Reasons Paul is a False Teacher

  57 Reasons Paul is a False Teacher

From a critical historical standpoint, there are several reasons why some scholars and readers view Paul as a false teacher within early Christianity. His teachings often diverge sharply from the message attributed to Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, introducing new doctrines—such as justification by faith alone and the abolition of the Law—that appear nowhere in Jesus’ own teachings. Paul never met Jesus during his lifetime, relied entirely on visionary experiences for authority, and frequently defended himself against accusations from the original Jerusalem apostles who questioned his legitimacy. His letters reshape the movement around his own interpretations rather than the teachings of Jesus as recorded in earlier traditions. For these reasons, many argue that Paul fundamentally reinvented Christianity and therefore qualifies as a false teacher within its own internal logic.

1. Paul’s vision does not meet the “two or three witnesses” rule (John 5; Deut. 19:15). To rescue him, you would have to use the special pleading fallacy.

See: Deuteronomy 19:15; John 5:31–33; Acts 9:1–9; Acts 22:6–16; Acts 26:12–18.

2. Luke records the Spirit falling on many characters, but Luke/Acts does not present the same pattern clearly for Paul.

See: Acts 2:1–4; Acts 8:14–17; Acts 10:44–48; Acts 19:1–7; compare Acts 9:17–19.

3. There is no clear evidence in Acts that the apostles laid hands on Paul or that Ananias alone imparted the Spirit in the same way as for others.

See: Acts 8:14–17; Acts 9:10–19; Acts 19:6.

4. Paul appears to violate Deuteronomy’s rules for prophets (the “two or three witnesses” and related prophetic safeguards).

See: Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Deuteronomy 19:15; Acts 9:1–9; Galatians 1:11–24.

5. Acts and Paul’s letters are inconsistent: Acts, written by Luke, attributes miracles to Paul, but Paul rarely cites his own miracles in his letters to validate his ministry.

See: Acts 13:6–12; Acts 14:8–10; Acts 19:11–12; compare 2 Corinthians 12:12 and the general paucity of miracle claims in Pauline epistles.

6. In Acts 10 and Acts 9, The Father and Jesus communicates the same Gentile-mission message via visions to Peter and to Paul, producing potential redundancy or tension. Is the Father and Jesus on the same page? Or is Jesus giving the same message to two different people? It doesn't make sense.

See: Acts 10:9–20; Acts 11:1–18; Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:17–21.

7. In Acts 9, Paul’s hearing includes language that echoes Greek literature (e.g., “do not resist the goads”- Bacchae); Jesus in the Gospels quotes Torah, never Greek plays.

See: Acts 9:4–6; compare Jesus’ reliance on OT Scripture in Matthew, Mark, Luke (e.g., Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 4:16–21).

8. If Paul’s vision of Jesus is questionable, then the Holy Spirit he uses is also questionable in Acts 19—Paul rarely describes himself as the one who gives the Spirit in his letters.

See: Acts 9:17; Acts 19:1–6; compare Paul’s letters (e.g., Romans, 1–2 Corinthians)—Paul speaks of the Spirit’s work (Rom. 8) but does not narrate himself as the giver in conversion scenes in his epistles.

9. Jesus and the Twelve often teach deontological ethics (commands/commandments); Paul’s ethics are frequently teleological (ends-focused). Holding both approaches consistently is difficult.

See: Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount); Romans 3:7, 6–8; Galatians 5.

10. Gamaliel counseled patience (let it die out); Paul appears later to act against Pharisaic teachers (he opposes his former teacher’s cohort), which is a major cultural break.

See: Acts 5:33–40 (Gamaliel); Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:5; Galatians 1–2.

11. Paul’s Jewish identity raises tensions: he claims to be “a Hebrew of Hebrews” and a Benjaminite (Phil. 3:5) yet elsewhere speaks of the law as “dung” (Phil. 3:8); how can he call Jesus' religion dung? He even claimed Jesus was under the law.

See: Philippians 3:4–9; Galatians 4:4; Romans 3:31; Galatians 2:15–16.

12. Peter (or other writers) call Paul’s letters hard to understand; Paul also adapts himself socially (1 Cor. 9), which can appear chameleonic. Paul’s rhetorical strategies sometimes read as theological subversion or opportunism.

See: 2 Peter 3:15–16; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.

13. Paul famously opposes circumcision in Galatians, yet he circumcised Timothy. Timothy lives near the Derby and Lystra areas , which is located in Galatia. So is Timothy cut off from Christ?

See: Galatians 5:2–6; Galatians 2; Acts 16:1–3.

14. Acts 21:15–26 shows Paul completing and sponsoring Nazarite vows and temple offerings to assure James and the elders of his fidelity to the Law—but Paul is arrested soon after for bringing a Gentile into the temple precincts (or at least causing offense).

See: Acts 21:15–26; Acts 21:27–36.

15. Paul doesn't quote Jesus’ sayings and parables. For example the “render to Caesar” moment would have been a perfect opportunity for Paul's Letters to the Romans chapter 13.

See: Matthew 22:15–22.

16. Jesus pronounces forgiveness directly (e.g., Mark 2:5); Paul emphasizes atonement and the shedding of blood (e.g., Hebrews 9:22; Romans 3:25).

See: Mark 2:5–12; Luke 7:48–50; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 3:21–25.

17. Paul does not heed the prophet Agabus’ warning in the same way Israel rejected prophets in the OT (Acts 21).

See: Acts 21:10–14; compare examples of prophecy rejected in the OT (e.g., 1 Kings 13; Jeremiah’s opposition).

18. Trophimus (a Gentile) accompanies Paul to Jerusalem; Paul’s statements about being “one in Christ” (Eph., Gal.) raise questions about why a Gentile companion would enter temple areas—Paul’s assurances and the temple regulations (Numbers 1:51; 3:10, 38; 18:7) make this fraught.

See: Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29; Ephesians 2:11–22; Numbers 1:51; Numbers 3:10, 38; Numbers 18:7.

19. Head coverings and gender distinctions in 1 Corinthians 11 appear to conflict with Paul’s statements that in Christ “there is neither male nor female” (Gal. 3:28).

See: 1 Corinthians 11:2–16; Galatians 3:28.

20. Paul claims authority from the high priest to arrest (Acts 9:1–2), but that legal power would have been limited to Judea, nowhere else—this is comparable to a county police officer arresting someone from another country.

See: Acts 9:1–2; Acts 22:4–5; Acts 23:1–10.

21. Paul interprets OT passages (about Israel and Judah’s exile) typologically to include Gentiles as equal covenant partners; critics point to Genesis 9 (Japheth under Shem’s tent) as a counter-text about hierarchy rather than equality.

See: Genesis 9:26–27; Acts 10; Romans 9–11; Galatians 3.

22. Paul’s language about boasting, weakness, and “craftiness” (e.g., 2 Cor. 12:6; Phil. 1:18) opens him to accusations of rhetorical manipulation.

See: 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; Philippians 1:15–18.

23. Paul uses the phrase “my gospel” and similar formulations (e.g., in Romans and in the Pastoral Letters) in ways the other apostles do not often use.

See: Romans 2:16 (cf. Rom. 16:25–26); 2 Timothy 2:8; compare Acts and other apostolic speech.

24. Jesus says not to call anyone “teacher” (Matt. 23:8–10), yet Paul calls himself an apostle and teacher (and 1 Timothy and pastoral instructions use functional titles).

See: Matthew 23:8–10; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11.

25. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount emphasizes mercy and righteousness; Romans 9 portrays God as exercising “elective” mercy (Romans 9:15–18), which some see as tension between universal moral exhortation and divine particularism.

See: Matthew 5–7; Romans 9:14–24.

26. Revelation’s foundation lists twelve names—some read this as the Twelve, not thirteen (no direct mention of Paul as an apostle among the Twelve).

See: Revelation 21:14; Revelation 2:2; Acts 19–20 for Paul’s interactions in Asia; 2 Timothy (Paul’s trials) references (2 Tim. 4).

27. Jesus promises twelve thrones for the Twelve (Matt. 19:28), not thirteen; this raises questions about Paul’s apostolic status relative to the Twelve.

See: Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:28–30.

28. Paul insults or criticizes the Jerusalem apostles in Galatians 2 (including James), which shows a sharp intra-apostolic dispute.

Also, it shows Barnabas between groups—some read Galatians as describing an us-vs-them conflict. 

See: Galatians 2:11–14; Acts 15:1–29

29. Jesus never strikes people blind in the Gospels, but Paul’s Jesus blinds Paul (Acts 9), and Peter appears to bring judgment that results in death in Acts (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5). Yet, Jesus was not ok with him striking a man's ear.

See: Acts 9:3–9; Acts 5:1–11; compare Gospel portrayals of Jesus (e.g., Mark 8:22–26; Luke 7).

30. Questions arise about Paul’s financial arrangements and claims about financial support.

See: 1 Corinthians 9:3–15; 2 Corinthians 11:7–9; Philippians 4:14–20.

31. Paul’s boasting seems to conflict with Jesus’ teaching on humility and exaltation.

See: 2 Corinthians 11; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11.

32. Paul declares that “Christ is the end of the law” in some formulations, while Jesus says he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17).

See: Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:13; Matthew 5:17–20.

33. Paul’s language about abolishing the law (or ending aspects of it) is in tension with Matthew’s “law until the end of the age” and the ongoing validity of the law’s core

See: 2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Matthew 5:17–18.

34. Paul’s “ministry of the Spirit” / “ministry of death” contrasts in 2 Corinthians 3 with Gospel portrayals of life under the law (e.g., Matthew 19:16–22; Mark 7:9). It is a negative view of the law. Jesus never stated the law represented death.

See: 2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Matthew 19:16–22; Mark 7:9–13.

35. Paul emphasizes the crucifixion and death of Christ heavily; Jesus’ preaching in the Gospels emphasizes repentance and the nearness of the kingdom— these are divergent priorities.

See: 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15.

36. Under Jesus’ teaching, the rich young ruler was told to sell possessions (Matt. 19:16–22); Paul’s ministry appears less prescriptive about wealth in practice.

See: Matthew 19:16–22; 1 Timothy 6:6–10; Acts 4:32–37.

37. Acts 1:15–26 sets the Twelve as the core apostolic group; critics argue Paul does not meet that particular standard (chosen witness to the physical resurrection) for the original Twelve.

See: Acts 1:15–26; Acts 9; 1 Corinthians 15:8–9.

38. Jesus says “do not judge” (with qualifications) while Paul distinguishes “weak” and “strong” brothers (Romans 14; 1 Cor. 8), which creates tension about judging behavior.

See: Matthew 7:1–5; Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8.

39. Jesus forbids eating food offered to idols; Paul allows eating meat offered to idols when conscience permits (1 Cor. 8; 10:19–33), calling the apostles “weak.”

See: Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13; 1 Corinthians 10:19–33; Revelation 2:24.

40. Jesus warned about the “leaven” of the Pharisees; Paul, as a Pharisee or Pharisaic-trained Jew, shows accommodation to civil authorities (Romans 13), which some view as a compromise.

See: Matthew 16:6, 11–12; Matthew 23; Romans 13:1–7; Philippians 3:5.

41. Paul calls himself the “least” of the apostles (1 Cor. 15:9; also “the least of the saints” in Eph. 3:8), which echoes Jesus’ warnings about the “least of these.” Paullus in Latin mean small, least, or humbile.

See: 1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; Matthew 5:19-20.

42. Jesus warns about false Christs and signs (Matt. 24); Revelation 1:7 speaks of Christ’s coming “with clouds”—some argue Paul’s private visions conflict with the public, universal return described by Jesus and Revelation. Jesus never promised he will appear anytime between his ascension and return.

See: Matthew 24:23–31; Revelation 1:7; Acts 9; Acts 22; Acts 26.

43. Paul’s visions often occur in private — in the wilderness and in inner rooms (Acts 9:3; Acts 22:17; 2 Cor. 12:1–7) —  these are the same locations  Jesus warned his disciples.

See: Acts 9:3–9; Acts 22:17–21; 2 Corinthians 12:1–7; Matthew 24:26.

44. Paul’s language that “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) can be read metaphorically, but critics read it as language comparable to demon possession.

See: Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:9–11.

45. Matthew 7:13–15 warns about false prophets; Genesis 49:27 calls Benjamin a “ravenous wolf”; critics connect tribal and prophetic imagery to allegations about Paul.

See: Matthew 7:13–15; Genesis 49:27.

46. Parallels are sometimes drawn between King Saul (false king) and Paul as a “false apostle,” with David representing the true king and Jesus the true apostle/king.

See: 1 Samuel 13–15 (Saul); Acts 9; Hebrews 3:1.

47. Romans 10:9 (“if you confess with your mouth...”) versus Jesus’ Matthew 7:21 (“Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’...”) — Paul’s soteriology appears simpler/cheaper to some critics.

See: Romans 10:9–10; Matthew 7:21–23.

48. Paul tolerates a spirit-possessed girl’s activity for days before acting; Jesus’ responses to demons in the Gospels are different in tone and immediacy (and Peter in Acts 5 responds decisively).

See: Acts 16:16–18; Mark 1:21–28; Luke 4:33–37; Acts 5:1–11.

49. Paul’s charismatic phenomena (tongues in 1 Corinthians 12–14) have form and function different from Acts 2’s Pentecost tongues.

See: Acts 2:1–13; 1 Corinthians 12–14.

50. Isaiah 28:15–16 and Jesus’ parable about foundations (Matt. 7:24–27) are used to critique Paul’s theological foundation—critics argue his foundation leads to instability or death. Linguistically, Saul / Paul and the Hebrew word sheol share phonetic similarity—an observation sometimes used rhetorically (but not etymologically).

See: Isaiah 28:14–16; Matthew 7:24–27; Romans 10–11 and Pauline theology for comparative reading.

51. John 5:43 (Jesus: “I have come in my Father’s name”) contrasts with Paul claiming possession of “my gospel”; Paul’s use of “my” can sound individualistic.

See: John 5:43; Romans 1:16; compare Paul’s language about “my gospel” in the Pauline corpus.

52. Zechariah 11:15–17’s “false shepherd” motif and Paul’s own accounts (Galatians 4:15; Gal. 6:11; 2 Cor. 12:7; 2 Cor. 10:10) have been correlated by some critics to suggest Paul fulfills negative prophetic typology (e.g., blindness, thorn, weak bodily presence).

See: Zechariah 11:15–17; Galatians 4:15; Galatians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 2 Corinthians 10:10.

53. Pauline theology gives complex, sometimes conflicting statements about the law (compare Hebrews 7:18–19’s “changed law” motif with Paul’s Romans 7 where the law is “holy” but the struggle persists).

See: Hebrews 7:18–19; Romans 7:7–25; Galatians 3; Romans 3.

54. Paul repeatedly insists that he never lies, which critics argue is defensive rhetoric rather than evidence of integrity.

Paul’s strong denials (“I lie not”) appear multiple times, often when defending contested claims. 

See: Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:7.

55. Paul strongly condemns deceit, trickery, craftiness, flattery, and manipulative rhetoric — yet critics argue his own behavior sometimes mirrors the tactics he condemns.

See: 1 Thessalonians 2:3–5; 2 Corinthians 12:16–18; Ephesians 4:14–15, 25; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Romans 16:18; 2 Corinthians 11:3, 13–15; Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:13; Galatians 6:7.

56. If Paul is preaching the same gospel as the apostles, why is he meeting with the leaders privately?

See: Galatians 2:2

57. Paul’s claim that he went to Arabia for three years—instead of receiving instruction from the apostles—raises a real concern: why would someone who never met Jesus bypass the very people who did? Paul chose isolation with unknown figures in Arabia rather than being trained by the original eyewitnesses.

See: Galatians 1:17–18, Acts 9:26–28