Thank you for the question about Apostle Paul and Jesus, “How do you feel about people who say Christianity was created by Paul and Jesus had no intentions of us worshiping him as God?”
The individuals who believe that Paul created Christianity and Jesus had no intention of his followers to worship him as God are partially right and partially wrong. One can’t know the motive of their espoused view. My feelings are that I hope that they will reconsider their viewpoint.
A. Jesus is the glorified exalted Lord who didn’t seek to be worshiped while on earth.
It is true that when Jesus came into this world, he was not seeking to be worshiped. Satan tempted Jesus by enticing him to worship him. Jesus reply was that man was to worship the Lord your God and him alone (Matt. 4:10). As the incarnated God-Man living on earth, he came to do the will of the Father, to be the atoning sacrifice for sins. He didn’t come to glorify himself, but the Father. He was a humble Son of God who veiled his glory (Matt. 17:1–5).
The Apostle John said this in John 8, “The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge” (NIV).
Having said that, nevertheless the angels did announce his coming to the shepherds. The angels praise and worship God (Lk. 2:10–13, Heb. 1:6). Did the angels worship Jesus at his birth? The Scripture is unclear on that point but his condescension placed them in awe that the Son of God would take human form (Phil. 2:5–8).
The Apostle Paul said this in Phil. 2:9–11, “Therefore God exalted him t the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages).
The Apostle John records his vision in Revelations 5:11–14, “11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped” (NIV).
It seems reasonable to me that if the angels in heaven worship the risen Lord before God Almighty, then it is appropriate for his followers to worship him on earth.
B. The Apostle was the greatest missionary during the first century but he is not the founder of Christianity.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration that Christianity was not created by Paul:
1. Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews and a Pharisee.
Philippians 3 says this, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are in the New International Version.
As one reads the life of Saul of Tarsus, he was taught by Rabbi Gamaliel, zealous for Judaism. It is more reasonable to think that Saul would advocate an established Judaism than a new sect.
2. Pau was submissive to the Apostles and Elders in the Jerusalem Church.
If Paul was the founder, he would have been THE leader of the Christian churches, but he becomes a leader of the early church. .
Acts 13 says this, “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (NIV).
Acts 15 says this, “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question” (NIV).
If Paul was the founder of Christianity, he would be leading the Jerusalem Church instead of being submissive to them and their letter to the Gentiles (15:22–29). The letter is not signed by Paul, but a carrier of that message with other recognized leaders of the early church.
3. Paul acknowledged his submission and pursuit of Jesus Christ.
In all of the churches that Paul and Barnabas formed, the object of their obedience was to Jesus Christ. Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) to his followers to make disciples of him, not of themselves. This included Paul.
Paul’s heart was to know and follow Jesus. He says this in Philippians 3, “ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (NIV).
If Paul was the founder of Christianity, he would NOT be pursuing Jesus Christ and want to know him more deeply. Paul acknowledges that God has given him a mission. He even states that no one lay another foundation other than that has been laid by Jesus Christ for the church (Phil. 310). He was an ambassador of God to proclaim Jesus Christ.
SUMMARY: Paul is the greatest ambassador of Christianity in the early church in leading people to become Jesus’ followers. The angels worshiped Jesus before his condescension and after his ascension while his followers worship him on earth for his atoning sacrifice for their sins as the Son of God.
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