Saint Paul and the Law
Or
“Dude, where’s my jurisprudence?”
February 17, 2010
G.D.O’Bradovich III
introduction
Before Saint Paul began preaching his concepts of the law, we had the following:
Living After death |
Pagans
Various Laws Hades Tartarus The West Et Cetera |
Jews
The Law, Sin, Judgment in this life Sheol |
All people went to the afterlife of their ancestors. Whether this was less enjoyable that the present life [Sheol], more enjoyable [the west] or somewhere in between depended on their respective mythologies and beliefs.
After Saint Paul’s seeming endless preaching and introduction of legal concepts such as debtor, advocate and a final judgment after death, we now have the following:
After Saint Paul’s seeming endless preaching and introduction of legal concepts such as debtor, advocate and a final judgment after death, we now have the following:
Judge
Accuser Advocate Defendant |
Judge
Prosecutor Our defense lawyer The accused |
Jehovah
Satan Jesus Christ Man |
Now, judgment infers one of two possible scenarios. The accused will be found either innocent or guilty. With innocence comes freedom and with guilt, punishment. These are the basic legal ideas and are unavoidable in this discussion.
According to some people, with Christ as our advocate [our defender] the defendant will always be set free because the defendant believes Christ.
As a theological precept, I have no comment on this. However, with the law in mind, I will discuss the issues as I understand them. Saint Paul was knowledgeable, cosmopolitan, well read and wrote many letters to the new churches he founded. Therefore, he could not have been ignorant of the consequences of what he, himself, was advocating.
We will look at this in detail. Keeping in mind that Satan is the Hebrew word for “Accuser” and our advocate has advised the defendant to remain silent [as a good lawyer would advise].
According to some people, with Christ as our advocate [our defender] the defendant will always be set free because the defendant believes Christ.
As a theological precept, I have no comment on this. However, with the law in mind, I will discuss the issues as I understand them. Saint Paul was knowledgeable, cosmopolitan, well read and wrote many letters to the new churches he founded. Therefore, he could not have been ignorant of the consequences of what he, himself, was advocating.
We will look at this in detail. Keeping in mind that Satan is the Hebrew word for “Accuser” and our advocate has advised the defendant to remain silent [as a good lawyer would advise].
scenario 1
Scenario 1: The Saint Paul Defense
Satan: “Your, honor, the defendant has done the following…[insert all violations of the law] and the defendant has not done the following…[insert all omissions of the law]”
Satan does not have to prove any of these accusations because all parties [Satan, Jehovah, Jesus Christ and the defendant] know them to be true.
At this point, since all parties know the facts of the case, Jesus has nothing more to do. There is no legal maneuvering or motions He can make as in modern courts.
Following this silence, the accused is allowed to speak on his behalf.
Accused:” I have faith in my lawyer, therefore, I am innocent.”
Needless to say, that three of the four present [in a modern court] will be having a good laugh, because the fourth, no matter what how much faith he has in his lawyer, will be found guilty of the charges and punished accordingly. What this punishment might be in the celestial court, no one can say. Another legal concept is that the punishment must fit the crime.
Satan does not have to prove any of these accusations because all parties [Satan, Jehovah, Jesus Christ and the defendant] know them to be true.
At this point, since all parties know the facts of the case, Jesus has nothing more to do. There is no legal maneuvering or motions He can make as in modern courts.
Following this silence, the accused is allowed to speak on his behalf.
Accused:” I have faith in my lawyer, therefore, I am innocent.”
Needless to say, that three of the four present [in a modern court] will be having a good laugh, because the fourth, no matter what how much faith he has in his lawyer, will be found guilty of the charges and punished accordingly. What this punishment might be in the celestial court, no one can say. Another legal concept is that the punishment must fit the crime.
scenario 2
Scenario 2: The Pagan Defense
Satan: “Your, honor, the defendant has done the following…[insert all violations of the law] and the defendant has not done the following…[insert all omissions of the law]”
Satan does not have to prove any of these accusations because all parties [Jehovah, Jesus Christ and the defendant] know them to be true.
At this point, since all parties know the facts of the case, Jesus has nothing more to do. There is no legal maneuvering or motions He can make as in modern courts.
Following this silence, the accused is allowed to speak on his behalf.
Accused:” I am Pagan and, therefore as a point of law, I am not under the jurisdiction of the Jewish Law. And not being under the authority of the Jewish Law, I cannot be found guilty for violating any part of it. I request that the court find in my favor and release me.”
At this point the Judge would concur with the defendant that the Jewish Law has no jurisdiction over him and defendant would be released from this court and possibly sent to Pluto or Osiris or what god has jurisdiction over the accused. [For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many) 1 Corinthians 8:5]
Satan does not have to prove any of these accusations because all parties [Jehovah, Jesus Christ and the defendant] know them to be true.
At this point, since all parties know the facts of the case, Jesus has nothing more to do. There is no legal maneuvering or motions He can make as in modern courts.
Following this silence, the accused is allowed to speak on his behalf.
Accused:” I am Pagan and, therefore as a point of law, I am not under the jurisdiction of the Jewish Law. And not being under the authority of the Jewish Law, I cannot be found guilty for violating any part of it. I request that the court find in my favor and release me.”
At this point the Judge would concur with the defendant that the Jewish Law has no jurisdiction over him and defendant would be released from this court and possibly sent to Pluto or Osiris or what god has jurisdiction over the accused. [For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many) 1 Corinthians 8:5]
conclusions
Since Saint Paul possessed a highly critical intellect, I am certain he was aware of this deficiency of his theology. Yet, he continued preaching with allegories and allusions to debtors, judgment, the final judgment, powers, faith, freedom in Christ, mysteries, dominions, “my gospel, “my suffering’, being under the law and violating the law. Unfortunately, he did not teach clearly and unambiguously.
Saint Paul could have stated, “The Jewish does no good neither does it do evil. Have faith in Jesus Christ and the greatest commandment is love one another. Love is the law, love under the law.” but he did not. A good politician would ignore, and therefore marginalize his opponent [the law] and pound away at his one overriding message [love], but Saint Paul did not do this either.
He created a theology that is neither simple nor understandable, but one that is frustrated by seeming inconstancies and confusion at every turn. Ideas that are expressly stated are silently contracted. Inexact repetitions and technical jargon abound. Why?
Paul is Jehovah’ advocate. Instead of freedom in Christ, he is enslaving people to the ideas of the Jewish Law. People [Gentiles] who have never heard of the Jewish Law are now reading it and the Old Testament prophets for their understanding of the Messiah and His mission. However, this is causing issues in the new churches as the converts want to follow either some of the law or all of it. [They are, in effect, converting from Saint Paul’s message to Judaism.]
Although Saint Paul states that circumcision is not necessary for the new faith, he knows that his type of preaching is sowing confusion (how could he not?) and people will turn to the Law for guidance. In effect he is stating that circumcision and the dietary laws no longer apply, but some of laws do apply and some do not apply. He, alone, decides which of the 613 laws apply to his new church and those that do not apply.
Since Saint Paul’s followers are observing some of the Jewish laws and violating others, they will, as a principle of law, be under the jurisdiction of the entire law and be judged accordingly.
Therefore, the number of people under the authority of Jehovah is growing, whether they are aware of it or not aware of it. [Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as the ancient maxim states.]
Based on legal precedent and common sense, we can clearly state that followers of Saint Paul will find themselves in the first scenario described above, subject to Jehovah and his law and punished for violating it.
Saint Paul could have stated, “The Jewish does no good neither does it do evil. Have faith in Jesus Christ and the greatest commandment is love one another. Love is the law, love under the law.” but he did not. A good politician would ignore, and therefore marginalize his opponent [the law] and pound away at his one overriding message [love], but Saint Paul did not do this either.
He created a theology that is neither simple nor understandable, but one that is frustrated by seeming inconstancies and confusion at every turn. Ideas that are expressly stated are silently contracted. Inexact repetitions and technical jargon abound. Why?
Paul is Jehovah’ advocate. Instead of freedom in Christ, he is enslaving people to the ideas of the Jewish Law. People [Gentiles] who have never heard of the Jewish Law are now reading it and the Old Testament prophets for their understanding of the Messiah and His mission. However, this is causing issues in the new churches as the converts want to follow either some of the law or all of it. [They are, in effect, converting from Saint Paul’s message to Judaism.]
Although Saint Paul states that circumcision is not necessary for the new faith, he knows that his type of preaching is sowing confusion (how could he not?) and people will turn to the Law for guidance. In effect he is stating that circumcision and the dietary laws no longer apply, but some of laws do apply and some do not apply. He, alone, decides which of the 613 laws apply to his new church and those that do not apply.
Since Saint Paul’s followers are observing some of the Jewish laws and violating others, they will, as a principle of law, be under the jurisdiction of the entire law and be judged accordingly.
Therefore, the number of people under the authority of Jehovah is growing, whether they are aware of it or not aware of it. [Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as the ancient maxim states.]
Based on legal precedent and common sense, we can clearly state that followers of Saint Paul will find themselves in the first scenario described above, subject to Jehovah and his law and punished for violating it.