HOW DID  APOSTLE PAUL DEFEND HIMSELF?

WHAT IS DEFENCE?

Defense is the action of defending from or resisting attacks; it can also means the case presented by or on behalf of the party accused of a crime or being sued in a civil lawsuit; the act of protecting or defending of the accusations laid against him in argument or explanation which Paul used to prove that he was not guilty of.

PAUL’S DEFENSE

 In (1 Thess.2:5), “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness- God is witness.” Paul’s opponents always attacked his ministry and message by questioning his personal motives. In this instance his enemies asserted, among other things, that his primary concern was to profit financially from His converts. He was being classified with the many itinerant preachers of his day whose real interest was material gain. Paul’s life and ministry self-evidently gave lie to this malicious accusation- “as you know” (v. 2), “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were  bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.” The word translated “covetousness” in verse five is the broader word which the New Testament employs for self-interest and self-seeking in the most comprehensive sense. Covetousness may be present in disguise. It is necessary for the Christian to examine himself before God, who alone knows the heart, to ensure that he is free from this subtle sin as the psalmist prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;  try me and know my anxieties” (Ps. 139: 24). Beloved brethren for us to avoid this conflicts and accusation as the gospel states, “let us lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rusts destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20). Apostle Paul was wrongfully accused as we all know, he labored with his hands in tent making so that he may not be a burden  to anyone and instead even provided for those who were in need; only the Macedonians provided for his necessities( More about this please on my blog posts check ,”The debt of Love”). Paul while not denying that the others were apostles in their own way, insisted that his apostleship was based on his call from God, and included his message and mission. To Paul an apostle was literally “one sent out” to proclaim God’s Word. His call and mission were not in any way from men but from God. Peter the apostle, admonishes us in his epistles that, “always be ready to give a defense of the faith that is in you” (2 Pet. 3:15). But this is more less looks as if it is part of the believer’s responsibility to worry more about defending God’s character, like there are those who worry about God’s honor and his image in the community. But  a plain reading of the gospel passage indicates that Jesus approved of self-defense; Christ Himself said, “Greater love has no one like this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:14). When protecting one’s family or neighbor, a Christian is unselfishly risking his or her life for the sake of others.

PAUL’S DEFENCE Part 2 from his Epistle to The Galatians

The heart of Paul’s gospel preaching was that God justifies us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by any works of the law. In fact beloved, Christ has set us free from the law, so that we now serve the Lord spontaneously by His spirit. Because some Jewish Christians challenged the content of his preaching, he used this letter to defend his message. From Paul’s message we receive a variety of practical insights into the Christian life. (1) In order for God to accept us as sinless and therefore fit for heaven, we must simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; we can never earn our own way into heaven. (2) If we believe  in Christ, we must consider ourselves as channels through which Christ acts.(3) Believes have the right to call God our Father. (4) Rigidly following rules and regulations (the way of legalism) in an attempt to become righteous through works, will only lead in the end to the bondage of fear and despair; true freedom comes when we joyfully accepts God’s gift of grace and surrender to the Spirit, who produces His fruit within us.

PAUL’S CONVERSION AND EARLY LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

Apostle Paul defended his apostleship and message. He insisted he was sent by Christ and God the Father, and he authenticated his calling as apostle to the Gentiles by the story of his conversion and by the full support of the “pillars” of the church. Paul maintained that the gospel he preached, the good news revealed by Jesus, was the only true one. Later, in a confrontation with Peter, Paul defended his doctrine of justification through faith alone. In sum, the book of Galatians contains the core of Paul’s gospel message.  Let’s hear him from chapter one beloved. I do love the way he begins his message; “PAUL, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me. Let’s jump to verse six, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (I will not add any other thing but I want you beloved to hear from the horse’s mouth himself, Apostle Paul), “As we have said before, so now I say again- if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still please men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ. But I make known to you brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man, For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my Fathers. But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.  

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH DEFENDED FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

This is how Apostle Paul begins in chapter three; “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was really portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you; did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain- if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? - Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons Abraham. And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed in believing Abraham.  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of the Lord is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men; though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it confirmed, no one annuls or add to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one. “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.  Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we must be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For us many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

“Grace to you and Favor from our God and Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”