Question:
How did Paul become an authority on the messages Christ was delivering, if he never heard his sermons or spoke with Christ concerning his sermons?
Answer:
II Timothy 3:16,17 tells us, “All SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We must remember that God inspired His Word — not men. His Word is perfect. Psalm 12:6,7 says, “The WORDS OF THE LORD ARE PURE WORDS: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” It is THE WORD that was given perfect and without error. The Bible never claims that THE MEN God gave His Word to were perfect in any way. They were but sinners, like you and I — sinners that God used for His glory.
If we were to make up a religion on our own, we would try and put forth the leaders as being perfect, or at the least, we would not tell their faults. But the Bible only makes one Person out to the perfect — the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 8:29,20, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM. As he spake these words, many believed on him.” Pilate said of Jesus in John 18:38, “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.”
God used Moses to write down His Word, but we are told of Moses’ anger. God used David to write down His Word, but we are told of David’s adultery. God used Peter to write down His Word, but we are told of Peter’s denial of the Lord. God used Paul to write down Scripture, but we are told of Paul’s sharp argument with Barnabas.
So God in His Word never tries to make to make these men as being perfect — just sinful men, used by Him in His grace.
The word “inspiration” means, “God-breathed.” Genesis 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING soul.” When God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, man became a living soul. And when God breathed out His Word, it was thus a “living Book.” Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
So when we read what Paul says about Jesus’ messages in the Scriptures, our confidence is not in Paul, but in God who had certain men pen exactly what He wanted said in His Word. Our faith does not stand in Paul, but in God. I Corinthians 1:26-31 says, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
If God had it printed in His Word, then we can have absolute confidence in it. Matthew 5:18 says, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”