Tension in the Early Church: Paul vs James

[po18guy]

Or when we whitewash one in favor of the other. Our Lord chose both for very valid, but very different reasons.

I’m out.

 

[De_Maria]

In Acts and Galatians we read of Paul’s interactions with the rest of the leadership of the Church, especially James. While both Paul and James believed in Jesus, Paul was more focused on what Jesus meant for all nations and James was focused on He meant for the Jews.

Actually, I think it boils down to St. James was misinformed by his constituents. He had been told that St. Paul was preaching against Moses. He had been told that St. Paul was preaching justification by faith alone.

So, the second chapter of his Epistle was directly aimed and disproving the false teaching that he had been told was being preached.

This is probably why St. Paul felt he had to go and meet the Apostles to make sure that he was not running in vain.

The attitudes and beliefs of these men seem to put a strain on their relationship. Consequently, we see James practically order Paul to go through a purification ritual to prove his loyalty to the Law of Moses and basically sit on his hands when Paul is assaulted by the Asian Jews.

I think St. James had heard many things about St. Paul’s teachings. Perhaps he had even read the manuscripts. And in my opinion, he either understood that St. Paul was teaching “faith alone” OR he understood that many of his parishoners thought that St. Paul was teaching “faith alone”. And St. James was preaching against faith alone in no uncertain terms.

I also think there was a strain between St. Paul and the other Apostles. Put yourself in his shoes. There you are on your missionary journeys and then you hear in Church, something cryptic from St. John, the beloved of Christ, “ 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us; but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us. (1 John 2) ”?

To whom is he referring? To me?

And then you hear something from St. James. “24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? (James 2) ”! Is he contradicting ME?

And then, you hear your name mentioned: 2 Peter 3:15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also OUR MOST DEAR BROTHER PAUL, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; IN WHICH ARE CERTAIN THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

Wow! Thanks for the endorsement, Pete!

No wonder he had to confront them. That’s why he confronted them in Galatia and spoke of them as “reputed” pillars. Because he thought they were conspiring against him.

Their saving grace is that all these men were inspired by the Holy Spirit. So, eventually, they worked things out.