The concept of the Antichrist has long intrigued theologians, scholars, and believers alike. Traditionally envisioned as a future end-times figure of great deception, the Antichrist is thought to oppose Christ while masquerading as His servant. Yet, a growing number of biblical literalists and non-trinitarian Christians argue that the Antichrist is not a future political leader or a symbolic force, but a historical figure—Paul of Tarsus. According to this controversial interpretation, Paul, rather than faithfully continuing Jesus’ teachings, founded a distorted version of Christianity—Trinitarian Christianity—that diverged significantly from the teachings of Jesus Himself. They claim that when Jesus returns, He will judge and destroy this deception, beginning with Paul, the supposed architect of apostasy.
Paul of Tarsus: Apostle or Deceiver?
Paul of Tarsus, also known as Saul, is one of the most influential figures in the New Testament. Thirteen epistles are attributed to him, and he is widely regarded as the principal theologian of early Christianity. His writings have defined much of what modern Christianity believes—justification by faith, the atoning death of Christ, salvation through grace, and the idea of the Trinity as later codified by the Nicene Creed.
But Paul's theology presents a striking contrast to the direct teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. Jesus preached primarily to Jews, emphasizing repentance, obedience to God’s commandments, and the coming Kingdom of God on earth. He never explicitly taught the doctrine of the Trinity, nor did He ever claim co-equality with God in the philosophical sense that Trinitarian theology demands. In fact, Jesus often acknowledged God as His superior: “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).
Paul, by contrast, introduced concepts foreign to Judaism and Jesus’ own ministry. His letters are the first to fully develop the idea of Jesus as a divine being, co-equal with God, and the idea of salvation solely by faith, without works of the Law. These theological innovations laid the foundation for what would later become Trinitarian Christianity—codified centuries after Jesus’ death, not by Jesus’ own disciples, but by church councils influenced heavily by Pauline thought.
Did Jesus Warn Against Paul?
Some argue that Jesus warned of this very development. In Matthew 24:24, Jesus states: “For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Critics of Paul suggest that this was a prophetic warning against Paul, who claimed a supernatural experience with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and then proceeded to teach doctrines that Jesus Himself never articulated.
Paul never met Jesus during His earthly ministry, and his claims of private revelation are viewed skeptically by some. In Galatians 1:12, Paul states, “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” This stands in contrast to the disciples who walked with Jesus, listened to His public teachings, and never taught the Trinity or justification by faith alone.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, Paul even acknowledges the danger of deceptive apostles: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Ironically, critics note, this could be seen as a description of Paul himself, who claimed to see a light from heaven and hear the voice of Jesus—yet immediately began teaching doctrines never taught by Jesus.
Trinitarian Christianity: A Pauline Invention?
The Trinity is a cornerstone of modern Christian orthodoxy. It teaches that God exists as three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, this concept is not explicitly found in the Bible, especially not in the Gospels. The word “Trinity” never appears in Scripture. Jesus always directed worship toward the Father, taught the Shema ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one"), and prayed to God as a distinct being.
Paul, however, elevates Jesus to divine status in ways that later Trinitarian theologians would expand. In Philippians 2:6, Paul writes that Jesus “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” Critics argue that this is not a teaching Jesus ever gave, but a Pauline insertion that laid the groundwork for future creeds that deified Jesus in ways Jesus Himself never endorsed.
The Judgment of Paul at Christ’s Return
The Book of Revelation describes the return of Jesus Christ as a time of judgment against all who have misled the world. In Revelation 2:2, Jesus commends the Ephesian church: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” Some believe this is a direct reference to Paul, who frequently struggled to gain acceptance in churches like Ephesus.
In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warns: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name...?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” This has been interpreted by some as a future rebuke of Paul and his followers—those who preached in Jesus’ name but taught doctrines Jesus never taught.
If Paul is indeed the Antichrist or a prototype thereof, as some argue, then Revelation 19:20 becomes ominous: “But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf... The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” In this interpretation, Paul is not a hero of the faith, but a false prophet whose religious system—Trinitarian Christianity—will be destroyed at Christ’s return.
Conclusion
To challenge the apostle Paul is to challenge the very foundation of modern Christianity. Yet, for those who take Jesus’ words above Paul’s, who seek to return to the teachings of the historical Jesus rather than the doctrines of later councils, this challenge is not merely academic. It is spiritual and eschatological.
Was Paul a sincere convert and true apostle? Or was he the deceiver Jesus warned about—ushering in a counterfeit gospel, crowned with the doctrine of the Trinity? If the latter, then Trinitarian Christianity itself may be a religious system destined for judgment. And when Jesus returns, He will not commend Paul—but condemn him.
In the end, only the returning Christ will reveal all things. But the warning remains: “Test every spirit” (1 John 4:1)—even those that claim to speak in His name.
No comments:
Post a Comment