Paul: Greatest Apostle or Enemy?

Raised in Protestant Christianity, I never doubted Paul until I was in my early forties.  I really was not allowed to question because the Bible was the Word of God and it was true.  This was reinforced on at least a weekly basis in the various denominational and nondenominational churches that I, and then my family and I, attended over the years.

At one point in my brief career in Entomology at The Pennsylvania State University, I remember the distinct impression of "I've been lied to."  It was a small step from examining "government conspiracies" to embracing the thought that maybe I could critically read the Scriptures as I would a newspaper report of a current event.  If the bias of the authors and publishers is apparent in what I can personally experience, I reasoned that the bias of the authors and publishers of the Scriptures as they report historical events.

In my studies I have seen the warnings against the enemy by Jesus were against Paul.  I saw the warnings in John's epistles and James as countering Paul's epistles.  Taking this logic further, I wondered that with the continual contentions between Israel's leadership and the Prophets, how even the Old Testament came to us without bias.  Thus, the dreaded "slippery slope" analogy has come into play.  First, I saw a conflict between Jesus and Paul, then I wondered if Jesus and Paul were opposing religious creations, and finally, wondering if I was justified in holding the Old Testament as without a deeper message when I question the New Testament.

I appreciate those who have written concerning Paul as the enemy and those who have encouraged me to see a bigger picture.  Through this website I have been blessed to meet and interact with several folks who are walking a similar path.  The links above include many things to consider from a variety of viewpoints.