Why Do Muslims Have Problems With Paul?

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Regarding the meaning of Matthew 5:17-19

It seems that the main meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 5:17 is that He came to bring out the true meaning and intent of the Law and Prophets. For example,

'“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Go the Second Mile

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
(Matthew 5:33-48)

Messianic Jewish Scholar, David H. Stern wrote
It is true that Yeshua (Jesus) kept the Torah perfectly and fulfilled predictions of the Prophets, but that is not the point here. Yeshua did not come to abolish but ‘to make full’ (plerosai) the meaning of what the Torah and the ethical demands of the Prophets require. Thus he came to complete our understanding of the Torah and the Prophets, so that we can try to more effectively be and do what they say to be and do … The remainder of chapter 5 gives six specific cases in which Yeshua explains the fuller spiritual meaning of points in the Jewish Law. In fact, this verse states the theme and agenda of the entire Sermon on the Mount, in which Yeshua completes, makes fuller, the understanding of his talmidim (students) concerning the Torah and the Prophets, so that they can more fully express what being God’s people is all about.
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(Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary [Clarksville, Maryland; Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996], pp. 25-26; underlined emphasis mine)

Love is the fulfilment of the law

‘“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."’
(Matthew 22:36-40)

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
(Romans 13:8-10)

Does this help? If you need more help understanding Matthew 5:17-19 please let me know. If I have written anything wrong and if other Christians know I have written something wrong, please correct me.

The Lord Jesus Christ also said
“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.”
(Luke 16:16-17)
i.e. John the Baptist

cont…
 
…
I think that, in Matthew 5:17, the Lord Jesus Christ also meant that He came to fulfill the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets such as

“1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
** In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light; ** Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined…
6 **For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given; **
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
**And His name will be called **
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:1-6)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,
Code: 
  “ **That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness**; 
  A King shall reign and prosper, 
  **And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth**. 
   6 In His days Judah will be saved, 
  And Israel will dwell safely; 
  Now this is His name by which He will be called: 

  **THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS**.”
(Jeremiah 23:5-6)

“ 1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
** 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. **
** 6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.**
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
** For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. ** 9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.”
(Isaiah 53:1-12)

Psalm 22 and many more.
 
Prophecy of the New Testament/Covenant

'31 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them, "
declares the LORD.

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”’

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)
 
“44 Then He [Jesus Christ] said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

(Luke 24:44-47)

"22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I [Paul] stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

(Acts 26:22-23)

Peter said
"43 To Him [Jesus Christ] all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

(Acts 10:43)
 
In Isaiah God challenges the false gods (idols) and their prophets to prove their case

" 22Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were,
That we may consider them and know their outcome.
Or announce to us what is coming;
23Declare the things that are going to come afterward,
That we may know that you are gods;
 
’ 7 'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it;
Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,
From the time that I established the ancient nation.
And let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place. **
8’Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
** Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
** I know of none**.’"’

(Isaiah 44:7-8)

In Isaiah, God challenges the false gods (idols) to prove their case

" 22Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were,
That we may consider them and know their outcome.
Or announce to us what is coming;
23Declare the things that are going to come afterward,
That we may know that you are gods…"

(Isaiah 41:22-23)
 
This is to summarize the points brought up regarding Paul in this thread:-

**1.
Muslims: **
Paul introduced new contradictory teachings:-
a) Eating of pork
b) Transgression of the Sabbath
c) Introduction of the Trinity
d) The sin of Adam responsible for all humanity
**Christians: **
All these are not new teachings. The subjects are to be found in the Gospels and the OT.

**2.
Muslims: **
Jesus was devout Jew, observed Mosaic laws and did not break them until his death.
Christians:
Not true. He broke the taboo of the Sabbath on some occasions. He taught that the law of love is above all other laws, for example, the story of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite were admonished for observing the laws rigidly while the Samaritan did the right thing even though he broke the law.

As a good son to his parents and a good Jew, Jesus observed Jewish practices of his days. Similarly, Paul as a good Pharisee did what was required of him. Only after his conversion, equally in enthusiasm, he preached the message of Christ. Jesus brought the New Covenant which came into fulfillment after his death and resurrection. It’s his death that brings about man’s salvation and deliverance from being the slaves of the laws.

**3.
Muslims: **
Jesus wrote a gospel (injeel) probably in his own language of Aramaic/Hebrew. This gospel was lost or destroyed on purpose.
Christians:
No evidence at all to support the existence of such gospel. No one ever talked about it if it really ever existed. Whatever gospels there were, canonized or otherwise, were written by people other than Jesus.

**4.
Muslims: **
Paul was not one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus and therefore could not render true teaching of Jesus.
Christians:
Paul worked with the apostles/disciples; did not gain prominence even among the disciples until very much later as he gained in knowledge about Jesus Christ.

Any false teaching would be definitely dismissed outright. As they were badly persecuted and killed, then what’s the purpose of risking their lives for a lie?

**5.
Muslims: **
Paul’s encountered with Jesus on the way to Damascus was a hoax.
Christians:
This is a matter of faith. Muslims, of all the people, should know better before making this suggestion. They should look first at the situation of Quranic revelation to Muhammad where there was no witness except for him and the angel Gabriel. Isn’t it strange that for 23 years while this revelation was going on not one person was ever a witness? For a religion which requires witnesses for verification in many aspects of its laws, the pure secrecy of the revelation is indeed mind boggling.

On the other hand, Paul was blinded after the encounter. Moreover, in a separate incident, Ananias was told by Jesus about it, who later on miraculously healed Paul of the blindness.

As a side note – this has great significance in Christianity about being spiritual blind that needs to be healed in order to see spiritual truth – a discourse expounded by Jesus himself in the Gospel.

**6.
Muslims: **
There is doubt about Paul’s conversion.
Christians:
This suggestion is too ridiculous to merit response. What is conversion anyway? What’s more than a conversion for Paul – from a Pharisee who persecuted Christianity to an apostle who preached it literally to death. He was martyred for his work and witness.

Conclusion:
Muslims’ accusation of Paul’s hijacking Jesus’ teachings and forming a religion of Christianity is pure ignorance of what Christianity is. My conclusion is – Paul is just a fall guy, a scapegoat for Muslims in order to discredit the authenticity of the present NT which they cannot.

Peace.

Reuben
 
Thank you discipleofJesus for the eplanantion on the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding Jesus. 👍 :clapping: That will no doubt strengthening the argument that Paul didn’t make thing up about Jesus.
 
Reuben J said:
Conclusion:
Muslims’ accusation of Paul’s hijacking Jesus’ teachings and forming a religion of Christianity is pure ignorance of what Christianity is. My conclusion is – Paul is just a fall guy, a scapegoat for Muslims in order to discredit the authenticity of the present NT which they cannot.

Peace.

Reuben
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:amen: :clapping: :clapping: :yup: :yup:
 
Reuben J:
Thank you discipleofJesus for the eplanantion on the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding Jesus. 👍 :clapping: That will no doubt strengthening the argument that Paul didn’t make thing up about Jesus.
Click to expand...
You’re welcome Reuben 🙂 Thank you also for your posts 👍
 
Conclusion:
Muslims’ accusation of Paul’s hijacking Jesus’ teachings and forming a religion of Christianity is pure ignorance of what Christianity is. My conclusion is – Paul is just a fall guy, a scapegoat for Muslims in order to discredit the authenticity of the present NT which they cannot.

Peace.

Reuben
Click to expand...

All good stuff 🙂 - this last paragraph suggests a further reason, I think: Muslims cannot really find fault with Jesus, because He has a very high status in Islam; Paul, OTOH, is more vulnerable to being discredited or demonised.​

 
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