Why is so much of Christianity based on Paul (Saul) when he never even met Jesus and was not a disciple?
343940
Paul did meet Jesus,on the road to Damascus,and was indeed a Disciple.Next time do a little more research.
851485
There are several places in the bible that say things, like adopted sons of God,sons of god,children of God,in ephesians paul says we are one with God, all these thing where said to people who could not comprehend the whole truth"God dwells within you as you"  in those days they would have cut off your head for such teachings,why do you think Jesus was crucified and paul was persicuted?? Throughout the ages God has had to communicate with people on their level. Hence paganism,burning bushes Etc.
332046
Christ did not start any religion.  Jesus was Jewish.  It was Saint Paul that founded the Christian Faith.  Plus, Roman Catholicism was not the first Christian Denomination.  It was Serian Orthodox that was first.  \n\nIt sounds like someone has some "issues" with Non-Catholics.
958224
Jesus came to Saul (later Paul) on the road to Damascus because Saul was going around persecuting and killing Christians for the Pharisees.  Jesus asked Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" to make Saul think about what he was doing and Who Jesus really was.  The encounter was the turning point in Paul's life where he accepted Jesus as the Messiah and as his personal Savior.  God chose Paul to be an Apostle.  God knew the heart of Paul and what he would do when confronted by the truth.  \n\nHowever, for the sake of argument, if Paul had decided not to accept the free gift of salvation, Christianity would still have flourished - because it is of God, not of man.
306188
I think Paul deemed himself an apostle after his encounter with Jesus.The one where Jesus told him to go to Damascus.That encounter made such an impression on him that he later qualified himself as an apostle...the highest office in the church..which was reserved for the disiples who had personally known Jesus. I think it was around AD 35.I'm no authority...but I've been reading alot lately.
1124616
Depends on your and their definition of the term Christian? Everyone who calls themselves a Christian is not  Christ’s disciple. But from a Biblical perspective, I would think that  Messiah would have been more likely to support one of the many Israeli insurgent rag tag armies, like the one that finally rose up against the emperor in 70 ad and resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of their country, than that of the occupying Roman Army. As an interesting aside, some  scholars believe that Barabbus, the man who was released  by Pilate, instead of Messiah by the vote of the people, was  a leader of  such a group of anti- Roman insurrectionist, and not just a common criminal.  That the Messiah supported  neither worldly army or supported any earthy kingdom and preached against violence, would cause you to think these facts alone would give the modern right wing, patriotic, Bush supporting,  Jingoistic American Christians a clue, but they remain clueless and will till the Anti-Christ deceives them fully.
1169589
They were Jews. The term Christians didn't come about until the pagans in the city of Antioch coined it as a derogatory term for those religious people who acted like they were "little Christs" which is the meaning of that term.\n\n"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.  Acts 11:25-26
334656
all are correct, it was king agrippa.  This is likely the saddest verse in the Bible.  We have reason to believe as it is not recorded so, that king agrippa never did convert to christianity.  Paul preached to him, gave him his testimony, and the Holy Spirit convicted him of his own sin, but he refused to turn from his way and accept Christ.  to this day he regretts that he reject salvation and is eternally burning in hell remembering that statement.  "almost thou persuadest me to be a christian."
842309
because christianity was so influenced by outside pagan sources that it eventually had to completely split from judaism due to no longer having anything in common, and become its own religion and not just a jewish sect.
1181903
There were quite a few Jewish sects in that part of the world around that time. Many of them were messianic sects, such as the Essenes - some of which had turned from traditional Judaism. In this period in history it was not uncommon to hear tales that this person or that person was the promised Messiah. Christianity was a sect that became firmly established by going cosmopolitan - after Paul promoted it in Italy and Greece and blended it with their mythology of virgin birth, the hierarchy of deities, and a fiery Hades place of punishment, etc., none of which had any connection to Jesus's religion (Judaism).
913899
Jesus was a Jew.  He never asked anybody to start a new religion.
868276
If I am a Christian at all, I'm definitely not a typical Christian.  I think I can say I'm a "Christian" insofar as Christian means "follower of Christ" and I do love Christ and accept his teachings (at least the ones I regard as authentically from him).  \n\nSo, my answers won't be typical, but.....\n\n1.  The Bible is not the basis of my religion.  The Bible is itself based on something else, which is, in my opinion, a mix of true revelation from God, and the corruption of mankind.  The basis of my religion is a more personal, direct encounter with God, which happens to be the same thing that inspired those true verses of the Bible.\n\n2.  The Bible was written over several hundreds of years.  The earliest passages may go back to oral traditions which are thousands of years old.  The majority of the Old Testament was probably written in the 6th century BCE, to the 1st century BCE (with Daniel being the latest written).  Scholars have pretty good ideas about when various parts of the Bible were written.  \n\n3.  Most of the time, we cannot say who wrote a particular book of the Bible.  One notable exception is the works of Paul -- the ones which we know to be authentic Paul.  Obviously, Paul wrote those, and we also know who he wrote them to, and why.\nThe Gospels are most likely NOT written by the authors that were later attached to them ("Matthew", "Mark," etc).  But I wonder why it is so important to have a name.  Whether their name was "Luke" or "Jikareqobab" we still can know the same amount about them, based on their writing.  So even though, no, we don't have names for most of them, we CAN know a substantial amount about them.  And scholars do.\nIn the case of the Hebrew Bible, we know at least that the author of a particular passage must have come from a particular school of thought.  Some of the Prophets may have actually been written by the prophet it is named after, or by a secretary closely associated with them.  In any case, no matter who wrote it, we know what it says.\n\nThe central character of the Christian Bible is definitely Jesus Christ (besides God).  The Hebrew Bible does not have a central character, but a central people, Israel.  And really, depending upon how you understand who Jesus was and what his mission is, it could be said that Israel is the central "character" even of the entire Bible.\n\nWe do know when Jesus was born within a few years.  It's not like we can't even guess the century.  He was probably born somewhere between 6 and 4 BCE.\n\nHe was crucified when he was a young man in his early 30's.  Usually 33 is suggested.  What year that was will depend, of course, on the date of his birth.\n\nI'm not sure I understand the point (if there is one) of your question.  But reputable scholars today do acknowledge that Jesus was an actual historical figure, who at least said and did some of the things attributed to him in the Bible.  Careful scholarly analysis sheds light on which things we can be certain about, and which ones not.  There IS enough to base a faith on.
575223
Sure looks that way, don't it?  I mean, the Christians even include the entire Jewish Bible in their own, along with considering the divinity of Jesus in the light of old testament prophecies which he fulfilled.  He did indeed sound like something of a reformer, but the one who actually said it was no longer necessary to follow the old Jewish law was Saul of Tarsus aka Saint Paul.  That was after Jesus had died and gone to heaven.
211139
paul when he had that vision was being shown by God about cornelius. it wasnt about food. jews treated gentiles(non jews) very unclean much like pigs and dogs. cornelius was a believer ofGod and God tried sending paul to him, but paul being a jew wasnt about to defile himself. God showed him through the animals that only God can say what is clean and unclean
877013
True, and it is what I've been saying all along. When I was a Christian, I still didn't believe in the letters of Paul. Was it not the prophets of the ancient times that brought laws and the word of G-d through revelation (ie. a burning bush, the direct voice of G-d)? Then years later, the "new" testament is revealed through letters and secondary sources written by people who weren't even there.  Another great point, thanks for the question.
382721
Then they are not really Christians. Where do you think most of the people in churches come from? Those who did not know Jesus. And how did they meet him? By people how have met him. So if Christians keep themselves from non Christians, then who are they going show the love of God to? Jesus did not only hang in the temple, he also hung with people from all over. Some who worshiped false gods and some who worshiped no god. But after meeting him, they were never the same. So I say again, if a Christian is so closed minded as to not let their children play with another child who believes something different from them, they have little to no faith. God knows how to keep who is his, so there should be no fear or judgment of another.
760637
I have yet to meet a non-Christian (besides obvious trouble-stirrers who are just saying things for shock value) who doesn't acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher and example of humankind--even those who don't believe he existed. A story can have just as much power as the truth, and in many cases, far more.