What do you think of Paul the Apostle?

[Sumadji]

You missed the point -- Gentiles were never expected to abide by Jewish law. However, there were a great deal of disporia Jews living among the Gentiles north of Palestine and this was the basis of the controversy in the Jerusalem Church. After 70 CE it didn't matter any more and foreseeing what was near at hand, Peter chose the survival of the Church over arguing Paul's theology, thus Peter was indeed the rock fountain to what Paul built. Otherwise we would have lost the Good News completely. Now we still have the rock foundation of the Gospels to rebuild upon as we pull the Paganism away through scholarship.

Fair enough. Thank you. But clearly Peter acknowledged that Christians were not bound by Jewish observance. Even at such an early stage, before the Gospels, Christianity was not a new branch or interpretation of Judaism and that wasn't down to Paul alone?

 

[Spice]

Fair enough. Thank you. But clearly Peter acknowledged that Christians were not bound by Jewish observance. Even at such an early stage, before the Gospels, Christianity was not a new branch or interpretation of Judaism and that wasn't down to Paul alone?

Jesus did not intend a new religion. He intended to calm the rising against Rome by reminding everyone of the spirit of their religion -- to remind everyone to love God and your neighbor. That wasn't new, but the Sadducees were far into worldly matters with Rome, the Zealots were becoming more unpredictable, and Jesus was trying to teach, through the Pharisees, the masses, that worldly matters were overtaking their commitment to God. The Good News was that the Kingdom was in their midst...calm down and look inside for peace and stability with God.

All the rest was additions to make something that wasn't. But we can be grateful Jesus was kept "alive" in that his actual message remains relevant for people of All Faith's.

In the craziness of this world cling to the love and peace that is God, in all His names.

 

[Sumadji]

Jesus did not intend a new religion. He intended to calm the rising against Rome by reminding everyone of the spirit of their religion -- to remind everyone to love God and your neighbor. That wasn't new, but the Sadducees were far into worldly matters with Rome, the Zealots were becoming more unpredictable, and Jesus was trying to teach, through the Pharisees, the masses, that worldly matters were overtaking their commitment to God. The Good News was that the Kingdom was in their midst...calm down and look inside for peace and stability with God.

All the rest was additions to make something that wasn't. But we can be grateful Jesus was kept "alive" in that his actual message remains relevant for people of All Faith's.

Ah well. The only certainty is that these won't be the final definitive words about the life and death of Jesus, imo

 

[Spice]

Ah well. The only certainty is that these won't be the final definitive words about the life and death of Jesus, imo

Absolutely not, for as Ecclesiastes 1 says:

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever.

9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.