On The Apostle Paul: A Baha'i Perspective
El Greco's St Paul
Thanks to Kelso in New Zealand, blogger of What you talkin' bout Willis!?, my attention is brought to the Christian Apostle Paul. Under the heading "Apostolic Christianity," Baha'i Robert Stockman provides a fascinating discussion of this remarkable figure. Study of the early Christian church is fascinating for many Baha'is because the Baha'i Faith is in its "early days." -gw
Paul has long been a controversial figure for Christians. It has often been asked whether Paul was faithful to the teachings of Jesus, or whether Paul "changed" the message of Jesus in order to make it attractive to his audience. This has been a theme of several books by Bahá'ís, notably Huschmand Sabet's The Heavens are Cleft Asunder and Udo Schaefer's The Light Shineth in Darkness. It is clear that Paul preached a risen Christ, while Jesus did not; but Jesus in His parables did call for a radical faith in God, a message very similar to Paul's idea of salvation through faith in Christ alone. Since Jesus did not write a book or establish a succession of interpreters, Paul was free to innovate in his understanding of Christianity; indeed, he may have innovated far less than the opponents he denounced in his letters. Some innovation, such as rejection of circumcision and the kosher laws, in retrospect appears to have been necessary. A certain amount of innovation was inevitable simply because times change, and with them the needs of people change. The Bahá'í Faith received divine guidance via Bahá'u'lláh for thirty years and subsequently had guidance through 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi as well; but Jesus's earthly mission lasted only three years. Hence it was inevitable that someone had to interpret Jesus's teachings for the new Hellenistic, gentile, urban environment it had entered. Paul did his best to innovate in ways faithful to Jesus's revelation—this is all any evangelist, from Paul's day to the present, can hope to do—and the solid results of his missionizing cannot be faulted.
Robert Stockman, "Apostolic Christianity" from Christianity from a Baha'i Perspective
4 comments:
"It is clear that Paul preached a risen Christ, while Jesus did not..."
Here are two verses that Jesus talks about His resurrection.
"Then He [Jesus] took the twelve aside and said to them, 'Behold we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man [Himself] will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day HE WILL RISE AGAIN." Luke 18:31-33
Jesus speaking of Himself: "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and RAISED UP on the third day." Luke 9:22
These are just two verses of Jesus teaching about His resurrection from the dead. Not only did Paul preach of a risen Lord but so also did Christ of Himself.
P.S Hi George! I can't wait to see you all! I still have 3 weeks to go here in LA. I am having fun visiting family but it will be great to get home. I am so looking forward to Taraz and Megan's wedding and then having another camping trip. Give all my love to the family! :)
I have a few articles about Baha'i & Christian dialogue type topics on my webpage at bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled
Paul's writings were endorsed by Peter - although Peter said that many people were misinterpreting Paul. Much of what Paul wrote is the opposite of what the churches teach today. Paul's major doctrinal statements are remarkably consistent with the Baha'i views. Abdu'l Baha said that Paul was Jesus' "most faithful servant."
Great Blog.
I've found a militant atheist if you want to try and help him; he's at:
www.whyihatejesus.blogspot.com/
GBWY, James
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