testament bible was non-existent.  Therefore, Paul’s epistles can surely not be included in his classification of the scriptures.  In any case, Paul’s view of the Old Testament contradicts that of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah insists the scribes tampered with the bible.  He asks: “How can you say, ‘We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,’ when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?” (Jeremiah 8:.  
 
Paul is the only writer in the bible who says his word is the word of God.  He says to the Thessalonians: “When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).  This is one of the most deceitful things Paul ever said.  In the bible, Paul mostly speaks for himself and about himself.  Time and again, he presents himself as his own authority, ensuring that his words should not be mistaken for the word of God.
 
The word of God can only come from God.  It cannot come from man.  Paul is a man; therefore, he cannot speak the word of God.  John the Baptist, whose heavenly calling Jesus authenticates, never claims he speaks the word of God.  Instead he says: “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:31).  “He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” (John 3:34).
 
John is talking here about Jesus and no one else.  Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit are divinely authorised to speak the word of God on earth.  They are the only two people who come from heaven.  They also never speak their own words.  They only speak God’s words. 
 
Jesus says: “I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50).  The same principle applies to the Holy Spirit.  Jesus says: “He will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak.” (John 16:13).
 
These principles have no applicability to Paul.  Even by his own admission, Paul speaks his own words.  He says: “What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly.” (2 Corinthians 11:17).  But God does not speak foolishly.  (Continued).



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/the-word-of-paul-is-not-the-word-of-god-1/

even the(whole) bible is not the Word of God.........
Only Jesus and His teachings are!

It's so pathetic when people quote (opinion) words of some peeps in the bible and hold on to it as the Word of God......
These words are only guide to those who (may or may,not) share similar experience with the writer.........for them to learn and decide.........whether to follow the writer suggestion(s).

This apply to the two major religion in Nigeria!

Dzany: even the(whole) bible is not the Word of God.........
Only Jesus and His teachings are!

It's so pathetic when people quote (opinion) words of some peeps in the bible and hold on to it as the Word of God......
These words are only guide to those who (may or may,not) share similar experience with the writer.........for them to learn and decide.........whether to follow the writer suggestion(s).

This apply to the two major religion in Nigeria!

All the bible is the word of God,,those peeps you are saying wrote those by the direction of the holy Spirit,the spirit of God that Comes directly from him it was put in there mind to say It...it Serves as guide For us...

Ajibam:

All the bible is the word of God,,those peeps you are saying wrote those by the direction of the holy Spirit,the spirit of God that Comes directly from him it was put in there mind to say It...it Serves as guide For us...

.............

Songs of solomon is now the word of God right?......or you mean to tell me that Paul letter(s) (epistle) are word of God.......you need to separate the word of God frm the opinion of men........soon you will tell me me your pastors word is the word of God....
Dream on brother!

@ ayenny

Have you been on holidays?

You are the Greatest Misinterpreter of our time.

Dzany: even the(whole) bible is not the Word of God.........
Only Jesus and His teachings are!

It's so pathetic when people quote (opinion) words of some peeps in the bible and hold on to it as the Word of God......
These words are only guide to those who (may or may,not) share similar experience with the writer.........for them to learn and decide.........whether to follow the writer suggestion(s).

This apply to the two major religion in Nigeria!

How can only the words of Jesus and his teachings be the only words of God in the Bible?

What about the below and several others.

Exodus 20:1-13, 15-19 KJV
And God spake all these words, saying, [2] I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. [7] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is , and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. [12] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. [13] Thou shalt not kill. [15] Thou shalt not steal. [16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. [17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. [18] And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it , they removed, and stood afar off. [19] And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

@ ayenny

Have you been on holidays?

You are the Greatest Misinterpreter of the Bible of our time.

@poster,

U better repent and surrender ur life to Christ.All bible scripture is written by inspiration of God.

The bible serves as a guide.......it shoouldnt be taken as d only entire word of God. It contains traditions too

cleanvessel: @ ayenny

Have you been on holidays?

yes my brother, how is family and life generally

cleanvessel: @ ayenny

You are the Greatest Misinterpreter of the Bible of our time.

That's from your mouth

Ficco: @poster,

U better repent and surrender ur life to Christ.All bible scripture is written by inspiration of God.

Inspiration from God? Maybe you can explain those verse to me;

2 Samuel 24:9
9. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

1 Chronicles 21:5
5. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

N:B. (800,000 for MEN and 500,000 for judah. OR 1million 200,000 for Men and270,000 for judah) pls take ONE

@Ayeni being a long time man?

I just have something to ship in; you quickly grab the TITLE of his(Femi) message but you neglected the main point because you see Paul's word as Paul's own word.

This is the point you missed: "The word of God is, and will forever be, with God. (John 1:1). God created all things with his word. He spoke his word to the patriarchs and the prophets of Israel. Then he sent his word to the world in the person of Jesus, his Son."

Now if God sent His own word into the world in the person of Jesus, who else should you believe God's word as a person or a message received fron an angel? because I can see you agree with all his statement. Maybe you didn't see it sha?

Beside anyone can intepret the Bible the way they like (as you and you brethen usaully do).

Let's see a little statement from Brother Paul himself.

2 Cor 2:17 "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

1 Cor 2:13 "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

1 Cor 1:14 "If any man think himself to be a prophet,or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."

Gal 1:12 "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Thess 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts."

Even Jesus said in John16:12-14 "12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive ofmine, and shall shew it unto you."

So Paul's teaching and Jesus' teaching are the same.

Lastly, Brother Paul read and understood this OT curse if not he won't continue to write and the Jews won't have chosen all his epistles.
Ezekiel 13:8 "Therefore thus saith the Lord God; 'Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God."

So help me tell Brother Femi that I read my Bible daily I'm not part of the people who depends on what Pastor says only.

Shalom!

Wow wow,d great twister of d Bible is back,the great copy and paste oga is back...
Ayenni,where v u been,i guess u went n learn more abt arab shey?

Ajibam:
■ All the bible is the word of God,,those peeps you are saying wrote those by the direction of the holy Spirit,the spirit of God that Comes directly from him it was put in there mind to say It...it Serves as guide For us...

That is instead the lie that was specially fed you by your gods of men in order that they may then proceed to assert their delusions regarding the opinions of Paul above the one who Scripture infact proclaimed the Word of God.