Do fundamentalists exaggerate Paul's significance?

[Greg]

Although Paul founded the churches of Galatia, Galatians 1:6-9 has him cursing anybody who would disagree with his gospel. Reading the entire epistle reveals that at some point, residents of Galatia who had converted to Jesus through Paul eventually decided the Judaizer gospel was the truth, and so accepted it.

Now what group is more likely to know truths about Paul not subject to interpretative-subjectivity: his original contemporary converts? Or people who wouldn't be born for another 1900 years, who know precisely nothing about Paul except what they find in a collection of books that ancient supporters of Paul helped put together?

 

[makesends]

Well, now, that's quite an attitude! You do know that Paul wrote his books under the authority of God himself, right? Paul's Gospel isn't about Paul.

 

[Greg]

Is it too much to ask for a direct answer to my two questions?

 

[JesusFan]

Although Paul founded the churches of Galatia, Galatians 1:6-9 has him cursing anybody who would disagree with his gospel. Reading the entire epistle reveals that at some point, residents of Galatia who had converted to Jesus through Paul eventually decided the Judaizer gospel was the truth, and so accepted it.

Now what group is more likely to know truths about Paul not subject to interpretative-subjectivity: his original contemporary converts? Or people who wouldn't be born for another 1900 years, who know precisely nothing about Paul except what they find in a collection of books that ancient supporters of Paul helped put together?

Paul was the greatest of the Apostles, as the Lord chose Him to give Revelations such as in Romans

 

[makesends]

Is it too much to ask for a direct answer to my two questions?

It's a loaded question. Ask each question independently, without implying that for them to be more familiar with Paul does not imply that their Judaizer sympathy is valid.


And then, answer my question.

 

[Arial]

Although Paul founded the churches of Galatia, Galatians 1:6-9 has him cursing anybody who would disagree with his gospel. Reading the entire epistle reveals that at some point, residents of Galatia who had converted to Jesus through Paul eventually decided the Judaizer gospel was the truth, and so accepted it.

Now what group is more likely to know truths about Paul not subject to interpretative-subjectivity: his original contemporary converts? Or people who wouldn't be born for another 1900 years, who know precisely nothing about Paul except what they find in a collection of books that ancient supporters of Paul helped put together?

Is it too much to ask for a direct answer to my two questions?

Probably. The questions themselves are loaded questions as they are structured to bias the answer. It discredits modern readers ("know precisely nothing") while elevating the Galatians without proving their reliability. Your post treats the Galatians alleged acceptance of the Judaizer position as established fact as evidence of truth and demonstrated neither. You appeal to proximity assuming the earlier is more accurate. Being close in time doesn't guarantee correctness. People can be misled, divided, or uninformed even in the moment. The post sets up a false dichotomy of early Galatians vs. modern readers. It does not consider any other possibilities besides those closest in time and modern readers.

The letter itself suggests some Galatians were being persuaded but does not clearly confirm a full or final conversion as you do. That is not historical fact but an interpretive leap.

You don't cite any broad textual or historical evidence and build a major conclusion off limited data.

It assumes the supposed shift in the Galatians reflects truth when it could be persuasion or confusion.

IOW your post was intended to provoke rather than engage in a thoughtful discussion.

If you could reframe it by providing evidence of what you assert and then ask questions that are not loaded or full of logical fallacies, I am sure there are a number of people who would engage in the conversation.

 

[Carbon]

Well, now, that's quite an attitude! You do know that Paul wrote his books under the authority of God himself, right? Paul's Gospel isn't about Paul.

Amen brother!

 

[Carbon]

Although Paul founded the churches of Galatia, Galatians 1:6-9 has him cursing anybody who would disagree with his gospel. Reading the entire epistle reveals that at some point, residents of Galatia who had converted to Jesus through Paul eventually decided the Judaizer gospel was the truth, and so accepted it.

Now what group is more likely to know truths about Paul not subject to interpretative-subjectivity: his original contemporary converts? Or people who wouldn't be born for another 1900 years, who know precisely nothing about Paul except what they find in a collection of books that ancient supporters of Paul helped put together?

Ill tell you who would know the truths about Paul. Jesus, that should be good enough?