[continued from previous message]   
      
   >> > > > > > > > > > > embellishment added   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > by   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > some scribe to "beef up" Paul's account, or Paul   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > himself is just storytelling. Nowhere is this   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > supposed "mass apparition" ever   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > mentioned   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > anywhere else, either elsewhere in the New   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > Testament or in secular sources, and none of the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > 500 are ever named, nor did any of them   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > leave   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > any surviving accounts of their own individual   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > experiences, or convey   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > those experiences to anyone else.   
   >> > > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > As with the "crucifixion darkness," the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > appearances to 500 human beings   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > lacks contextual credibility, as it only gets   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > mentioned in one single   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > source, when, in fact, it should have been   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > mentioned in dozens of independent sources if, in   
   >> > > > > > > > > > > fact, it had happened.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > It was. It is mentioned by others in the NT. Most   
   >> > > > > > > > > > notable John, Matthew   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Luke,   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Mark.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Paul was not an eyewitness of Jesus at that time.   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Paul saw him for the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > first   
   >> > > > > > > > > > time on the road to Damascus   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that   
   >> > > > > > > > > > which I also received,   
   >> > > > > > > > > > how that Christ died for our sins according to the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > scriptures;   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose   
   >> > > > > > > > > > again the third day   
   >> > > > > > > > > > according to the scriptures:   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of   
   >> > > > > > > > > > the twelve:   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five   
   >> > > > > > > > > > hundred brethren at once;   
   >> > > > > > > > > > of   
   >> > > > > > > > > > whom the greater part remain unto this present, but   
   >> > > > > > > > > > some are fallen asleep.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of   
   >> > > > > > > > > > all the apostles.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > 1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as   
   >> > > > > > > > > > of one born out of   
   >> > > > > > > > > > due   
   >> > > > > > > > > > time.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Jesus then taught Paul in the desert for during a   
   >> > > > > > > > > > time of three years.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > gospel which was preached   
   >> > > > > > > > > > of   
   >> > > > > > > > > > me is not after man.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither   
   >> > > > > > > > > > was I taughtit, but   
   >> > > > > > > > > > by   
   >> > > > > > > > > > the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > revelation of Jesus Christ.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in   
   >> > > > > > > > > > time past in the Jews'   
   >> > > > > > > > > > religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the   
   >> > > > > > > > > > church of God, and   
   >> > > > > > > > > > wasted   
   >> > > > > > > > > > it:   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > ***   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them   
   >> > > > > > > > > > which were apostles before   
   >> > > > > > > > > > me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Damascus.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Jerusalem to see Peter, and   
   >> > > > > > > > > > abode with him fifteen days.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save   
   >> > > > > > > > > > James the Lord's brother.   
   >> > > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > > Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you,   
   >> > > > > > > > > > behold, before God, I   
   >> > > > > > > > > > lie   
   >> > > > > > > > > > not.   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > This was an interesting read. At first I thought you   
   >> > > > > > > > were writing a synopsis   
   >> > > > > > > > of one of his writings, but such does not appear to be   
   >> > > > > > > > the case. I have   
   >> > > > > > > > not   
   >> > > > > > > > studied his works, but I briefly reviewed some of the   
   >> > > > > > > > comments made by others   
   >> > > > > > > > who have their own views of what he wrote. Sadly it is   
   >> > > > > > > > difficult to comment   
   >> > > > > > > > on them since I would have to study up on Paine in   
   >> > > > > > > > order to know something   
   >> > > > > > > > about him, and it would have to be mainly the things   
   >> > > > > > > > written by his hand,   
   >> > > > > > > > not   
   >> > > > > > > > based on the comments of others, unless they were peer   
   >> > > > > > > > friends of his, personally.   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > What little I read this morning, was a whole lot of   
   >> > > > > > > > things supposedly of   
   >> > > > > > > > what   
   >> > > > > > > > he said and thought, but it was clear that people   
   >> > > > > > > > cherry picked phrases   
   >> > > > > > > > that   
   >> > > > > > > > lent themselves to support their personal agendas.   
   >> > > > > > > > According to what you   
   >> > > > > > > > outlined it would seem that Paine had at best a shallow   
   >> > > > > > > > and limited understanding of the Bible, and virtually   
   >> > > > > > > > no personal knowledge of God.   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > I will make a brief comment to each numeric point. LOL,   
   >> > > > > > > > hopefully brief.   
   >> > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > An interesting contradiction occurs with Paul's   
   >> > > > > > > > > testimony, which was pointed out by Thomas Paine, one   
   >> > > > > > > > > of America's founding fathers. Here   
   >> > > > > > > > > it   
   >> > > > > > > > > is in outline form:   
   >> > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > 1) Paul, while being a Jew, claims to have persecuted   
   >> > > > > > > > > Christians, a claim also made about him by the author   
   >> > > > > > > > > of Acts.   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > This point shows and gives an understanding of how   
   >> > > > > > > > little attention he paid   
   >> > > > > > > > to the NT.   
   >> > > > > > > > It is obvious that he was a chief persecutor and he   
   >> > > > > > > > explained why.   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > > 2) When someone persecutes another, especially, a   
   >> > > > > > > > > strange, it is because you do not like what that   
   >> > > > > > > > > person has done, is saying, and/or   
   >> > > > > > > > > certain viewpoints that they, as a group, hold to.   
   >> > > > > > > > > (As an example, it is possible for a Jew and a Muslim   
   >> > > > > > > > > to hate each other even though they   
   >> > > > > > > > > have never met.)   
   >> > > > > > > >   
   >> > > > > > > > That would describe his agenda for those he persecuted.   
   >> > > > > > > > He took the attitude   
   >> > > > > > > > of a Muslim towards the destruction of all those who   
   >> > > > > > > > opposed his religious   
   >> > > > > > > > mindset, under the authority of the High Priest of his   
   >> > > > > > > > day.   
      
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