pvj-02 Verses: Paul's Claimed Relationship to Jesus and the Apostles

Cluster 1: Paul's Apostolic Self-Claims

Galatians 1:1 -- "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)"

Romans 1:1 -- "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"

1 Corinthians 1:1 -- "Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes [our] brother,"

Ephesians 1:1 -- "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:"

Colossians 1:1 -- "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus [our] brother,"

1 Timothy 1:1 -- "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, [which is] our hope;"

2 Timothy 1:1 -- "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,"

Titus 1:1 -- "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;"

1 Corinthians 9:1 -- "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"

1 Corinthians 15:8 -- "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."

1 Corinthians 15:9 -- "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

1 Corinthians 15:10 -- "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

2 Corinthians 11:5 -- "For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles."

2 Corinthians 12:11 -- "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing."

2 Corinthians 12:12 -- "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds."

Cluster 2: Paul's Gospel Source Claims

Galatians 1:11 -- "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man."

Galatians 1:12 -- "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Galatians 1:15 -- "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,"

Galatians 1:16 -- "To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"

Galatians 1:17 -- "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."

2 Corinthians 12:1 -- "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord."

2 Corinthians 12:2 -- "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven."

2 Corinthians 12:3 -- "And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)"

2 Corinthians 12:4 -- "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

Galatians 1:8 -- "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

Galatians 1:9 -- "As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Cluster 3: "My Gospel"

Romans 2:16 -- "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

Romans 16:25 -- "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,"

2 Timothy 2:8 -- "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:"

Cluster 4: Relationship with Jerusalem Apostles

Galatians 1:18 -- "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."

Galatians 1:19 -- "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother."

Galatians 2:1 -- "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also."

Galatians 2:2 -- "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."

Galatians 2:3 -- "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:"

Galatians 2:4 -- "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"

Galatians 2:5 -- "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."

Galatians 2:6 -- "But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me:"

Galatians 2:7 -- "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;"

Galatians 2:8 -- "(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)"

Galatians 2:9 -- "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

Galatians 2:10 -- "Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."

Galatians 2:11 -- "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed."

Galatians 2:14 -- "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

Cluster 5: External Validation

2 Peter 3:15 -- "And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;"

2 Peter 3:16 -- "As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

Acts 9:15 -- "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"

Acts 22:14 -- "And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth."

Acts 22:15 -- "For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."

Acts 26:16 -- "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;"

Acts 26:17 -- "Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,"

Acts 26:18 -- "To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Cluster 6: Conversion Accounts

Account 1: Acts 9:1-20 (Luke's narration)

Acts 9:1-6 -- Saul on road to Damascus; light from heaven; "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"; "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest"; told to go into city. Acts 9:15 -- Chosen vessel to bear Christ's name before Gentiles, kings, Israel. Acts 9:17 -- Ananias: "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me." Acts 9:20 -- "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."

Account 2: Acts 22:6-16 (Paul's speech to Jews in Jerusalem)

Acts 22:6-8 -- Noon; great light; "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." Acts 22:14-15 -- "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One."

Account 3: Acts 26:12-18 (Paul before Agrippa)

Acts 26:13-15 -- Midday; light above brightness of the sun; Hebrew tongue; "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Acts 26:16-18 -- Made minister and witness; sent to Gentiles to open their eyes.

Cluster 7: Unity of Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:11 -- "Therefore whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed."

Galatians 2:7 -- "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;"

Galatians 1:7 -- "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."