Bart Ehrman - Jesus Interrupted - Paul vs Jesus

Bart Ehrman's book - Jesus Interrupted

We have long come to know that a large portion of the brand of Christianity in our midst today is more from the teachings of Apostle Paul rather then the teachings of Jesus Christ himself.

St Paul's teachings directly contradict what Jesus Christ came to preach. 

Paul's View of "Justification"

'But certainly Paul was concerned with how persons—those he was trying to convert, for example—could be put into a right relationship with God, and he was convinced this could happen only through trusting in the death and resurrection of Jesus, not by following the requirements of the Jewish law.'

'His best-known and arguably most pervasive view (which is found in his other letters as well) is that a person is “justified by faith” in Christ’s death and resurrection, not by observing the works of the Jewish law.'

(Jesus Interrupted - Page 86)

Paul's View of the Jewish Law and salvation 

''All of this means that keeping the Jewish law can have no place in salvation. Even Jews who keep the law to the nth degree cannot be right with God through the law.'

The only way to be justified is by having faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In Galatians 2:15, Paul says, “We have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.” 

'Getting circumcised, keeping kosher, observing Sabbath and other Jewish festivals—none of this was necessary for salvation, and if you thought (and acted) otherwise, you were in danger of losing your salvation (Galatians 5:4) "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace".'

(Jesus Interrupted - Page 88-89)

Interesting to read what Bart Ehrman thinks of how contrasting the teachings of Matthew and Paul were in keeping the law and commandments. He goes as far as to visualize both of them locked in a battle if locked in a room debating about the law of the Jews.

Paul and Matthew on the Law and Salvation

"I have often wondered what would have happened if Paul and Matthew had been locked up in a room together and told they could not come out until they had hammered out a consensus statement on how followers of Jesus were to deal with the Jewish law. Would they ever have emerged, or would they still be there, two skeletons locked  in a death grip?"

(Jesus Interrupted - Page 89)

Matthew on the Law and Salvation

'Matthew thinks that the followers of Jesus need to keep the law. In fact, they need to keep it better even than the most religious Jews, the scribes, and the Pharisees. In Matthew, Jesus is recorded as saying:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:17–20)'

(Jesus Interrupted - Page 90)

'A rich man comes up to Jesus and asks him, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus tells him, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” When asked, “Which ones?” Jesus lists as examples some of the Ten Commandments. The man insists he has already done all these—what else is needed? Jesus replies that he should give up everything he owns, “and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:16–22). Jesus then says, “And come, follow me”—but note: following Jesus comes only after the man will have inherited heavenly treasure by giving all away. '
(Jesus Interrupted - Page 92)

 Irreconcilable views between Matthew and Paul

Paul thought that followers of Jesus who tried to keep the law were in danger of losing their salvation. Matthew thought that followers of Jesus who did not keep the law, and do so even better than the most religious Jews, would never attain salvation. Theologians and interpreters over the years have tried to reconcile these two views, which is perfectly understandable, since both of them are in the canon. But anyone who reads the Gospel of Matthew and then reads the letter to the Galatians would never suspect that there was a reason, or a way, to reconcile these two statements.

(Jesus Interrupted - Page 90)

Where to after this??

It is evident then that Paul had a completely different view to what Jesus preached. Jesus told his people to keep the commandments and be better then the Jews in practicing these laws. Anyone who breaks the commandments will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. It is also important to note that Paul never walked, talked, ate, prayed or lived with Jesus. He only saw him on a vision to Damascus. And all his ministry is from that vision. In addition to that, Jesus never prophesized St Paul. On the contrary he said there will be many false prophets and false Christs who will prophesize in my name (Matthew 7:22-23)

But Matthew is giving us the words of Jesus himself. Who should we trust more? Ask yourselves sincerely brothers and sisters. Jesus is telling you 'black'. Paul is telling you 'white'. I'm not sure who you are going to trust more. Or are you cornered with nowhere to turn to.

Seek the Truth and the Truth shall free you.

The Quran tells us "Truth has arrived and falsehood perished. For falsehood is by it's nature bound to perish" (Surah 17:81). It also tells us the Christians only follow 'Conjecture'. One word to sum up 2000 years of Christianity. Can you think of any better word that what the Quran came up with?

In contrast 1.5 billion Muslims (Arabic term for a person who submits peacefully to the will of God) on this earth believe in Jesus as a man who came to give God's message to the Jewish people and he was a Nazarene. The Jews reject him and according to them he died the death of a blasphemer. As for us - No conjecture. No skepticism. No questions asked. No second thoughts. Jesus is a MIGHTY MESSENGER OF God. Simply because we believe God revealed the truth about him.

It is because we have the truth. And we don't doubt in it one bit. Explore it for yourself. Don't listen to BBC CNN or what your Islam bashing neighbour, friend or colleague tells you about Islam. Read just one page of the Quran and find out for yourself if this can be from anyone else other that the God of Moses Jesus and Muhammad peace be upon them all.

You owe this to yourselves. Peace.