Understanding Paul

Understanding Paul #1

Understanding Paul (Number One) The failure to understand the writings of Paul is due to ignoring the Gospels, the book of Acts, the General Epistles, as well as presuming that Paul’s Epistles represent the final revelation of the Word of God — a revelation that detaches itself from Old Testament “Jewish teachings.” The result has [...]

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Understanding Paul #2

Understanding Paul (Number Two) A look at Romans, Chapters 4 and 5, should clarify some of the questions that may have arisen over Paul’s teaching on justification.  Keep in mind that among the Jews there was a very strong belief in justification by works, that is, by works of the law, and often the patriarch [...]

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Understanding Paul #3

Understanding Paul (Number Three) In chapter 5, of Romans, Paul illustrates that as the sin of Adam led to the death of mankind (not because of Adam’s sin but because all have sinned), Christ’s death led to the salvation of many (Rom. 5:12, 15). The Moffatt Translation gives a clear explanation of this. For if [...]

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Understanding Paul #4

Understanding Paul (Number Four) Romans 14:14 has been interpreted by some to mean that we need not observe the law of clean and unclean meats, and that it is now permissible to eat anything we wish.  In the previous verses in this Chapter, we saw that Paul addressed the subject of vegetarianism, illustrating that one’s [...]

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Understanding Paul #5

Understanding Paul (Number Five) 1 Corinthians 7 is important to understand because of the false interpretation of verse 15.  This text reads: “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”   It is assumed that the word [...]

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Understanding Paul #6

Understanding Paul (Number Six) 2 Corinthians 3:3-11, has been cited to “prove” that the Ten Commandments have been done away.  The motive behind the argument is the attempt to annul the weekly Sabbath – the seventh day of the week.  While most professing Christians believe in the moral law (enumerated by the Ten Commandments), they [...]

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Understanding Paul #7

Understanding Paul (Number Seven) Galatians 3 needs to be addressed because many quote it to “prove” the Apostle Paul taught that the Law of God no longer applies to Christians.  When evaluating this chapter, as well as those discussed in the book of Romans, a few facts should be kept in mind.  The sacrificial system [...]

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Understanding Paul #8

Understanding Paul (Number Eight) From a technical viewpoint Ephesians 5:11-13 is not difficult to understand.  The problem is that it is translated into the English of the early seventeenth century, and for that reason it is easily misunderstood.  It reads:  “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  For [...]

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