Bible Question:

Did Paul preach a different gospel than the other apostles?

Bible Answer:

It is not unusual for some people to claim the apostle Paul taught a different gospel than Jesus. Others claim Paul wrote a different gospel than the other apostles. So, the question is, “Did Paul preach a different gospel than the other apostles?

Did Paul preach a different gospel than the other apostles?

There are five principles that help us answer the question, “Did Paul preach a different gospel than the other apostles?”

First, the most important principle to answering the question is that every verse, chapter, and book of the Bible has two authors. The two authors of each book are the Holy Spirit and a human author. That is the message of 2 Peter 1:20-21.

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB)

Here we are told that the Holy Spirit moved men to write Scripture. This means the Holy Spirit is the common author of everything that is written in the Bible. God the Holy Spirit wrote all of the Bible. When we are told that He moved men to write, the Greek word for “moved” communicates to us that He controlled what was written. So, the accuracy of Scripture depends upon the Holy Spirit who controlled everything that was written.

The second principle is that Scripture reveals God does not lie. Numbers 23:19 states,

God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Numbers 23:19 (NASB)

Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 also tell us that God does not lie. That means there are no lies, distortions, or contradictions in the entire Bible. The Holy Spirit wrote all of the Bible and He always tells the truth. Any apparent contradiction appears to be a contradiction only because we do not understand the context, the grammar, or the applicable passages in the rest of Scripture. We are missing something.

Third, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that God wrote all of Scripture.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

All of Scripture is inspired. The Greek word for “inspired” means “God-breathed.” That is, God wrote every word and concept. Therefore, it is false teaching to claim that Paul taught the truth about salvation or some other doctrine but the other apostles were wrong or incomplete in their understanding. It is false teaching to claim that only Paul wrote true Scripture. God claims He wrote all of Scripture.  He did because the Holy Spirit controlled what every human author wrote in the Bible, including all of the apostles.

Fourth, Jude 17 tells us to remember all of the words that the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ wrote. That is, we are to remember all of the words of all of the apostles, not just Paul’s words or the words of some other apostle. Jude 7 says,

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Jude 17 (NASB)

Fifth, Jude 3 tells us to . . .

. . . contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. Jude 3 (NASB)

Here we are told that the faith, the content of the Scriptures, was given to us once for all. We are also told to contend or “fight” for that faith—the Bible. That is, what all of the apostles taught was true and we are to fight to preserve it.

Conclusion

Sadly, some who are either untaught or unbelieving are attempting to convince people that the apostles had different doctrines, especially about the deity of Christ and salvation. That teaching is from the demonic world. Such claims reveal they are either ignorant of the teaching of Scripture or reject the teaching of Scripture. They are influenced by demons (1 Timothy 4:1-5). In conclusion, to claim that the true gospel is found only in Paul’s writings or in some other apostle’s writings is an error—heresy. The answer to the question, “Did Paul preach a different gospel than the other apostles?” is no!

 

Suggested Links:

Why We Can Trust The Bible — Inspiration and the Canon of Scripture
Remember, Apostate Teachers Are Among Us
The Disease of False Teachers
False Teachers May Be In Your Church
Does 1 John 4:1-2 teach false teachers deny Jesus was God and man?
Thyatira — Church That Tolerated False Teachers and Sin
How To Identify False Teachers
Two Steps To Protecting The Scriptures