The Gospel of Matthew: Challenging Pauline Doctrine by Upholding the Torah in the Gospel Narrative

The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written between 70 to 80 AD, while the Epistles of Paul were written between 50 to 64 AD. It's important to note that these dates are approximate and subject to some scholarly debate.

In the 80s, a few years after the death of Paul but before the Book of Acts was written, the author of the Gospel of Matthew condemned Paul's central teaching, and, interestingly, he did so through the words of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, we find the following passage attributed to Jesus:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets... For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5 verses 17 to 19).

This is a crucial passage for understanding Matthew's Jesus. As a strict follower of Moses’ law, Jesus did not believe in the abolition of Torah. This passage is aimed squarely at the heart of Paul's teaching, which had denied the validity of Jewish law.

It is also very easy to see Paul and his followers in the last phrase "whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teachers others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Paul's Christ Movement was the only religion on the horizon teaching that people should not observe the law.

Matthew sent a stern warning to those who would find Paul's position attractive: Jesus would not have agreed with you. He made clear to his followers that Paul's religion was not for them. Steer clear of these people was his advice. Their message violates the religion of Jesus.

Abandonment of Torah was not consistent with the religion taught and practiced by Jesus. Matthew's Jesus was even more stringent than the Pharisees and required his followers to live up to the challenge of the higher righteousness.

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Paul and the Jewish Christians (Ebionites)

In what manner can Paul be classified within the Jewish religious community?

Paul is commonly described as a Jewish religious leader and Pharisee who later became a prominent figure in early Christianity. He was born as Saul of Tarsus and was a devout Jew who initially persecuted followers of Jesus before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Paul's teachings and writings played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and practices of Christianity.

Why were Ebionites antagonistic toward Paul?

The Ebionites were a Jewish-Christian sect that emerged in the early Christian era. They rejected the divinity of Jesus and insisted on the strict observance of Jewish law, including circumcision and dietary practices.

There are several reasons why the Ebionites were antagonistic toward Paul, who was a prominent figure in spreading the message of Christ among the Gentiles.

1. Apostolic Authority: The Ebionites believed that only the original disciples and James, the brother of Jesus, had true apostolic authority. They viewed Paul as an interloper who had never met Jesus during his earthly ministry. They considered his apostleship to be illegitimate and believed that he had distorted the teachings of Jesus.

2. Jewish Law: The Ebionites were strict observers of Jewish law and viewed it as a mandatory requirement for salvation. They criticized Paul's teachings, which emphasized faith in Christ over the works of the law. Paul argued that salvation came through faith in Jesus, rather than adherence to the Jewish law, which caused disagreement and conflict between him and the Ebionites.

3. Gentile Inclusion: Paul actively preached the message of Christ to Gentiles, allowing them to become followers of Jesus without undergoing circumcision or observing Jewish laws. This inclusive approach was contrary to the Ebionites' strict adherence to Jewish customs and practices. They saw Paul as diluting the original Jewish character of Christianity by opening it up to non-Jews.

4. Pauline Theology: The Ebionites had a different understanding of Jesus' nature and believed that he was a human prophet and not divine. Paul's writings, particularly his emphasis on Jesus as the Son of God, contradicted their beliefs, leading them to reject his teachings and view him as a heretic.

In summary, the Ebionites opposed Paul due to his claim to apostolic authority, his emphasis on faith over Jewish law, his inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian community, and his theology that conflicted with their understanding of Jesus' nature.

Paul's viewpoint and the Islamic perspective on the Torah

Could you provide a comparison between Paul's viewpoint and the Islamic perspective on the Torah?

Paul's Viewpoint:

Paul, a prominent figure in early Christianity, believed that the Torah, or the Jewish law, was no longer necessary for salvation.

He taught that faith in Jesus Christ was the new way to salvation, and that following the Torah was no longer required for believers.

He emphasized the idea of grace and the freedom from the strict adherence to the Jewish law.

Islamic Perspective:

In Islam, the Torah is considered to be a holy book revealed by God to Prophet Moses, and is one of the four major sacred scriptures, along with the Quran, the Gospel, and the Psalms.

Muslims believe in the authenticity and divine origin of the Torah, but also believe that it has been altered over time. They believe that the teachings in the Torah have been superseded by the final revelation of the Quran, which Muslims are required to follow.

Comparison:

Paul's viewpoint and the Islamic perspective on the Torah differ significantly. While Paul advocated for the freedom from the Torah and its laws, the Islamic perspective reveres the Torah as a divine scripture, but also believes in the progressive revelation of the Quran.

Muslims do not see the Torah as obsolete, but rather as a preceding revelation that has been preserved, with its core teachings reaffirmed in the Quran.

Is the gospel of Paul at odds with the teaching of Jesus?

The question of whether the teachings of Paul (often found in his letters, or epistles, in the New Testament) are at odds with the teachings of Jesus is a topic of much discussion among theologians, historians, and biblical scholars. Here's a brief overview:

1. Different Contexts: Jesus' teachings, as recorded in the Gospels, were directed primarily at a Jewish audience in a specific socio-political context. Paul, on the other hand, was writing to specific church communities, many of which were predominantly Gentile with their own sets of issues and challenges. This led to differences in emphasis and approach.

2. Salvation Through Faith: One of the most debated differences centers on the concept of salvation. Paul emphasized justification through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:28), while Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God and the necessity of righteous living. However, this doesn’t mean they are necessarily at odds; Paul also emphasized the importance of love and living a moral life (Galatians 5:22 - 23).

3. Law and Grace: Jesus often discussed the Jewish Law (or Torah) and its interpretation (for example, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 - 7). Paul, on the other hand, wrote extensively on the relationship between the Law and grace, particularly for Gentiles who were not under the Jewish Law. Some interpret Paul as rejecting the Law, but others see him as reinterpreting its role in light of the Gospel.

4. Consistency on Core Beliefs: On core beliefs such as the resurrection of Jesus, the importance of love, and the belief in one God, Paul and Jesus are consistent. For instance, both emphasize love as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37 - 39; 1 Corinthians 13).

5. Interpretation Matters: How one interprets certain passages can influence how they perceive potential conflicts or harmonies. Some scholars believe that the differences between Jesus and Paul are more about emphasis than contradiction.

6. Evolution of Theology: Some argue that Paul developed or expanded on the teachings of Jesus in a way that made them accessible to a Gentile audience, thus playing a foundational role in the spread of Christianity beyond its Jewish roots.
It's also important to note that the letters attributed to Paul were some of the earliest Christian writings, predating the writing of the Gospels. Given this, some argue that Paul's letters provide a lens through which the Gospel writers, decades later, understood and portrayed the teachings of Jesus.

In summary, while there are differences in emphasis and approach between Jesus' teachings in the Gospels and Paul's epistles, whether they are "at odds" is a matter of interpretation. Many Christians see them as complementary, with each providing insights into the other.