WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL INSANE?

By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

December 14, 2010

If what some dispensationalists say about the gospel of the circumcision is true, he was insane.  Let me explain.

In Galatians 2 Paul and the other apostles reached an agreement among themselves.  It says: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

For years I have heard many dispensationalists use these verses to prove that Peter and Paul preached different gospels. They say the gospel of the circumcision preached by Peter was different from the gospel of the uncircumcison and even required certain works along with believing to be saved.

If this is true, let’s consider the ramifications of this teaching. In Galatians 1 we see Paul asking God to curse any man who preaches a gospel that is different from his and then in chapter two he shakes hands and blesses men who are preaching a gospel different from his!  If this is true Paul was insane.  Think about it.  If what these dispensationalists say is true you have Paul in chapter 2 shaking hands and blessing men whom he just asked God to curse in chapter 1!

That’s not all. In Galatians 2:14-16 Paul rebukes Peter for not walking uprightly according to the truth of his gospel.  How could Paul rebuke Peter for not obeying his gospel if he was not sent to preach it?   Paul would be insane to rebuke Peter if God sent Peter to preach a gospel different from his.

Paul was not insane and he and Peter preached the same gospel. They both preached that Christ died and shed his blood for our sins which is the gospel of Christ.  See 1 Cor.15:3-4, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18.  But when Peter preached the gospel of Christ to the Jews it was called the gospel of the circumcision for the simple reason it was a promise God made to the circumcision in the Old Testament.  Read Isaiah 53 and you will see that God promised the circumcision a Savior who would die and shed his blood for their sins.  It is truly the gospel of the circumcision for it given to them by promise in the Prophets!  Paul also says that both he and Peter were justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law according to Gal. 2:14-16.

When Paul preached the gospel of Christ to the gentiles it was known as the gospel of the uncircumcision because under his ministry uncircumcised gentiles can now be saved by the death and shed blood of Christ without becoming Jewish proselytes or keeping the law or works of any kind.  In other words, Paul took the promise that God made to the circumcision in Isaiah 53 and offered it to gentiles and told them they did not have to become Jewish proselytes to claim it.

In Galatians 1:8-9 Paul wrote: 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. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

When Paul said if “any man” preaches a gospel other than his let him be accused, he meant EVERY MAN without exception and distinction including Peter. You can debate all you want about what Peter preached before Paul’s conversion, but don’t teach the heresy that he preached a different gospel after God saved Paul. If he did God would have cursed him according to Galatians 1:8-9.

Paul was not insane, but anyone who reads this warning in Galatians 1:8-9 and still says that God sent men like Peter and the other apostles and prophets to preach a gospel different from Paul’s, not only needs to have their head examined, but their heart too.  This is spiritual blindness of the worst kind!  And I see this blindness in hyper dispensationalism. I know, for I was once a part of it, but God saved me out of it for which I am eternally grateful.

P.S. By Pastor Art Watkins: To say God would send two men to preach opposing gospels at the same time is insane! The god who would do such a thing is satan the god of this world.