O.k. I need to vent. I am SICK and TIRED of people claiming that Paul did not believe in the Jesus Christ of the bible. There are many articles on the web (someone sent me one today) that claims that Paul's writings DENY that a historical Jesus existed. The claim is he never mentioned that he saw Jesus in person at anytime and since his writings are older than the gospels, we should take this as evidence Jesus did not exist.
Well DUH.....it is not unknown to Christians that Paul was not converted to the faith until AFTER Christ's death and ascension to heaven. Of course he never saw him in the flesh! Why would he write about seeing him on earth then? His experience with Christ was one of the most beautiful, supernatural events recorded in the Bible. And he most certainly did believe in the real person of Christ. .
Here are the facts;
Paul's conversion to Christianity - Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Evidence in Paul's writings that he believed that Jesus of Nazereth Lived and died (in other words he was a real person)
Romans 8: 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
1 Corinthians 1:16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 15: 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
It is obvious from these texts that he believed in the SAME Jesus that the gospel writers believed in and that is a real person of Christ who came, died on a cross, and was raised up to heaven. He believed Jesus spoke to him from heaven, struck him blind, healed him and sent him out to preach the gospel to the nations.
The content of his writings will of course be different than the gospels. He did not walk the earth a follower of Christ. His job was not to record Christ's life and ministry. He was not even a Christian until much later. He stoned Christians believing they were a sect against Judiaism, for goodness sake he was a Pharisee! Christ chose him for a specific purpose which was to preach to the nations (gentiles), as Paul says in his own words.
How can anyone read these simple verses in the bible and still say Paul did not believe in a historical person of Jesus?
It is partly because of Paul's writings that I myself became a Christian. And his historical writings which many Bible Scholars believe are older than the Gospels (as far as the date of writing, not content contained) are what helped me see the Bible's NT is trustworthy when he comes to Christ. Peace everyone, Lilly