noah

I often hear the term Paulinian or Pauline doctrine. I thought there could not be such a thing as Jesus' teachings were final, hence Christianity not Paulinism.
What is the difference/contradictions between Paul's teachings/doctrine and those of Jesus?


Regards,

Peter Kirby

I think the distinction made here, when it is, is that Jesus brought ethics and that Paul turned the teacher into an object of theology. Or, as Bultmann put it, the proclaimer became the proclaimed. This does depend on a historical Jesus construct, based on the synoptics (and Thomas), to make sense.

best,
Peter Kirby

ex-preacher

Even in the Gospels, there are significant theological differences between John and the synoptics, and within the synoptics.

I think the biggest difference between the teachings of Paul and Jesus is that Paul teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Jesus (in the synoptics) taught his followers to do good deeds to gain salvation. See Matthew 25:31-46.

Another important difference: Paul never speaks of hell.

noah

So do you believe then that there are no diferences between Paul's teachings and those of Jesus?

Amaleq13

If there was an HJ and the Gospels can be relied upon for accurate information about his preaching, he taught about the Kingdom of God and how one could be a part of it.

Paul's gospel is the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

The Jesus of the Gospels also predicts his death and resurrection but, unless one has faith in this supernatural ability, this can only be a retrojection of later beliefs into the mouth of Jesus.

Peter Kirby

Do you mean canonical Paul and canonical Jesus, or historical Paul and historical Jesus?

If the former (the four Gospels for Jesus, the 13 letters for Paul), obviously there would be differences of emphasis. If there are contradictions, I would have to look for them.

If the latter (the Jesus who spoke and what he said, the Paul who wrote and what that was), I am not even completely sure what Paul wrote, and Jesus is a worse case.

best,
Peter Kirby

noah

I meant differences/contradictions between canonical Jesus and Paul.

Thanks,

Elijah

To me they both are giving the same message.

Jesus to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles.

Steven Carr

Paul seems to go out of his way to contradict Jesus.

For example, Jesus uses a metaphor of becoming like a child to describe the process of being a believer, while Paul famously describes himself as no longer being a child when he became a believer.

Normally, followers of religious leaders don't imply that their teachers metaphors are rubbish.

Similarly, Jesus implies that even a small faith can be a faith that moves mountains, and is a faith worth having, while Paul implies that a faith that can move mountains is a very faith, but not worth having , unless you have love as well.

noah

Yeah. That is my impression Steven. For example, Jesus commands Paul not to go into Samaria but Paul goes there anyway. Jesus says every jot and tittle is to be obeyed and a stiff penalty issued to those who do not obey the law. Paul tells everyone that the law no longer applies.

Thanks for your reply


Regards,