If you study the whole Bible, there will be times when you’ll pause and ask, “huh?” The primary reason for the confusion comes from apparent contradictions in the text.

There are many irrefutable contradictions in the Bible (1) (2) (3); however, there are even more contradictions between “traditional Christianity” and the Bible. The central understandings and themes of the Bible remain relatively consistent, despite the contradictions (1); however, the misunderstandings between what most Christians believe about faith in the God of Israel, versus what the Bible actually says, are unmistakable.

Traditional Christianity is more closely aligned with a crude understanding/misunderstanding of the teachings of the Apostle Paul, resulting in divergence from what the majority of the Bible says and traditional Christian doctrine.

 Saul the Pharisee

His name was Saul before his conversion to the Way. Saul was an intellectual and theologian. He was trained in Jewish theology by the unquestionable thought-leader in Judaism at the time — Gamaliel.  He was also a Roman, so he understood the multi-theistic religion of Hellenism. At the time of his conversion, his name became Paul and as Paul, he used his theological training, his Hellenistic background, and  considerable intellect, to teach Gentiles (non-Jews) “the Way.“

Paul the Apostle

Paul’s initial calling gave him a wide breadth of responsibility.  He was to persuade Jews, Gentiles, and rulers to follow The Way.

“…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” — “the Lord” [Acts 9:14]

At times, Paul clashed with other leaders of The Way at the Jerusalem council and confronted Peter for what he perceived as duplicitous behavior.

The disputes eventually lead Paul to understand that leading only Gentiles to The Way was his calling, and he would cease to work with the Jews.

Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”  [Acts 18]

Paul and the Gentiles

Paul’s gentile audience was theologically ignorant regarding Judaism and The Way. The majority of them were steeped in Hellenistic pagan religion. For them, worshiping multiple gods was the norm, and understanding, and perfecting, a religious ritual for each God was key to appeasing those gods. There was, however, a smaller group of Gentiles called God-fearers who were sympathizers of traditional Judaism. These gentiles followed some of the religion of Judaism already, but were not converts to Judaism.

“The Way” that Paul taught about was very different from Hellenistic-paganism and ( to a lesser degree) different than traditional Judaism.

Paul’s Source

Paul made it clear that he didn’t learn what he taught second-hand. He was not taught by the disciples of Y’shua who sat under Y’shua’s teaching for years — those who saw him heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the multitudes with a young boy’s lunch — they who saw him calm a raging sea and walk on water. No, Paul said (seeming to boast) that he learned what he taught directly from the source — Y’shua himself. His source was their resurrected and already-ascended-to-heaven Rabbi who (apparently) did not, at that time, appear to anyone else but Paul to teach only him The Way in person.

“[…] And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that were proclaimed by me, that it is not according to man, for neither did I from man receive it, nor was I taught [it], but through a revelation of Jesus Christ […]

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