Would Paul Have Made a Good Evangelical?

No.

Even when you account for 2000 years of cultural differences between Paul and Evangelicalism, the answer is no.

Why? Because Paul didn’t treat the Bible the way mainstream Evangelicalism says you need to.

The way Paul handled his Bible–what we call the Old Testament–would keep him off the short list for openings to teach Bible in many Evangelical seminaries and Christian colleges. Heck, John Piper, John MacArthur, and R. C. Sproul probably wouldn’t let Paul lead a home Bible study, at least not without supervision.

Here is the main reasons why:

For Evangelicals, the Old Testament leads to the Gospel story. For Paul, the Old Testament is transformed by the Gospel.
For Evangelicals, the Old Testament, read pretty much at face value, anticipates Jesus. For Paul, the Old Testament is reshaped in order to conform to Jesus.
For Evangelicals, the Bible is God’s final authority. For Paul, Jesus is the final authority to which the Bible must bend.

You see, Paul had a monumental theological and hermeneutical task before him. The Old Testament is centered on Israel’s need for obedience to the law of Moses in order to stay in God’s favor–what the Old Testament often calls “life.” God’s favor is most clearly demonstrated by Israel’s remaining in the Promised Land–if they obey, they stay; if they disobey, the are cast out (which is what the exile to Babylon was all about). And, as an added benefit, when Israel is faithful to God, the other nations will take notice and also bend the knee to Yahweh, Israel’s God.

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lambsev11

I have seen more than one “statement of faith” begin as does this one:

Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Notice what is first and what is SECOND! The article here makes the same point! “For Evangelicals, the Bible is God’s final authority. For Paul, Jesus is the final authority to which the Bible must bend.”

Where did this Statement of Faith come from? Here: http://www.nae.net/about-us/statement-of-faith
At the National Association of Evangelicals no less!!!
- Evermyrtle
  
  Very well put!! If Paul were here today, I believe he would tell you that your own personal faith, is your own. We all live it, first of all, according to our own will. Secondly, GOD will bless ans assist us every step of the way if we chose to live HIS WAY., but we do have to make the choice., seek GOD and study HIS WORD. There will always be GOD'S people living in this world as long as it stands. "The world will pass away but my word will not pass away" is from GOD'S WORD
- jimstudio
  
  I suggest that many (most?) Statements of Faith begin with a credo about the Bible because Scripture is our only source of knowledge about God, about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit, etc. So, first off, we establish the authority of our source. I certainly don't know any professing Christians who 'worship' the Bible above God. We don't follow "cleverly devised fables" but instead trust all that God has revealed about Himself in His word. In addition, "in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son," so Scripture is our first and only stop to learn about Jesus. Paul literally met Jesus in person; we meet Him in the Scriptures.
  - KD
    
    What is the purpose of a creed? To state one group's beliefs? Isn't that what the Bible is for? You can have your man-made creed. I'm gonna stick with God's inspired word, not some human generated creed.
  - lambsev11
    
    The scripture is not the only source. To say that is to deny that God can speak to you directly. He spoke to many people in the Old Testament, and in the New. Inspiration is not always written down. Certainly the Bible is a GREAT and precious gift of God. But God is the Lord of it and He IS THE SOURCE OF IT; He is not limited by having inspired it.
  - KD
    
    LAMBSEV11, what about John17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Galatians 1:6ff; Romans 1:16?
    - lambsev11
      
      Do you not think God will speak to you except through the Bible?
      
      John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
      John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
      
      2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
      John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
      
      Galatians 1:6ff; (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
      John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
      
      Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
      Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
      - wesley
        
        they tend to forget that the true Word is Jesus Christ himself and not the Bible. i have friend that used to be Baptist who stated that some act like they replace Word for Bible. Logos can be translate the following ways: 3056 logos log'-os from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):–account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work. see GREEK for 3004. John 17:17 also uses logos in Greek for word. you forgot
        John 18:37: Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
        John 18:38: Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
- Esteban Cafe
  
  Well put. Unfortunately the fractures in the Christian world are wide and deep, based on multiple interpretations of the same scripture(s). Geez, we will divide over the simplist of doctrines, tossed to and fro.
  
  Paul sought to bring each church into compliance and alignment with Christ. And to what 'authority" did Paul point? That is the same authority we need to seek today.
  - lambsev11
    
    Well said, Esteban!
- wesley
  
  that is funny. especially since there has be a faith statement that has been around for at 1900 years that take into account every essential doctrine of the faith call the Apostles' Creed. then you have the Nicene Creed which further clarifies the essentials of the faith which has been around nearly 1700 years. these you do not see as a church's statement of faith. the saddest part is most Christians cannot quote the Apostles' Creed beside the Nicene.
- Robert Burns
  
  It is important to always give credibility to the source information following one's premise.
  It should be understood that the entire Bible is God's Word, weather written by Paul or any the other 's: John Peter, Mark. etc,
  It is a given that Jesus is God, coequal with the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
  There is absolutely no conflict here, The Bible and Jesus are in complete agreement. Jesus does not contradict himself.
http://twitter.com/SueNC @SueNC

I fail to see a difference. Maybe I'm missing something. If you believe the Bible to be the true Word of God, how can you separate the two? Is God going to change His mind and say, 'disregard that part.' I kinda doubt it. As for that statement of faith, you could put those opening sentences in any order and it wouldnt change the meaning. God gave the Word. Had He not meant for it to be the handbook for life that we're expected to follow, He wouldnt have given the Word to such a variant array of people and over the expanse of time that He did.
Show me a church that disregards the importance of the Bible and I'll show you a church that has gone dry, spiritually.

As for this piece, can we agree it's just 'opinion'? I could write an article myself about Paul that says the exact opposite. In fact, as an Evangelical, myself, I can say that Paul would have made a wonderful Evangelical leader. He had a fire for the gospel of Jesus Christ that would not be quenched. He burned for the Word. It was Paul who insisted on taking the teachings of Jesus to the gentiles. I can see the tent revivals springing up when Paul hit the road!

So, what's the point of this article? Is it a slam on Evangelicals? Are we 'second class Christians'? I'm not buying it and I hope whoever wrote this divisive piece, along with the not-so-thinly veiled slam of the first commentator are prepared to answer to the Lord on the final day about why you sought to cause strife in the Body.
Sharon

Paul did not or would not compromises Gods word, But I tell you this Paul's relationship with the Lord would turn people's world upside down now!! God's Word never changes and We all must be like Paul in His resolve to keep it that way also. My Hat is off to those Christian Leaders who will not Bow to wickness in High places thank you James Dobson MAY WE ALL WHO CLAIM TO SERVE THE ONLY TRUE GOD DO THE SAME!!!
Paul

Paul wouldn't make a "good evangelical" by today's standards: true. Especially if you measure "evangelical" by the false doctrines to which scripture has been twisted by the reformed/calvinist ministers cited in the article.

Because he re-shaped the Old Testament in order to conform it to Jesus: patently false. Paul makes the claim in Rom 1:1–2 that his gospel was “the gospel of God that [God] promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.” As far as Paul was concerned, his gospel was nothing other than the gospel proclaimed by the Old Testament prophets.

Paul presented what was always in the Old Testament, but which was not revealed to our mortal understandings until Jesus fulfilled it, and the Holy Spirit shed light on it. But to search the Scripture (the Old Testament) to see if what Paul and the other apostles was teaching was actual truth – the truth as contained in the OT and revealed by the Spirit, commended the Bereans as honorable in Paul's eyes. That would be impossible if Paul had to coerce the OT to "fit" Jesus.
- Kalev
  
  Good insight Paul!
  - KD
    
    Thank you Johnny. I accidently left that point out.
- msjallen
  
  You are absolutely right. The Church is not the new Israel and God is not through with them. The land promised in the Covenants to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be restored to them during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ who will sit on the Throne of David as promised by God.
  - KD
    
    There will not be a 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ. Christ's church (singular) is the kingdom (Col. 1:13). The Christians of the 1st century were members of the kingdom (Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9). Christ is reigning today on David's throne, in heaven (Acts 2:30, 36). When Christ comes back it will be to deliver the kingdom, the church, to God (1 Cor. 15:24-26), and the earth will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:9-12).
    - Pastor Dwayne
      
      ???
    - msjallen
      
      KD the following scriptures have not taken place yet…
      Zech 14:9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.
      Rev 20:3-4 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
      Zech 14:9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one and His name the only one. (Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords.)
      Some scriptures that tell what life will be like during the Millennium: Isaiah 11, 35, 62, 65, Psalm 72, Zech 14:4-9, and more in Revelation 20
      - wesley
        
        the thousand years are comparable to God owing the cattle on a thousand hill or one day to the Lord is like a thousand years. Christ has been reigning the world ever since that first Easter Sunday when he had risen from the dead. Revelation 20 does not say that Christ reigns from Jerusalem or even physically on the earth. Isaiah starts with man deeper than we would want to admit and end higher than we could even dream.
  - Johnny
    
    We ahve been living in the "millenium" since Jesus' resurrection.
    - Glen S
      
      You could not be more mistaken!
    - msjallen
      
      God is not finished with His chosen people. At the end of the Church Age (1 Cor 15:51-53) the final seven years of the Age of Israel will take place (Dan 11:36-39) and at the end of the seven years Jesus will return for His 2nd Advent (Zech14:3-4, 12). Jesus Christ will then reign on the earth for 1000 years on the Throne of David and restoring Israel to their promised land. Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare in the coastlands afar off, and say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock (Millennium).”
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        That is funny msjallen, you spoke exactly what the Bible says, AMEN ! As far as the writer of this article , " Jesus is the final authority to which the Bible must BEND" , They think they know what they are talking about , cause calvinism truly BENT the Gospel!!!
      - wesley
        
        Daniel 11 was fulfilled completely to such detail before Christ even born for the Jews begged the Romans to come and stop this constant warring between the Kingdom of the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Kingdom of the Seleucids in Syria and Turkey in the North. msjallen you might want to want Daniel 11:40 for this proves those verses were a blimp on the warring where Antiochus Apiphanes did as said in Daniel 8 went into the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar defiling the Temple. it is funny how you dispensationalist see Daniel 8 and 11 go in tandem but cannot see them already being fulfilled. Jeremiah 31:10 goes with Jeremiah 30 where Israel will return from their captivity by for Israel the Assyrians and Judah the Babylonians.
  - KD
    
    Thank you Johnny. I accidently left that fact out.
  - KD
    
    So, I take it that you are rejecting what Paul wrote to the Colossian church, what John wrote to the seven congregation in Asia, and what Peter said on pentecost in Acts 2? Are you rejecting that Jesus is both Lord (King) and Christ? There cannot be a King without a kingdom. In Mark 9:1 Jesus stated that there were some standing there who would not taste death till they saw the kingdom come with power. Is Christ a liar? Certainly not! Christ established the church, which is the kingdom.
    - wesley
      
      out of the twelve disciple only Judas Iscariot tasted death before Pentecost. the only other would be those who died before Pentecost.
Paul

Want to be a true Evangelical (broadcaster of evangel, i.e. "good news") then don't look to Sproul, Piper, et. al. Look to the one that Jesus knocked from his horse and said "for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake." And that would be Paul.
RAL

I find this interesting, because of what the Bible reveals in just where Paul went to share Jesus Christ to. The nations he went to, no Jew would even let the sand hit their sandals. The door to Gentiles was given by God, through Paul. The amazing thing is, Paul didn't have anyone on his side, except those that God shared to help him. At one point he had both sides questioning who he was. He was a mouthpiece for the pharisees, that corrupted the Word of God, by their politics, morality, power welding…and Paul became a lightening rod exposing their lies. They came after Paul, with their laws and their hate, that they bent to their will.
As a timeline of today, look at the format of government, power, law and the corruption of God's Word, wrapped up in our leaders, environmentalists that will hug a tree and advocate murder of babies, clergy that calls sexual immorality of God, use agenda of hate and division, even inside our churches, to bring back the 'Tower of Babel' of ignorance, immorality, politics, race, value and God.
Paul was so exposed to the lie he helped murder Christians, he did everything he could in setting the Gentile world on fire, that we could be a part of the Kingdom of God…and Jesus was then exposed as the sacrifice of all nations…if we choose to follow. The Disciples would not have given him the time of day, and Paul had been so brainwashed by what he grew up with as truth, when the REAL WHOLE TRUTH OF GOD got exposed to him, the passion, and the fact he had been used, grew a fire that spread to the opening God gave to Abraham, yet was not really understood.
Today, the warnings that God gives us, are not being heard. Jesus warned the Bible was meant for only His followers, but would be used to take many away from God. We even have the warning that when God finally stands as our judge, many will think they are His, but He will say to them, "I never knew you." That warning should put the fear of God into actually reading the Bible, and not just listening to what others say it says. We are warned how narrow the road really is for those claiming to be Christians (Luke 13:24; Matt 7:13-14 as just two examples)

How about these words from Paul: Ephesians 5:

1 "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person, such a person is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
- Steve03
  
  "No Jew would ever let the sand hit their sandals?" There were something like 4 Jews living in those Gentile lands for every one who resided in Judea. Paul himself was from Tarsus (capital of the Roman province of Cilicia), and if Acts is true, he found a synagogue — and Jews — everywhere he went. But why bother to read the Bible when you already know what it says.
  - Johnny
    
    There was no synagogue in Philippi (Acts 16:13) Apparently there not even ten devout Jewish men in Philippi, so the devout Jews met on the riverside for prayer.
- James
  
  Paul was not the only one to preach to the Gentiles. Peter took the message of Jesus to the officer of the army of Rome in Acts 10. Peter and other apostles were also thrown in to jail (on several occasions) for preaching of Jesus and when rebuked for doing so replied that they should obey God rather than men. I would hope that men would still be willing to do the same today.
  - wesley
    
    both Peter and Paul found their deaths at Rome. Peter crucified upside down and Paul beheaded according to church tradition.
jonasdabonas

This passes for an intelligent article?
Dennis

The Apostle Paul did what most of us shy away from. He simply walked into Synagogues and preached salvation only by way of Jesus Christ, or he stood on a street corner and did the same thing. Then he was beaten for it and on more than one occasion was stoned to one step away from death for it. Then he recovered and went and did it again. How many of us who name the name of Christ do that?
Galen Robison

Evangelicals, and everybody else, would do well if they would try to be more like Paul.
msjallen

Covenant theology does not teach the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age. The Filling of the Spirit did not exist in the Dispensation of Israel. The Filling of the Spirit started with Jesus Christ in His humanity (Hypostatic Union) as we are also in the Church Age. They do teach salvation correctly but after salvation is where they go back to the teaching of the Mosaic Law and other OT teachings. They believe the OT & NT are the same and fail to explain the Doctrine of the Mystery. They believe in tithing and human works after salvation. Calvinism believes in limited atonement because they were already elected and God works on the will of man to believe – this is wrong. http://www.biblelife.org/calvinism.htm http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Doctrines/…
keyboardshark

"For Evangelicals, the Bible is God’s final authority. For Paul, Jesus is the final authority to which the Bible must bend."

The statement is meaningless. You cannot separate Jesus from the Bible, nor can you separate the Bible from Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God, so Jesus and the Bible are one and the same. The whole Bible must be considered when determining doctrine. The 'red letter' words that Jesus spoke while on earth are no more authoritative than any other portion of the Bible, because it was all written by Jesus.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:1

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
Sandy Anderson

Personally, ANYONE who has had a life changing that radical is in my humble opinion a definate Evangelical (and I don't care about what his creed is or was as long as he is preaching Jesus Christ as the life changer. I mean seriously, what kind of people dream this stuff up? "Would Paul be an evangelical today?" If these people think not than I sure don't have the time of day for them because they are not preaching just Jesus. they would have an agenda. But Paul, well here is a man that was imprisioned for preaching JUST JESUS and Him only…. Not even wanting to take any thing from the people he was preaching to. Problem today is that there are to many people focusing on stupid stuff instead of Jesus Christ the one who died, was raised from the dead and has the power to transform lives, and He will someday return to judge the living and the dead and then those who beleieve will be sitting with Him and we will be worshipping Jesus Christ and no one else and no creed or anything else. ONLY Jesus will we be worshipping. SO you best beleive that Paul is an evangelical. Why? Because he had an encounter with Jesus Christ and it changed his life forever.
wesley

the author use the wrong word to describe what Paul was doing to the Old Testament. he was not reshaping it, but instead he shined the light of Christ onto the Old Testament.