Romans 9? Well, clarify then, because I don't see how you mean.
He wasn't among the original 12, no, nor did he claim to be. He said he was least of all. However, Jesus elects apostles, and Jesus elected Paul.
Before I get to Romans 9, I want to address what you just said about Paul. Paul did claim to be one of the twelve and he even titled most of his letters with the declaration "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ". Funny thing, Jesus ONLY chose twelve to be his apostles…not 13.
Paul claims to greater then the apostles:
Paul's view of himself as an apostle didn't stop at only claiming to be an apostle. He also did what he could to communicate to his followers that he topped them all. He even had the nerve to belittle the very apostles that Jesus had called and trained for three and a half years to be his witnesses! Among this braggadocio's self-flattering quotes are the following.
"For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles". ...."As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia." 2 Corinthians 11:5,10
Sometimes, as though he knew he should be ashamed of challenging the stature of Jesus' 12, he would preface his boast with a statement of unworthiness. No doubt he hoped people would embrace him as the greatest of apostles because he was so humble.
"For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain;
but I labored more abundantly than they all..."
. 1Corinthians 15:9,10
Aside from the fact that it was a lie to suggest the ministry had been split up between Jews and Gentiles ...as though he had exclusive rights to the Gentiles and the 12 were to stay with the Jews..., Paul even had the gall to condescend specifically on Peter, James, and John when he belittled them to the Galatians.
"But from those who
seemed to be something - whatever they were, it makes no difference to
me; God shows personal favoritism to no man- for those who
seemed to be something
added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to
me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to
me, they gave
me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised." Galatians 2:6,7,9
This is nothing but an arrogant lie. A couple verses later, Paul takes another cheap-shot at Peter. With Peter nowhere around to defend himself, Paul brags to the Galatians how he had determined Peter was a hypocrite, and how he had put him down before the entire church of Antioch.
"But when Peter had come to Antioch,
I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews
played the hypocrite with him so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when
I saw that they were not straight forward about the truth of the gospel,
I said to Peter before them all, "if you being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?" Galatians 2:11-14
Earlier, in Galatians 1:8,9, Paul commanded his followers to consider "accursed" anyone who preaches a different gospel than his. There is little doubt that Paul wanted the Galatians to think this way toward Peter, if not James, and John as well. It is obvious to anyone reading the book of Galatians that Paul was demanding the Galatian church follow no one but him, not even the original apostles back in Jerusalem.
Aside from Paul's incredible arrogance, I also need to point out that Paul himself was the ultimate hypocrite for condemning Peter for accommodating Gentiles when he was around Gentiles and acting like a Jew around Jews. Here is what he claimed to do,
and commanded the Corinthians to do as well.
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and
to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without the law as without law... that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1Corinthians 9:19-22
"Therefore, whether you
eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Imitate me, just as
I also imitate Christ." 1Corinthians 10:31-33
When Paul says, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" we should do as he says... because in no way did he imitate Jesus! Can anyone imagine Jesus playing chameleon and saying anything like "I have become all things to all men" or "I please all men in all things"?
Jesus affirms the authority of the twelve in Revelation!
12It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates
twelve angels; and names
were written on them, which are
the names of the
twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.
14And the wall of the city had
twelve foundation stones, and on them
were the
twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21: 12-12
This letter was recorded well after Paul's missionary journeys as well as his false claims of being an apostle. Looks like Jesus wasn't convinced. Ouch.
