TedM

I was going to do this myself, but decided to just throw out the issue for others to tackle, if interested.

Below, I've listed a reconstruction of Paul's Jesus from the 'genuine' Pauling epistles.

I can think of a few topics of research that might be of some value:

1. What sources does Paul provide for his specific references to Jesus: Scripture, vision, revelation/insight, Jesus himself, other people, other? This is a question of WHERE did his info come from. I'm not referring to generic references "God reveals to us through the Spirit", but specific references: Paul says Jesus was crucified. Does he say where he got that information from? (answer: no), or Paul says Jesus was in Zion. Does he say were he got that from (yes, the OT), etc.. In the vast majority of cases, I don't see any source at all.


2. How much of Paul's Jesus for which he provides no direct source CAN BE supported by scripture alone? For example, it occurs to me that ALL but a few of Paul's references (cited below) are covered by the scriptures that refer to Jesus as a descendant of David, and by Isaiah 53:

Descent from David, automatically would make Jesus a man, flesh and blood, Jewish, and born of a woman.

Isaiah 53 refers to a man who is a servant, is virtuous, unrecognized for who he is, suffers for the Jews, is cruelly put to death, is buried, and is perhaps even resurrected.


Whether Paul thinks these things happened on earth or some other sphere is really not important if the primary point is that he and other Christians derived Jesus out of a few OT writings by the prophets. It seems to me a pretty strong case can be made for this concept. However, then one needs to be able to explain the few references that seem to be independant of OT scriptural influence (the Lord's supper, possible teachings of Jesus, having brothers, etc.)

Curiously, however, Paul NEVER quotes from Isaiah 53 to support these attributes of Jesus, though once he does quote from 53:1 (Rom 10:16). The authors of 1 Peter and 1 Clement each placed heavy emphasis on it, and even Mark quoted from one verse in it (ransom for many). How is Paul's lack of attribution or reference to Isaiah 53 to be explained?

Just some things for folks here to consider researching....



from : http://mypeoplepc.com/members/tedrik...op20/id24.html

PAUL'S HISTORICAL JESUS


Jesus was born of a woman, and lived in the flesh. He was Jewish, descended from King David. He had brothers, and one was named James. He possibly was poor. He was meek and gentle. God dwelled within Jesus, and he referred to God as his Father, using the term "Abba". He did not live to please himself, but only God. He was sinless, perfect. He taught that things are not sinful or unclean but that it is man's thoughts that makes them so, that divorce is forbidden, that preachers of the gospel should be paid, and that upon his coming the dead shall precede the living to gather with him in the air. He initiated a ritual as a way to be remembered after he was gone. The ritual was called the Lord's supper and involved drinking from a cup of wine which represented his blood, and eating bread which represented his body given for those that believed in him. That same night, he was betrayed. He willingly humbled himself. He suffered, shedding his blood through the hanging on a cross--sometimes also called a tree, with nails driven into him. He did this obediently, and as a righteous act. Though he came to be a servant to the Jews, the Jews were responsible for his death. Yes, he was crucified. This happened in Jerusalem during the Passover event. The men responsible were rulers living about the time of Paul. They didn't understand they had crucified the "Lord of Glory", stumbling as a result. Jesus physically died on the cross. He was buried, but the early Christians believed that Jesus had been raised from the dead, and Peter, James, a special group of twelve, and many others testified to his having appeared them . James, Jesus' brother believed and along with Peter and John become pillar in the early Church. Later on Jesus appeared to Paul, who also believed.

CITATIONS FOR THE ABOVE HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTIONS:

PAUL:

Romans, 16 chapters

* Was a direct descendent of King David, and his father Jesse. 1:3,15:12
* Was in the flesh 1:3,8:3, 9:4-5a
* Shed his blood 3:25, 5:9
* Was put to death 4:25
* Was a man 5:15, 5:17, 5:18, 5:19
* His death was an act of righteousness 5:18
* Was buried 6:4
* Was crucified 6:6
* Had a body 7:4
* Suffered 8:17
* Was of the Jewish race 9:5
* Was a stumbling block to Jews 9:33 Gal 5:11 says the stumbling block is the cross
* The stumbling took place in Zion (Jerusalem) 9:33
* He will come from Zion (Jerusalem) as a deliverer 11:26
* Somehow persuaded Paul that thoughts make things unclean 14:4 possible teaching of Jesus}
* Did not live to please himself, reproached by man 15:3
* Became a servant to the Jews 15:8
* He died. 16 additional verses



1 Corinthians, 16 chapters

* Was crucified 1:13,23, 2:2, 2:8
* Is associated with a cross 1:17,18
* Was crucified according to the flesh by rulers (almost for certain speaking about men) of Paul's age (time) 2:8,
* His death was a "paschal lamb" sacrifice, implying that it happened during Passover Celebration. 5:7
* He expressly forbid divorce. (if Lord applies to him) 7:10
* He had brothers 9:5
* He commanded that "preachers" should be paid for their preaching. (if Lord applies) 9:14
* He initiated the Lord's supper and referred to the bread and the cup, in the same way as presented in the gospels This is my body which is broken for you.etc. 11:23
* Jesus was betrayed on the night of the Lord's Supper. 11:23
* He had a body with blood 11:24,27
* Jesus was buried. 15:4
* He was a man 15:20-21, 15:45, 47,47,49
* He died. 5 additional verses


2 Corinthians, 13 chapters
* He suffered 1:5
* He was sinless 5:21
* He became poor 8:9
* He was meek and gentle 10:1
* He was crucified. 13:4
* He died. 3 additional verses


Galations, 6 chapters
* He had a brother named James, who later became a pillar in the early church. (if Lord applies to him) 1:19
* He was crucified 2:20, 3:1
* He died 2:21
* He fulfilled the OT curse of those hung on a tree 3:13
* He was born in human fashion of a woman 4:4
* He was a Jew 4:4
* He referred to God as his Father using the term "abba". 4:6
* Is associated with a cross 5:11, 6:12,14


Philippians, 4 chapters
* He was in figure as a man, in human form 2:7,8
* He humbled himself 2:8
* He was obedient 2:8
* He died on a cross 2:8
* He suffered 3:10
* He died 3:10


1 Thess, 5 chapters
* Jewish authorities were responsible for Jesus' death. 2:15
* He taught about the end-time. (if Lord applies to him) 4:15
* He died. 3 additional verses


Colossians, 4 chapters
* His blood associated with the cross 1:20
* His body of flesh died 1:22
* In his body dwells deity 2:9
* Nailing associated with the cross 2:14
* He died. 2 additional references

In addition, there are numerous references to Jesus as having been raised from the dead thoughout all of Pauls epistles..