@SugarOcean concerning Paul's apostleship....
Do you believe that the NT is the word of God? Did God inspire its writers? If so, why would he primarily include the writings of a false apostle....a traitor? Why did his holy spirit not reveal Paul's appointment as deception to the 12 who had his spirit? How was Peter able to discern the deception of Ananias and his wife, but not Paul's?
Your accusations concerning the authenticity of Paul as a genuine apostle are nothing new, but they don't stack up under scrutiny IMO.
The designation "Apostle" simply means "one sent forth". In this sense, Jesus is also called an "apostle". Someone with a special mission.
Paul's appointment was in many respects the same as the 12....being chosen by Christ himself for his special mission....to bring the good news to the Gentiles. He was educated by the resurrected Jesus through holy spirit, not by the other apostles. He was so different in his qualifications compared to the 12, but he was well suited for the role that Christ assigned to him.
Considering the territory into which he was sent, his education, knowledge of scripture, and status as a Roman citizen made him a good choice.
Why are Paul's writings so prominent in the Christian scriptures, when most of the 12 did not contribute anything that is included in the canon.
Matthew 10:2-4...
"2 The names of the 12 apostles are these: First, Simon, the one called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebʹe·dee and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bar·tholʹo·mew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Al·phaeʹus; and Thad·daeʹus; 4 Simon the Ca·na·naeʹan; and Judas Is·carʹi·ot, who later betrayed him."
How many of the 12 listed here wrote books or letters contained in the NT? The book of James was written by Jesus' brother who was not one of the two apostles named James in that list.
Matthew, John and Peter are the only ones I see. Yet Paul contributed more to NT scripture than most of them.
If the Bible is God's word, how do you account for that? Does God want us to be confused? Does he expect us to doubt what is written in his word because of who wrote it?
Casting doubt about some parts of God's word, casts doubt on all of it.....not a good thing to be guilty of, wouldn't you say?
I believe that God is more than capable of choosing what belongs in his own instruction manual.
I would suggest you study on how the Canon was formed.
And then consider how the epistles, letters, of a man who never heard the living Jesus speak, nor saw him, is the source for nearly 2/3rds of the new testament.
Saul, who was of the order, Pharisee, that Jesus called:Ye blind guides (Matt. 23:16),Ye fools (Matt. 23:17), Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees…for ye are like whited supulchres…full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness (Matt. 23:27), Ye serpents (Matt. 23:33) , Ye generation of vipers (Matt. 23:33), Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Luke 11:44), Ye are as graves which appear not (Luke 11:44).
(Source)
Matthew 23:33
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
…32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your fathers. 33
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell? 34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
How can we imagine Jesus would return to Heaven and then ordain a man of that order Jesus condemned to deliver His Gospel? When Saul was on a mission to murder apostate Jews at the time of the vision on the Damascus road.
While the enemy of God, that which appeared to us in scripture first as a serpent, remained as prince of this world after Jesus ascension. And would indeed be in kind with Saul who was seeking out and killing Jews who turned to follow the Messiah Jesus. He whom the Pharisee wanted to be murdered by Rome on the charge of blasphemy.
Further, when you ask how can someone deny Saul was an Apostle my short answer is very simple.
Jesus told me to. And he told you to as well. Matthew 24. In short, Jesus said do not believe anyone who comes after He has ascended and claims to have seen him.
What hubris that Saul would imagine he was ordained to finish Jesus work by bringing the gospel to Gentiles. When Jesus had charged his actual Disciples with this task.
However, it would make sense that Saul was to bring a contradictory teaching in the name of Jesus when led by the spirit that remained on this earth as that which is averse to the good news.
It is really simple. Jesus said do not believe Saul when he comes forth and claims to have met the Christ on the Damascus road. (Summarizing Matthew 24)
Fear? No, I don't fear believing what Christ commanded concerning those who would come after him performing signs and wonders, bringing false doctrine, that would deceive even the elect. Do not believe them.
I follow Jesus. Not Saul. Jesus warned of Saul. Saul contradicted Jesus.
It isn't hard to decide who was of God and who was not. A man that never met Jesus, never saw him, never heard him preach, occupies with his writings the majority of God's new covenant teachings concerning Messiah.
That alone should lead any Christian to question why. When it is the Gospel of Christ Jesus that saves and yet his words occupy so little of the NT. While Saul's, who contradicted Jesus teachings and did not know the most basic things about him, occupies the most.
I see it as a test. Jesus commanded, do not believe those who would come after him and claim to have seen him. Much less are being taught by him to teach contrary to what Jesus died to deliver as God's word.
Those who follow Christ obey Christ.
Those who do not consider what Christ warned against, while Saul later would fit precisely the warning Jesus gave against such people, err.
But there's always time to reconsider. You see, the Epistles are not God's words. They are the letters of Saul of Tarsus who asks you to believe from time to time what he wrote was of God. However, when God told you prior to Saul's arrival do not believe someone who arrives as Saul did, claiming to have met Jesus on the road to Damascus, performs signs and wonders so as to claim that lends proof he is of God and an Apostle , 2 Corinthians 12, you have to decide who knows more?
And whom do you follow and believe?
God?
Or that one which God told you not to?