Apostle Paul Popularity

So far this month, one of the top ten most popular article at the COGwriter.com website is about the Apostle Paul. Here is how it is listed on the www.cogwriter.com home page:

The Apostle Paul He was a later apostle, but also an early Christian leader.

This particular article has not ever been particularly popular in the past, but thousands have viewed it this month.

Contrary to the assertions of many, Paul was not one who did away with biblical practices such as the Sabbath, Ten Commandments, and the Holy Days.

Actually, near the end of his life he declared:

17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation (Acts 28:17-19).

Which means he kept the Sabbath, Holy Days, and the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments were alreay discussed, so let’s look at the Sabbath:

Notice that the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience…There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NIV).

Acts 13:42-44 shows what Paul did,

…the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Also Acts 18:4 states,

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Hence the New Testament is clear that Paul kept the Sabbath, regularly preached on the Sabbath, and that he wrote that there remains “a Sabbath-rest for the people of God”.

Hopefully, that includes you (for the practice of the early church, please see The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad).

Now some have been misled by what seems to be an intentional mistranslation of one of Paul’s writings, Colossians 2:16 to do away with the Sabbath–but when properly translated it endorses, and does not condemn Sabbath observances (this is explained in more detail in the article Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible?).

Paul told Christians to keep the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

He kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Philippi:

Paul…But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:1,6).

He kept Pentecost:

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (1 Corinthians 16:8).

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16).

He also apparently kept the Day of Atonement (known as the Fast):

9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them (Acts 27:9).

He wrote that he needed to keep the feast (meaning the Feast of Tabernacles):

“I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing” (Acts 18:21).

Hence, Paul kept (after his conversion to Christianity), what are now commonly called the Jewish Holy Days. So, of course, did Jesus.

Furthermore, notice something from an old 2nd/3rd document (that was probably altered in the 4th century), titled The Life of Polycarp, specifically mentions the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. Notice that it shows that the Apostle Paul endorsed keeping them:

In the days of unleavened bread Paul, coming down from Galatia, arrived in Asia, considering the repose among the faithful in Smyrna to be a great refreshment in Christ Jesus after his severe toil, and intending afterwards to depart to Jerusalem. So in Smyrna he went to visit Strataeas, who had been his hearer in Pamphylia, being a son of Eunice the daughter of Lois. These are they of whom he makes mention when writing to Timothy, saying; Of the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice; whence we find that Strataeas was a brother of Timothy. Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection. For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians…but named the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel (Pionius. Life of Polycarp, Chapter 2. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488-506).

Thus, the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), taught Gentile Christians in Asia Minor to keep the Holy Days. Days many now consider to be Jewish and not Christian–but apparently Paul considered them important for all Christians to keep (see also 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 where he told the Gentiles in Corinth to keep them as well).

Paul also wrote:

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Jesus kept the Sabbath, Ten Commandments, and the Feasts. Do you follow the practices of Jesus and Paul?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Apostle Paul He was a later apostle, but also an early Christian leader.
Who Were the Paulicians? Were any Paulicians faithful Christians? What happened to them? Why might they have developed the papal-antichrist theory?
Joyce’s Photos of Ancient Athens In the Book of Acts, Paul made his famous “Men of Athens” speech. Paul is believed to have visited Athens during his second missionary journey (which was with Silas) around 49-52 A.D.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Paul in Damascus This is a Lego-animation.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?