Stopping Heresies

Paul writes to Titus, For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake… Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.^{Titus 1:10, 11, 14}

Paul is saying that Jewish people are spreading lies regarding the faith. These Jewish men rely on Old Testament prophecies^{"Jewish fables"} and the law.^{"commandments of men"} Oddly enough, these are both things that Paul himself does not care for. (If he did, he would use them as examples in his writings, rather than dismiss them by saying things like "the law is done with.")

Let us suppose for a second that Paul is correct. There are some Jews who are coming around, not preaching that Jesus raised the standard of the law^{(Matthew 5:20.)} or fulfilled it,^{(Matthew 5:18)} but saying that it is needful to go back to the law of Moses.

Why is Paul saying this? Jesus said, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,^{Luke 6:27} not "stop their mouths." When the Pharisees were spreading their lies, Jesus never forcibly stopped them, except when the Pharisees were profiting from sacrificing animals.

In fact, when the apostles stopped someone they thought was in the wrong, this happened: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.^{Mark 9:38-41}

Jesus said to love your enemies, so what he instructed his disciples to do regarding that situation is exactly the same thing we should do, whether it is a friend or foe.

Value of this Evidence

This is fantastic evidence against Paul's case for apostleship. Paul originally sought to shut up the early believers. After his Damascus experience, he still had that evil spirit of forcing other to shut up within him. This goes against what Jesus said, "love your enemies."