Copyright © True Gnostic Church. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions
GLOSSARY
Paul (Saul of Tarsus)
Occurrences: 9 — Commentary only
See: Cephas, Christ/Jesus, Christ (house of), Joseph of Arimathea
Summary: Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul) was the most influential figure in the rise of Christian theology. He is considered by true Gnostics as the Usurper and the true “Father of Heresy”, as his doctrines were not an accurate reflection of Yeshua’s teachings. Paul did not know Yeshua. He hijacked Yeshua’s messaged, created “Christ”, and superimposed this “Christ” over the life and teachings of Yeshua. It was Paul who created the doctrines that became the foundation for Christian orthodoxy, not Yeshua. In the doctrines of Paul, many of the radical teachings of Yeshua were lost. The original followers of Yeshua were not known as Christians, they were known as Nazoreans, and were often referred to as those who followed the Way.
The following provides a general timeline and interpretation of Paul’s involvement with the Apostles and his efforts in formulating his own peculiar doctrine that would later become the foundation for Christianity. The following was taught publicly by the author during the month of April, 2008.
36-37 CE (?) Crucifixion of Yeshua
37–39 CE Temple rulers begin persecution of the Nazoreans
38 CE Saul causes the stoning of James the Just. (According to Wood, Saul’s consent to the stoning of Stephen as told of in the book of Acts is a distortion of history and/or a literary device. It was actually James the Just who was stoned, but James survived.)
39 CE Saul (as an agent of temple authorities) goes to Damascus (Qumran) with arrest warrants. He intends to arrest the followers of Yeshua (followers of the Way), who re-built and re-inhabited Qumran.
Acts 9:1-2
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
39 CE Saul’s conversion Acts 9:3-19 Galatians 1:11-18
39-42 CE Saul resides in Qumran (Damascus) for three years. He created and pushed his own interpretation of Yeshua’s life and teachings which upset many in Qumran. He was essentially chased out.
Acts 9:19-25
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23 After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
During the three years Saul was in Damascus (Qumran), he created his own doctrine about the life and purpose of Yeshua. Saul invents:
• “Christ” and super-imposes this over Yeshua
• Salvation through faith in “Christ”
• The Perfect Christ
• The Perfect Sacrifice
• Virgin Birth of Christ
• Blood Atonement
• Original Sin
• Universal Resurrection
• Damnation of non-believers: the doctrine of hell and final judgment
• The worship of “Christ” instead of God
• The “born again” controversy: water baptism vs. the “only begotten” state
These doctrines identify Saul as the first heretic, the true ‘Father of All Heresy’. Believers in the doctrines of Paul become the first Christians.
Acts 9:22
22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
42 CE Saul is sent to Jerusalem to be interviewed by the apostles of Yeshua Acts 9:26-31
• Saul refuses to be interviewed by the women apostles
• Barnabas becomes Saul’s first convert in Qumran
• Saul causes great contention within the ‘First Church’ in Jerusalem
• Apostles send Saul back to Tarsus
• Peace is restored in the absence of Saul
43 CE Apostles send Barnabas to Saul in Tarsus; the two go to Antioch, Syria, establish first “Christian” church (Acts 11:19-26)
44 CE Saul and Barnabas are appointed as missionaries by the “Christian” church in Antioch
* Saul takes relief funds to Jerusalem, forcing the apostles to express public gratitude to Saul and Barnabas
Acts 11:29-30
29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
44-49 CE Saul becomes Paul: completes first mission to the gentiles Acts 13:46-48
47-49 CE Paul writes his first epistles (before the great Jerusalem Synod)
50 CE Hearing of Paul’s growing power and immanence, the Apostles convene the First Jerusalem Synod. The purpose of this ‘Council of Jerusalem’ was to investigate the doctrines and claims of Paul. The following presents the true agenda of the synod (according to Wood— Lesson notes: April, 2008).
• Did Paul’s “Christ” bear any resemblance to the Yeshua who all the Apostles knew personally?
• Was the “Baptism” preached by Paul similar to Yeshua’s doctrine of the “Only Begotten” state?
• Was Paul’s gospel the same as that of Cephas, James (the Just) and John?
• Paul’s doctrine of “Faith” vs. the strict adherence of Mosaic Law as represented by Zadok
• The role of women in the church
• What about Paul’s claim of being an apostle?
* After the First Synod of Jerusalem in 50 CE, the Apostles are viewed by Paul as his adversaries.
51-65 CE Paul continues to write epistles
65 CE Approximate time of Paul’s death
Azrael’s Commentary — Cephas/Simon Bar Jonas; para. 3-5
[...] After the resurrection of Yeshua, Cephas changed. He became known as a kind and compassionate man. Cephas never quite forgave himself for denying Yeshua three times. But he did spend the rest of his life trying to make amends. Cephas became the head of the church in Galilee until 55 CE, when he turned the job over to James the brother of Yeshua.
It was Cephas’ intent to go check on the churches which were being created through the preaching of Paul. Cephas was asked to undertake this project by the original apostles of Yeshua, of which Paul was not a member. None of the apostles really trusted Paul. He was too educated, too pushy and always took it as his right to tell the apostles what he thought they should be doing. And while it was the original apostles who encouraged Paul to go into the Gentile world to preach, they only did so to get him out of Israel where he would be seen as a nuisance and a handicap to the Jewish Christian churches. Yet because the original apostles did not trust Paul, they sent with him the newest member of the apostleship, Barnabas, to watch over him.
Cephas took with him his wife, Joanna, and together they visited the churches of the Roman world. It must be said that they were well received by the churches of Paul. As the years passed, Cephas and Paul set aside their differences and became friends. They worked more and more together; Cephas would talk about the life of Yeshua, and Paul would teach doctrine. Cephas was crucified in Rome in 65 CE, under the orders of Nero.
Azrael’s Commentary — Joseph of Arimathea; para. 2
[...] Joseph of Arimathea was one of the most devoted disciples of Yeshua. He freely gave to the poor, and he used his vast wealth to finance the missions of Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Cephas and Matthew. [...]
Notes/References: