Paul — Quovadisworld

BY FAITH, OR BY WORKS OF THE LAW?

This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]?

PAUL OPPOSES PETER LIVING BY FAITH IN CHRIST

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?

PAUL ACCEPTED BY THE APOSTLES

But [all went well, for] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised, despite the fact that he was a Greek.

PAUL CALLED BY GOD THE TRUE GOSPEL A REVELATION

But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news–the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].

DANGER FROM A PERVERTED GOSPEL

The age which preceded the fall of Jerusalem was notoriously corrupt. Speaking of the Jews at that time, Josephus says that they exceeded Sodom.

OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS

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.

HOW TO BE BUILT UP AND FINAL GREETINGS

For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.

FINAL WARNINGS TO ALL PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES

Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers.

CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH

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.

PAUL’S VISIONS AND HIS THORN

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows–such a man was caught up to the third heaven.