Should we listen to Paul?

Paul is one of the most significant New Testament writers next to Luke. His letters move from very inspiring to deeply challenging and controversial. They cover a massive range of deep theological issues and very straightforward practical advice. Yet, as throughout history, we naturally have questions. Often these questions arise from our own cultures. Some of Paul's writings are either dismissed or, undermined through the application of a sometimes quite complex combination of ideas. The culture of the day he was in also raised questions, how much of what he wrote was purely based on culture?

While I am not going to answer all of these questions in full this blog will touch on most of them. Its up to you what you take from it. This blog is following the advice from one who walked with Jesus for three years and was essentially the head of the early church. Certainly in its ministry towards evangelising Jews and managing the first converts.

Paul wrote a lot of letters, it was clearly a part of his reputation, and people's questions even then had risen from Paul's writings, so we really are no different. And even then, people would take what Paul wrote and distort its meaning. But ultimately Peter, Jesus' right hand man, leader of the first church, served until death on a cross said this of Paul (taken from 3 Peter 3:15-16): dear brother, writes with the wisdom of God in ALL of his letters, writes things hard to understand, gives the same message that Peter was trying to at that time.

Peter whole heartedly bares witness of Paul as a person and his writings, both their value and the source of their wisdom-God himself.

So was Paul only writing based only on his culture? No.

Was Paul a rebel? Was he pulling away from Christ's teaching that Peter had witnessed for 3 years and had extra special post resurrection knowledge and experience (Acts 1:3)? Absolutely not. Peter could not have endorsed Paul if he was.

Was Paul only writing from himself? No. Peter witnesses that Paul's wisdom came from God.

So, let me ask you a question-not do you trust Paul, but do you trust Peter? Think about who he was, his place in the church, his witness, his testimony, his experiences of Christ which go beyond just the records we have in the New Testament as Acts 1:3 shows-he had 40 days of post resurrection teaching and experiences of Christ.

Peter is honest, Paul's teachings are hard to understand. So if you find it hard to understand, that's okay. Spend a bit more time studying.

Paul's teachings, in being hard to understand, are often distorted by some people. So we need to be vigilant. If we find it hard to understand, who are we listening to in seeking understanding? People with their own agendas? People who make it fit their pre conceived ideas? Or people who are willing to let go of their own agendas and put truth before themselves?

That is something for you to figure out and prayerfully work through in fellowship with others and the Holy Spirit on that journey. But, aside from that, be confident, Paul is God's chosen man, his letters are difficult but they are also reliable and full of God's wisdom. Peter is a witness for Paul. Should we listen to Paul? Peter seems to think so!