Jesus Christ and The Apostle Paul - Two Parts

[larry2]

Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul

by larry2

Part One of Two

Dear brethren in Christ, this tract is to explain how the Apostle Paul was chosen by God to give out the gospel of the grace and glory to the Church. Our responsibility is to believe God's word, and differentiate between the preaching of the kingdom to Israel, and Church doctrines that were hidden to them. We must first realize that "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.

Peter recognized Paul's writings as scripture and describes them as "Hard to understand." In 2 Peter 3:15-16 he wrote: "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." Peter, you see, was not given the revelation that God gave to Paul as you'll see further in this study.

There are many today that profess to only believe the red lettered words of the scriptures uttered by Jesus contained mainly in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They have the idea that only Jesus' own words while on this earth were given for the Jews and Gentiles in this present dispensational age of grace to live by. They are wrong! Jesus preached what is known as kingdom teachings to the Jews concerning His being their Messiah, His coming one thousand year reign, and their part in it. In Matthew 10:5-7, “These twelve Jesus sent out (His twelve Apostles) and commanded them, saying: Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. (6) But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (7) And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus' words here on earth were to the lost sheep of Israel. In John 1:11 "He (Jesus) came to his own, and His own received him not. Then Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law." He came to His people (The Jews) to redeem them and preach of the coming kingdom, but they wouldn't have Him as their promised Messias (Christ, the Anointed One - their promised Savior). If Israel would have accepted Jesus as their savior, the one thousand year reign of Christ would have started immediately. Jesus would later send the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles with the message to the Church, find rest for your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Galatians 5:1. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.

Paul chosen by God

Paul states in Galatians 1:1 that "Paul, an apostle (Not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)," and in Galatians 1:11-12 Paul says, "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. (12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." The gospel Paul was to give out was by direct revelation from God.

Jesus tells Ananias in Acts 9:15, "But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 26:13-18. On a trip to Damascus at midday, Paul sees a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, and hears a voice speaking to him, so Paul asked, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (16) But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. (17) I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, (18) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

The Apostles Paul and Peter preached to Jews and Gentiles as to the way of being saved, and that has always been by grace as we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, but in Romans 11:13 Paul says, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:" Galatians 2:7-9. "When they (Those at Jerusalem) saw that the gospel of (The grace and glory - that hidden mystery for) the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of (The kingdom for) the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; (8) (For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles (9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me (Paul) and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision (Jews)."

Differences In The Gospels

We must first distinguish between what Jesus and His twelve apostles taught, and that which Paul was given to teach. In Mark 1:14-15 "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel." In Acts 18:28 "Paul mightily and publicly convinced the Jews, showing them by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." It states further in Acts 19:8 that "Paul went boldly into the synagogue persuading the Jews of things concerning the kingdom of God." They all preached the kingdom of God which includes all who accept Jesus as their savior, but the preaching to the Jews of the coming kingdom or millennium was different than that given by Paul to the Gentiles concerning the Church.

Jesus revealed the complete and finished gospel that He wanted preached to the world, which was hid from previous generations, through the Apostle Paul. Colossians 1:25-26. "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; (26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:" and Romans 16:25-26 confirms this same thought. "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (26) But now is made manifest." This is the reason that Peter found Paul's writing as "Hard to be understood." Paul's message had been hidden from Peter.

In Acts 13:46, "Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (The Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Romans 1:16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Church Doctrines

Let's look at some of the differences in kingdom teaching and church doctrines. Understand again that the preaching of Paul to the Gentiles is the preaching of Jesus by revelation to him. In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told His apostles, "Surely I say unto you, that you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel," and the people they would be judging will be on this earth during the millennium, or the one thousand year reign of Christ. In Acts 1:11, Israel is told, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven." Matthew chapter 24 describes when Jesus is going to return to Israel on the earth after a horrible time of tribulation, whereas Paul said we of the church would be caught up into heaven to meet the Lord in the air in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Another difference: In John 3:29, John the Baptist was happy in just being the friend of the Bridegroom at Jesus' wedding, but Paul says we have the opportunity of being the bride as a joint-heir in Romans 8:17 & 2 Timothy 2:12. The Church is not only heirs of God, but can be joint or fellow-heirs with Christ and reigning with Him if they want to. Revelation 19:7 says that "The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." We have that hope of being glorified with Jesus Himself. This promise was not made to Israel as a nation.

A paradise and peace on earth is Israel's hope. Amos 9:13. "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it. Isaiah 11:6-8 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (7) And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8) And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. BUT we have promises those of Israel could also have if they would accept Christ today, and like Paul said of himself in 1 Corinthians 15:8. And last of all He (Jesus) was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. Paul accepted Christ as his savior and was born again ahead of his nation Israel who will be born at once. Isaiah 66:8.

Colossians 1:27. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory," and Ephesians 3:8, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." The unsearchable riches of Christ available in Ephesians 3:8 are not even in the minds of most Christians. Most are satisfied with just being saved, though some are not even assured of that in their faith. There are in the Scripture, different doctrines most will not believe such as eternal security of the believer, healing, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looking forward to His coming for them, etc. These unsearchable riches that Paul exhorts us to have are there for the taking by faith.


Please Go To First Reply for Part Two > > > >

[larry2]

Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul

Part Two

The Purpose of Believing God's Word

Romans 2:16 tells us, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Paul's gospel). This day that Jesus will judge the Christian is for reward only. In 1 Corinthians 3:11-14 it is said, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide (Isn't burned) which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." We're presently being judged by Jesus as He is walking among the churches as shown in the first three chapters of Revelation. We're being judged according to that finished gospel contained in Paul's epistles; and according to our walk with the Lord, we fall into one of the categories of the seven different churches described there. Are you still putting Jesus first in your life, or can you be judged as having left your first love as the Ephesians’ church did in Revelation 2:4? It is also possible that you could be judged as having not denied His name and patiently keeping God's word as the church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8,10, and rewarded by not having to enter the hour of temptation (Tribulation) that the church of Thyatira will be entering if they don't repent of their deeds told them in Revelation 2:22.

1 Peter 4:17. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Revelation 3:19. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Hebrews 12:8. "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye illegitimate, and not sons." 2 Corinthians 5:10. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Jesus tells us in Revelation 22:12, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Gospel Fellowship and Grace and Glory Bible College has an excellent booklet available free online for download on "The Judgment Seat of Christ" listed under pamphlets.

Since Paul was given this commission, he tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be ye followers of me (Paul), even as I also am of Christ." You won't be able to follow Christ in dying for the world, but you can follow Jesus as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30.

Paul suffered many things to bring us the gospel, and the following verses are an illustration of how he followed Christ. (23) "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (29) Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? (30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities." Regardless of the problems he encountered, he was able to say in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." If you're attending a church, have you heard Paul's gospel? You can hear a message of salvation in most Christian churches, but how many are telling their congregations what God wants told during this dispensational age of grace? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:16, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." In Psalm 138:2, David praises God saying: "For Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Jesus' word is very important and to be learned correctly, so learn the difference as to what He is saying to us in Paul's gospel, and what He told the Jews as pertaining to their coming kingdom. Trying to apply to myself what Jesus came to tell the Jews as a nation would be much like trying to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis 2:17, a command given to Adam, and expecting that to be considered as doing the will of God in my own life. If you're having a problem figuring out what you're to be doing in this present age of grace, it could help to read the New Scofield Bible notes of Genesis 1:28 on dispensations.

Preaching For Gain

"There are them which are of reputation" Galatians 2:2, "False brethren" in Galatians 2:4, "And those who seem to be somewhat," Galatians 2:6, but Paul continued "Whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person: for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:" Philippians 1:15-18. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (16) The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: (17) But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. (18) What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." Like Paul, I do, and we should all rejoice that Christ is preached, but I will not support error in any manner that I'm aware of because Paul states in Galatians 1:8-9, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Subject to the greatest available penalty). (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." You must have noticed by now if even partially knowledgeable of the scriptures, that many are not preaching Paul's gospel today.

In Luke 10:38-42, there is the story of Martha and her sister Mary. Martha griped that she was left alone to serve the guests, while Mary just sat at Jesus' feet and listened to His words. Jesus answered that Martha was (41) "Careful and troubled about many things, (42) but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." There are many today trying to get you busy doing God's work for Him, but learn the word of God. In Acts 17:10-11, Paul and Silas went unto Berea to preach to them, and "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." We should do the same. Remember Psalm 138:2, David praises God saying: "For Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

A dear friend of mine flinches at the fact that I will call the teaching of most TV preachers wrong, and says I shouldn't judge them. An evangelist or preacher gets on TV professing their ministry is an act of faith in reaching the world with the gospel, and then show their great faith by begging for money or just plain selling the gospel. They also have many doctrines differing from one another, but especially different from Paul's gospel. One says that being filled with the Holy Spirit expressed by speaking in tongues is not applicable for today, while another says it is. Some profess we possess eternal life and once saved, always saved, but others say we only have conditional life instead of eternal life unless we keep ourselves free from sin because we are still under law - some even profess that eating certain foods, and keeping holy days are the way to please God. There is one evangelist telling you that the way to receive healing is by having daily communion, and only wants $43.00 to send you a little Communion set to observe it with. I observed another evangelist giving out a perfect message on being saved by grace, then in the very next appearance that I saw, saying that we could give up that eternal life if we wanted to. WOW! Some are being led to the Lord through their preaching, and that is good, but if you want to learn the full gospel according to scripture, you have to be very selective in what or who you are listening to.

Romans 16:17-18. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (18) For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." There's going to be a lot of surprised Christians when they discover that members of their particular church organization are not the only ones in heaven. Most preach kingdom teaching, and I know of none on TV correctly teaching on Jesus and His bride.

Now, it is evident that the Apostle Paul must preach the gospel he was given, but it seems according to our present TV ministries, Paul just didn't know how to get things done the right way, because he stated in 1 Corinthians 9:18, "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel."

This gospel which was provided free was to be preached in the entire world. Mark 16:15. "And He (Jesus) said unto them (The twelve apostles), Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Colossians 1:23. "Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature (Everyone) which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." Is it not wonderful how God accomplished sending His word into the world reaching everyone without a great free will offering being taken up, but if He's the one that's telling us to do something He'll provide the support for it also. Advice given to my Pastor, D.E. Hill by A.S. Copley was: it's inevitable that you'll need money to operate your ministry, but learn to go to God for it, and not the people: I haven't seen it fail yet. Of course, the world wasn't as populated as it is now, so God without begging was able to reach the world through the foolishness of preaching. 1 Corinthians 1:21. "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

Many preachers today say that they're going to reach the world with the gospel if I'll only support their ministry, especially with seed faith money. Then and only then will God be able to accomplish reaching the world with the gospel, and I'll get rich in the process. This reasoning reminds me of a portion of 1 Timothy 6:5, where "Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, suppose that gain is godliness." We're told to withdraw ourselves from them. They insinuate that if I don't get rich or experience deliverance and healing from everything, it'll probably be my fault due to a lack of faith on my part, etc. I wonder if they'll give back my seed faith offering if it doesn't work for me.

Most of those preachers also profess to believe that the coming of the Lord is at hand, or that we're in the last days, but they also believe that there is a world wide revival going on, and if we will only help, it'll happen. Yet in 1Timothy 4:1, scripture indicates that in the end times, there will not be a great revival. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" and 2 Timothy 4: 3 says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." They'll seek out silver tongued preachers telling them what they want to hear. As a result of this very real warfare, we should be especially vigilant in our walk with Christ. Hebrews 10:25. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Revelation 2:2. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:" Considering John 2:13-16, I actually believe Jesus would drive out the money changers (Chargers) in our present day that sell their books, records, and tapes: giving out a teaching of God for profit. Again, I repeat what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:18. "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Ephesians 4:3. We should "Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," but I must be in agreement with the Spirit and you in agreement with the Spirit to have unity with the Spirit. If they preach wrong doctrine, or are just sucking people into making them rich, what should we do? I certainly can't have unity with them if I insist on staying with Paul's teaching.

Paul sure didn't hesitate to judge something as wrong which he did in Galatians 2:11-14. "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." Peter was an apostle, but was not acting according to truth, and Paul wouldn't tolerate preaching or acting wrong for a moment. In 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, we are plainly told to judge that which is wrong within Christian brethren, and to not keep company with them. Make up your minds that the truth given us in God's word must be believed, adhered to, and rightly divided if you're going to successfully walk with God the way He wants you to, but remember that it's by His grace that we will do anything. Matthew 11:29-30. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart." You have been freed from the law, so do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Don't let anyone pull you into a salvation by works of the law message: just don't get entangled or even listen to it.

Paul authored the following fourteen books of the New Testament which are considered "His gospel," though he didn't personally write all of them. Many don't attribute the "Epistle of Hebrews" to the Apostle Paul, but 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18 says, "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." This is the way Paul signed off in his letters to these different churches, and Hebrews 13:25 closes with "Grace be with you all. Amen." To me and others, this indicates Paul authored Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:34 says "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds." To me and others, this indicates Paul authored Hebrews.

Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews

God bless you all in Jesus' name

[jeffweeder]

Hi Larry

There are many today that profess to only believe the red lettered words of the scriptures uttered by Jesus contained mainly in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They have the idea that only Jesus' own words while on this earth were given for the Jews and Gentiles in this present dispensational age of grace to live by. They are wrong!

Woe.

Im going to have to strongly disagree. There is one gospel, not 2.

Peter was the first to have a revelation of Jesus being the way unto salavation---and upon that rock of confession Christ would build his whole Church.
The 12 didnt fully understand it at the time ,ill grant you that, but after the ressurection, Jesus opened their minds to what the prophets were saying all along--and they would be witnesses to not only the Jews, but the whole world.
Peter was the first to minister to gentiles, and netted Cornelius.

These following scriptures show that Paul had nothing different to offer, as far as the Gospel was concerned.
He professed that he added nothing to what Jesus had already opened the minds of the 12 too.

Paul 1 cor 15

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
11 Whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

acts 26

So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
21 "For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.
22 "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;
23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

What Jesus opened the minds of the 12 too concerning what the prophets had said, is the only thing Paul professes.

[larry2]

Hey jeffweeder, thanks for your response.

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God. If the other Apostles already knew what was revealed to Paul, why would God pick him to reveal something hidden?

Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: These things were not made known until given by Paul as a revelation from God.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Romans 16:25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Quoting Jeffweeder - Acts 26:22 "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;

Response - I'm not sure Paul was stating in Acts 26:22 what was revealed unto him hidden from the world in 1 Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: I say this because we do not read in Acts where Paul taught any of those things. Even later Peter says in 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood: Peter said this of Paul's writing.

Quoting jeffweeder - Im going to have to strongly disagree. There is one gospel, not 2

Response - There are several gospels below showing different aspects of the gospel such as explaining the grace of God, etc, though they are all dependent on Christ's death and resurrection.

Mark 1:1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Romans 1:1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Mark 1:14. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Acts 20:24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Quoting jeffweeder - The 12 didnt fully understand it at the time ,ill grant you that, but after the ressurection, Jesus opened their minds to what the prophets were saying all along--and they would be witnesses to not only the Jews, but the whole world. Peter was the first to minister to gentiles, and netted Cornelius.

Response - Yes Peter was the first disciple to confess: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, but he still did not have the fulfilled gospel. Jesus revealed that to Peter and the other disciples through Paul.

Galatians 2:7. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

1 Timothy. 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. This is the fulfilled gospel.

in Jesus' name -

[threebigrocks]

Larry, there is one gospel. Period. If Paul had his own, then in effect that would make him who we place our faith in. Paul came as a bondservant of Christ - in nobody's name but his own. He did not stand on his own but always, always on Christ who is the cornerstone. He said that explicitly on more than one occasion.

Paul said the following:
(Bold mind)

1 Corinthians 1

10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

There is no other gospel except for the one Christ brought. There is no secret, there is no conspiracy, there is one gospel, one hope on which we place our faith. Paul, if he were around to read this today, would be disgusted.