5. Just who does Paul think he is? What gives him the right to tell off the Judaizers and assert so firmly his version of the gospel?
First, let's take a look at what Paul says, how he begins his letter: Galatians 1:1-5
1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Who is Paul? He's an apostle...
apostle--one who is sent with a commission, an envoy or messenger who was chosen and trained by Jesus Christ as His special emissary for proclaiming His truth during the formative years of the church. (Note: anytime you see something that sounds really smart like this, I didn't come up with it. Probably it's from the MacArthur NT Commentary.)
An apostle had to have seen the resurrected Christ. That sorta limits the pool. Here's what Acts 1:22-26 says about replacing an apostle (who had to be replaced because...well, he had his priorities out of line.)
21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
6. How in the world could Paul be an apostle? The original 12, sure. They came from the disciples and the others who traveled with Christ. Remember Saul/Paul's conversion story? There on the road to Damascus? Jesus spoke to him there. And then Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8:
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
So basically, Paul says here that his gospel and that of all the apostles comes directly from God, not from men. They were all taught by Jesus. Oh, yeah, and that his gospel contains grace and peace, grace for salvation which leads to peace for living.
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