Steven Carr

In Romans 3, Paul says that the Law and the Prophets testify to the new righteousness that had come from God. Paul also says Jews had been entrusted with the very word of God.


In Romans 10, Paul has an elaborate argument to explain why Jews did not believe. They had either not heard of Jesus or rejected Christian preaching about Jesus.

In Romans 13, Paul quotes scripture to back up his claim that Christ did not please himself. Paul says scripture gives him hope and encouragement.

In Romans 16, Paul says the mystery has now been revealed through scripture.

In 1 Corinthians , Paul chides Jews for thinking that Christianity ought to be a religion that had been accompanied by miraculous signs.

Etc, etc.

Paul is very outspoken about what inspires his teaching about Christ.

Paul is so outspoken about his inspiration that historicists are forced to say that Paul is silent.

But I think Paul' 'silence' is because historicists can no longer hear what he says.

Paul's silence is Paul saying the opposite of what historicists expect to hear.

neilgodfrey

No doubt you or others have also given the same treatment to the letters from the brothers of Jesus himself, James and Jude. I like Jude attempting to convince readers about the promise of the future judgment by quoting from the book of Enoch. Obviously. He was not converted or around when Jesus was delivering that message himself.

As for the argument from silence, a certain "Galematias" commented in my blog the following:

ApostateAbe

Steven Carr, I am sorry, but can you please clarify? Exactly what is Paul silent about?

Steven Carr

Nothing. Paul is very vocal about the source of his Christianity.

It is historicists who say that Paul is silent.

ApostateAbe

OK... silent about what?

Steven Carr

Silent about saying what they want him to say - that Jesus was a preacher who had lived recently.

But Paul is not silent about where his Christianity is coming from. It is coming from the Old Testament,or from revelation.

ApostateAbe

I think I get what you are saying. Paul is silent about Jesus being a human preacher, which you take as evidence that Paul did not believe that Jesus was a human preacher. But the HJ advocates dismiss that argument as an argument from silence. But you say that Jesus was NOT silent about the source of his religion.

mountainman

Corroboration is silent

Also silent about any and all objective evidential material which is highly regarded in the field of ancient history. Corroboration is silent. It conspicuously presents as a solo act without any supportive data from the field. This SILENCE does not sit well with objective ancient historians.