Why should I trust Paul when Christians say they follow Jesus?
By Will Bourne · Question 139
The direct answer
Paul should not replace Jesus. Christians receive Paul's letters as apostolic witness that must be read in the light of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and teaching. A quotation from Paul cannot responsibly be used to contradict the character and direction of Christ.
Fuller explanation
Paul's letters are earlier than the written Gospels and give important evidence about the first Christian communities. They are also occasional letters addressing particular conflicts, questions, and churches. Context matters.
The New Testament presents disagreement and development, including conflict involving Paul. That honesty gives us reason to examine his arguments rather than imagine the apostles never needed correction or interpretation.
Reading through Christ does not mean discarding every difficult Pauline sentence. It means asking how the passage functions, how it relates to the gospel Paul himself proclaims, and whether our application reflects the crucified Lord rather than our preferred power arrangement.
The objection we still need to face
Is reading Paul through Jesus just a way to reject verses you dislike?
It can become that if no interpretive reasons are supplied. A responsible reading explains the context, the relationship among texts, and the principle being applied. Jesus is not an excuse to avoid Scripture; He is the center Christians claim Scripture bears witness to.
Scripture and its use
Acts 9; Acts 15; Galatians 1–2; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; 2 Peter 3:15–16
Read these passages in their surrounding chapters alongside the explanation.