Originally posted by 3NL1GHT3N3D1
This is going to be a short post, but I think it will get some people thinking.... maybe.
Most Christians claim that Paul couldn't have been a fraud because his words seem inspired by the holy spirit. What most forget though, is that Paul
rounded up followers of Jesus and killed them by the hundreds before his conversion and epistles.
Since Paul murdered followers of Jesus, wouldn't it be safe to assume that he would have also found teachings of Jesus among these followers that he
killed? If he did, then wouldn't it be safe to assume that he could have plagiarized Jesus' words and called them his own in order to LOOK holy when
he really wasn't?
What say you fellow ATS'ers? 
No, it's not safe to assume that.
It is true that Saul of Tarsus was a persecutor of Christians, and even condoned their killing. The Bible account relates that he was there standing
beside the the first Christian maryter Stephen, while the Pharisees were stoning him to death, and approving of it.
So, what made him different than other persecutors of Christians? It is the fact, that while he was doing wrong, he did it honestly. He was jealous
for his God, and he thought what he was doing was right. He did not have evil intentions. He literally thought that what he was doing was righteous.
While, it is true, what he did was wrong, Jehovah God and his son Jesus could read his heart condition, and they realized he didn't know any better.
That is why Jesus knew that when he appeared to Paul, and revealed the truth to him, Paul would remain zealous for what was right, only now according
to accurate knowledge.
There is wrong knowledge, and then correct knowledge, or "accurate knowledge." Most religions on earth today, and all of those of Christendom have
certain knowledge, but they do not have "accurate knowledge" of God or his purposes.
That Paul himself later recognized this fact about himself is evident, for example he said:
(1 Timothy 1:13) . . .although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy, because I was
ignorant and acted with a lack of faith.
He did not try to hid the fact. In fact he continues this up with:
(1 Timothy 1:15, 16) . . .Faithful and deserving of full acceptance is the saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I
am foremost. 16 Nevertheless, the reason why I was shown mercy was that by means of me as the foremost case Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his
long-suffering for a sample of those who are going to rest their faith on him for everlasting life.
Did Paul have a change of heart? Of course he did. He continued zealous towards God, but now with accurate knoweldge.
There are many today, too, because of fales religion who are taught wrong things about God. While they are sincere at heart, and even zealous in
their beliefs they are wrong. Jehovah God can see their heart condition, we cannot.
On the other hand, their are many clergy of Christendom who have read the Bible, or have have been witnessed to by Jehovah's servants and know the
truth, and, like the Pharisees who schemed to put Lazerus back to death after Jesus resurrected him, and denied Jesus' power came from God, even
though they knew it did, they deny Jehovah's witnesses and the truth they teach.
The two perhaps both persecutted God's people. But one did it out of ignorance and jealousy for God. The other did it out of wickedness and a bad
heart. The latter is much more accountable. In fact those religious leaders that schemed to have Jesus put to death sinned against the holy spirit,
the only sin which has no forgiveness. That is a warning to all who knowingly do the same.
But, if you read through Paul's letters it is obvious he was inspired by God. They harmonize with the entire Bible cannon. In fact he draws from
previous scriptures tremendously. He quotes over and over and over and over from the Hebrew Scriptures and expounds upon them. Nothing he writes
conflicts with any other of the contents in the scriptures. And the fact that Jehovah God has seen fit to preserve his letters in the Bible is a
testament to their being inspired by him.
edit on 19-2-2013 by SubAce because: (no reason given)
That's the subverted message! They started
subverting it the moment they nailed him to the cross. 
