jmdrake
Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
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Dear friends, I write this because I've seen this pattern all too many times. I've seen Christians talk about a "Pauline gospel" or saying things like "the rest of the Bible must be interpreted based on (this person's understanding of) this writing by Paul". Where is it in the Bible that Paul is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end? Isn't that title reserved for Jesus? And as such, shouldn't Jesus' own words be the gold standard for how the rest of the Bible should be interpreted? I have see people simply ignore direct quotations of Jesus, not address what Jesus said, then say "Well your exegesis must be wrong because it disagrees with my understanding of how grace works according to the writings of Paul." How is that biblically sound? What does the Bible say about elevating Paul's writings, or rather a particular interpretation of Paul's writings, over the rest of scripture? Here is what Peter had to say:
2 Peter 3:14-18
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Notice the context of the passage. Peter is exhorting believers to be found "in peace, without spot, and blameless". The idea put forward by some that the Christ wanted people to "give up on holiness" is rejected in the verse 14. In verse 18 Peter talks about grace yes, but he talks about "growing in grace". A plant that is not growing is dead. (Reference James saying that faith without works is dead). But verse 15-17 is the meat of the passage. Peter expresses "love" for Paul and his writings. But Peter is concerned that some are misinterpreting Paul "to their own destruction" and are being "led away with the error of the wicked" so that they might "fall from their own stedfastness".
Hmmm....fall from their own stedfastness. So it's possible that an overemphasis of the "Pauline gospel" might be what leads one to destruction and to "fall from grace"? Well...according to Peter that seems to be the case.
So what is the proper perspective of Paul's writings? He was like a new testament spiritual advice columnist. He wrote letters, mostly to churches but some to individual people, to give them advice about their specific situations. And yes much, if not all, of that advice is applicable to Christians everywhere. In contrast, Peter, James, John and Jude wrote "general epistles" that were not targeted to any specific situation. Hebrews, sandwiched in between Paul's epistles and the general epistles, can be seen someone as a "general epistle" as there were Jews living everywhere, but also as a targeted epistle because it was aimed at people with the same culture just like Romans was written to people living in the same city. James, while not specifically addressing Paul as Peter did, seemed intentional in trying to correct potential misinterpretations of Paul's writings, declaring that "faith without works is dead" and that such a dead faith cannot save you. John seemed intent on making sure that people understood that God is love, universal love, and that Jesus died for the sins of all declaring Jesus was the "propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world". Jude's entire letter seems aimed at stopping people who had "crept in unawares" and were "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" and "denying...our Lord Jesus Christ."
I know this post will fall on deaf ears for those who need to hear it most. But consider this. If Peter was so worried that people would misinterpret Paul to their own destruction, don't you owe it to yourself to interpret Paul's writings in the light of the rest of scripture as opposed to interpreting the rest of scripture in the light of Paul's writings? Think about it.
2 Peter 3:14-18
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Notice the context of the passage. Peter is exhorting believers to be found "in peace, without spot, and blameless". The idea put forward by some that the Christ wanted people to "give up on holiness" is rejected in the verse 14. In verse 18 Peter talks about grace yes, but he talks about "growing in grace". A plant that is not growing is dead. (Reference James saying that faith without works is dead). But verse 15-17 is the meat of the passage. Peter expresses "love" for Paul and his writings. But Peter is concerned that some are misinterpreting Paul "to their own destruction" and are being "led away with the error of the wicked" so that they might "fall from their own stedfastness".
Hmmm....fall from their own stedfastness. So it's possible that an overemphasis of the "Pauline gospel" might be what leads one to destruction and to "fall from grace"? Well...according to Peter that seems to be the case.
So what is the proper perspective of Paul's writings? He was like a new testament spiritual advice columnist. He wrote letters, mostly to churches but some to individual people, to give them advice about their specific situations. And yes much, if not all, of that advice is applicable to Christians everywhere. In contrast, Peter, James, John and Jude wrote "general epistles" that were not targeted to any specific situation. Hebrews, sandwiched in between Paul's epistles and the general epistles, can be seen someone as a "general epistle" as there were Jews living everywhere, but also as a targeted epistle because it was aimed at people with the same culture just like Romans was written to people living in the same city. James, while not specifically addressing Paul as Peter did, seemed intentional in trying to correct potential misinterpretations of Paul's writings, declaring that "faith without works is dead" and that such a dead faith cannot save you. John seemed intent on making sure that people understood that God is love, universal love, and that Jesus died for the sins of all declaring Jesus was the "propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world". Jude's entire letter seems aimed at stopping people who had "crept in unawares" and were "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" and "denying...our Lord Jesus Christ."
I know this post will fall on deaf ears for those who need to hear it most. But consider this. If Peter was so worried that people would misinterpret Paul to their own destruction, don't you owe it to yourself to interpret Paul's writings in the light of the rest of scripture as opposed to interpreting the rest of scripture in the light of Paul's writings? Think about it.
Anyway, do you have anything to say about my original post itself, or do you intend to derail the thread into yet another discussion that we've had 100 times already? Your choice.
