Hi Youtellme! Welcome to the forums. All are entitled to their "Hypothesis"/opinions. Since these debates are concerning what is written in the Biblical Scriptures, What the Bible says is the standard, by which, to judge ones "hypothesis" or opinions.
(1) What is your source for:""Jesus said that after him would come the great apostasy.""
(2) Jesus taught the same principles as were written by Moses and the Prophets.John 5:45-47
Saul(Paul) was zealous for GOD, and studied under Gamaliel. It was the Jewish leaders who were teaching contrary to Moses as seen above and in Mark 7:7,9, "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.....And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. "
There was no pretense on the Road to Damascus. In Gal.1:11-12, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".
And to show his steadfastness(faith in that zeal for GOD), in Acts24:14, this was his confession(near the end of his life). "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:"
(3)Paul's version of the teachings of the message presented by Jesus and was first called "The Way" and then "Christian"----was the same as that of Jesus and few find that "straight path". Most who "profess to be Christians" do so with "lip service" rather than that of "the heart".
Yes, there did come a "falling away" as prophesied by Dan.7:25 and Paul in 2Thess.2:3-4. That "power is sitting today" "as God".
The principles seen in 1Cor.7:12+ are seen in writings of the OT.
(4) Yes, Jesus did associate with "Sinners". HE Taught them the truths OF GOD and lead them to repentance.----Therefore, to be welcomed into the congregation which they were "NOW OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD" Eph.2:19
"Women silence" wrong understanding. Acts 18:26, "And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. "
There were prophetess as well who Spoke to the people(OT and NT)
(5)Paul's teachings were based upon the OT and the "revelation of Jesus Christ."
Let me reply to one of many questionable points you brought up: You said:
There was no pretense on the Road to Damascus. In Gal.1:11-12, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".
- Act 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Clearly, men did teach him what to do. But that man was not in league with the Apostles who taught him things. Ananias, it turns out later is the high priest. Perhaps not the same man, but the treachery of Paul and his teachings certainly makes us pause and question if this Ananias was not the man behind Paul's doings and teachings.
Paul's teachings could not have come from the Savior. Let's take a quick tour of Paul's views and compare them to the Savior.
The Savior said:
Mat_6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Paul said:
Rom_7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Seriously? So the flesh has a mind of its own, then? Does not the Savior say that sin comes out of the heart?
Mat_15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Paul's alleged Schism between the
mind and the
body is specifically cast out by the Savior in His plain comment "
...for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...". The Savior clearly shows that man is responsible for what he does. There are no two entities in the heart of man. Only one heart.
The Savior also said:
Mat_16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Paul said:
2Ti_1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
The Savior taught that the decision of Salvation will be formed and announced later in His judgment which will be based on the works of each man.
Paul asserts that God has picked out those who will be saved preemptively. Seriously?
Rom 9:11 (
For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth
This theory is contrary to what the Savior said. It eliminates the Judgement as well as the righteousness of God. Picking some for salvation and making others do evil is not what the Savior was saying about Himself and His Father. But Paul clearly says that God has the right and power to make a man do evil.
Speaking about Pharaoh, Paul contends in Romans chapter 9 that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and generalizes on that point that God can do this great evil because God is in power.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault?
For who hath resisted his will?
Clearly no man can resist the will of God. God can do this, but the God preached by the Savior does not resemble anything so vile and evil as Paul asserts here. And here is how Paul defends God that this is God's right based on His Power and Authority!
Rom 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Now it is clear that Paul is in fact talking about a god, in the likeness of a Chinese emperor who wills to subvert all to his power and might, be it moral or not.
So, for anyone who has read these passages before, and did not empty his stomach at the horror inscribed in the writing of this man --devoid of moral sense-- this is your moment to shine and recognize who Paul was.
I could write volumes on the insanities written by this man who saw that Christianity was growing in spite of everything he and his buddies tried to disperse this movement. Death, prison, being robbed of possessions could not stand in their way. So, the pharisees decided that they could possibly invade this sect and derails them. Enter Paul and Ananias and all the Pharisees. And to identify himself, when the crowd was ready to kill him, Paul returns to performing sacrificial rituals of purification and jumps out before the angry mob to reveal, like a coward would, "...my father was a pharisee and I am a pharisee!" How in the world does that fit for a man who supposedly embraced the teachings of the Savior? Should not he have been courageous like Stephen and said, "Father forgive them!" and confessed that He is a Christian?
Act_23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
So, why are we paying attention to a man who is a Pharisee? The Savior did not teach this man. The Savior had nothing to do with this man.
My apology for the huge post... This topic is much on my mind lately...
DK