The Cult of Paul

Conflict #01: Paul's replacing of the Law vs Jesus' reformation of it...

While Paul regularly claims to affirm the validity of the Jewish Law,^{(Romans 2:12—13, 3:31, 7:12-25, 8:4, 10:5, Galatians 3:19-21.)} these professings cannot be deemed sincere in light of the essence of his theology that dismisses and often even denigrates the same. Where Paul claims that the very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me,^{Romans 7:10} Jesus quite clearly states, If you wish to enter life, keep the commandments.^{Matthew 19:17} While Paul brazenly claims, Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes^{Romans 10:4} and that via his version of faith in Jesus, we establish the Law [anew],^{Romans 3:31} Jesus calmly states, It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a single letter of the Law to be dropped.^{Luke 16:17} and, Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one stroke of a single letter will pass from the Law until all of it comes into being.^{Matthew 5:17-18} Where Paul openly claims that a mere faith in Christ supersedes abiding in the Law's commandments,^{(Romans 1:17, 5:10-20, 6:14, 10:9-13, Galatians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:19.)} Jesus states over and over and over again that he himself is not to be the focus of anyone's faith or worship^{(Mark 10:18, John 5:41, 7:16, 8:50-54, 12:44.)} and that salvation comes instead from actively and selflessly fulfilling the Law.^{(Matthew 5:39-48, 7:21, 13:18-23, 19:17, 24:12-14, 25:35-40, Mark 8:34, Luke 6:27-36, 10:29-37, John 13:15-17, 14:12-20, 15:12.)} And finally, while Paul established his theology as a way to circumvent the Law,^{(Galatians 2:16, 3:11, 5:4.)} Jesus established his "new covenant"^{(Luke 22:20.)} by simplifying the Law^{(For example, see his reference to The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 and his summary of the fundamental essence of the Ten Commandments in Matthew 22:37-40.)} in order that the Law might be done — in order that his followers would exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees,^{Matthew 5:20} not discard or dismiss or reject or replace the Law they professed and promulgated.