I’ve grown very fond of the apostle Paul in recent years. This was only possible when I was able to separate Paul from the “Romans-sermon-series industrial-complex” that many of us have suffered under. Also it helps to split Paul from pseudo-Paul, to keep from bringing him down.

It also helps to let Paul be the opening voice of the New Testament, and the Gospels as subsequent takes on the significance of Jesus. The epistles were written first.

It also helps to let Paul be wrong at times and in certain ways. His worldview is not to be imitated. His theology is not final. Paul is not our pope, bishop, or priest.

But Paul was the man for the moment, someone who experienced the gospel of Jesus as universal like none other. Paul experienced the love of God and the Spirit of God as the Spirit of Jesus in new ways that changed him and Christian faith forever.

It’s never Paul vs Jesus. It’s always Paul vs a Gospel writer, or some other author. Paul is the one who describes and encourages unmediated access to the risen Jesus through the Spirit.