NOTE - This is not an attack on christianity but a discussion on certain verses that should raise questions on the authenticity of Pauls apostlehood. The conclusions are reached not through personal opinion, but an evaluation of scripture itself.
Consider the words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians...
Paul, an apostle of Yahshua by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus
- Ephesians 1:1
As some of you know, Ephesus was one of the seven churches located in Asia, according to the book of Revelations...
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
- Revelation 1:10,11
This is what was said to the church of Ephesus, the very church that Paul tried to witness to (as seen the the quote from Ephesians)
I know your works, your labor, and your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.
- Revlations 2:2
Now here comes the best part....Paul writes that he was rejected by everybody in Asia! They did not accept what he taught!
This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me.
-2Timothy 1:15
Whats the big deal about all this, you ask?
Asia is where Ephesus was located! Ephesus rejected Paul and is being praised for testing 'those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars'.
You cant even say it was somebody other than Paul and his associates, who were found to be liars in Revelations 2:2, because...
a) Paul tried to witness to Ephesus
b) Paul himself says that he was rejected by Asia!
c) Ephesus is within Asia
Think!
The Ephesians did not accept Paul.
They were not rebuked in Revelations for doing so.
Rather they were being commended for doing so.
Discuss.
Utter nonsense.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me,
among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and
you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. 2 Timothy 1:13-18
False Apostles, ministers of Satan, who were Jews claiming to be Apostles, that tried to bring the Gentile Churches into bondage by teaching them that Gentile Christians must to keep the law of Moses and become (physically) circumcised in order to be saved, were who John was referring to as false apostles.
These false apostles would go to the Gentile Churches throughout Asia to try and subvert them and cause the Gentiles to be severed from Christ by submitting to these Judaizers and their false teachings.
These were those whom John warned about in the book of revelation, false apostles, Jews, who were of Satan.
“
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:9-10
Paul was a true Apostle sent by Jesus Christ.
Pauls letters are scripture in every sense of the word, and equal to the Torah in authority.
- our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also
the rest of the Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:14-16
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
JLB