Hi Mike,

I’m reading your “Law Moses vs. Spirit” paper. I just finished the portion on divorce and what it really meant. Not to sound critical, as I have a great deal of respect for you, but you mention in 1 Corinthians 7:10 the clause “Not I but the Lord” but you don’t mention the opposite in vs 12 “Not the Lord, but I”.

Now the issue of divorce is not important to me. I’m very far from being married so it’s a non-issue to me. What I’m stuck on is the clause where Paul says “to the rest I speak-not the Lord-…” (Young’s)
If Paul specifically says it’s not the Spirit speaking through him but just his own advice on it, then how can this be inspired? It’s almost a catch 22. Now I’m perfectly fine with Paul saying “look people, this is just my advice, not gospel” (which is how I see it), but how does this correlate with “all scripture is God-breathed”?

And one more…

Was Paul the true 12th disciple and not Matthias? I believe so.

My argument is this:

– Jesus hand picked all disciples. – In Acts 1 when Peter decides they need to choose a new disciple this was still unconverted Peter choosing. Otherwise there would have been no need to cast lots! – Acts also says that the lot fell to Matthias. Nowhere does it imply that the Spirit chose him.

– They prayed (before receiving Spirit), they cast, it had to fall on one of the two; end of story.
– Matthias is never mentioned again!
– Saul was hand picked by Jesus Christ.
– Paul had a greater impact than all of the other disciples.
– Paul had seen the risen Christ.

I guess it doesn’t really matter. It’s just kind of a fun idea to play with. I think Matthias was chosen after the flesh instead of the spirit.

I know there was a reason for it though. Maybe so Paul could be separate from them. I don’t know. I look forward to your perspective on these,

T____

T____,

I think you already know that my perspective is no better than yours. What is better than either of our perspectives is what the scriptures say. When I point to the scriptures, I always get “that’s your opinion” thrown back in my face. If  I quote God’s Word, how can anyone say it is my opinion? Let’s both leave off speculation and stick with scripture. I really believe that is what you want me to do.  So here is what Paul actually says instead of the words you are trying to put into his mouth. You say:

Now I’m perfectly fine with Paul saying “look people, this is just my advice, not gospel” (which is how I see it) But how does this correlate with “all scripture is God- breathed….”?

You are actually correcting yourself. So, good for you. You see, Paul said nothing akin to “this is just my opinion…”

Here is what Paul thought of his own opinions:

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

As you point out, “all scripture is God breathed.” It may seem like a ‘catch-22 to you, but as far as God’s spirit is concerned, Paul has “the mind of Christ”, and there is no problem at all when Paul gives an opinion on anything the holy spirit has seen fit to preserve as scripture. Peter certainly had no such reservations. Peter refers to Paul’s epistles as scripture:

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

So much for the lie that the Council of Nicea canonized anything. It was God Himself who decided what was scripture.
Peter, too, had the mind of Christ when he was inspired to “cast lots” on Mathias. The Bible says so:

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

So you see, it was “of the Lord” that Mathias was chosen. Peter had nothing to do with it.

“The whole disposing thereof was of the Lord.” When we think we have anything to take credit for, we have just robbed God of His sovereignty. That is not a problem for God. It is a big problem for us to have to come to see the truth that He works all things after the counsel of His own will.”

You really do need to read After The Counsel of His Own Will. Your understanding of how God works is without basis in His word. Read that paper. It will blow your mind what you will see is actually revealed in God’s own word about just how much God Himself works even the tiniest details of His creation. Paul and the apostles were not separate. They all had the same mind. They all had the mind of Christ.

Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Peter may have failed his own conscience at Antioch, just days before this message in Act 15 was penned, but Peter knew that Paul was right. They certainly were not “separate.”

Mike