the success of it was not such as to be followed by continuance. For this suspicion--for it is but a suspicion,--any reader who thinks it worth his while may see the grounds in the subjoined note.[83] PAUL, WAS HE NOT ANTICHRIST?
A child, of Paul's ready and fruitful brain--a bugbear, which the officious hands of the English official translators of his Epistles, have in their way christened, so to speak, by the name of _Antichrist_,--has been already brought to view. See Chap. XII. §. 4. If there be any persons, to whose religion,--in addition to a devil, with or without horns and tail,--with or without other spirits, in no less carnal howsoever unrepulsive forms,--an Antichrist is necessary for the completion of the polytheistical official establishment; and if, in place of an ideal, they can put up with a real Antichrist,--an Antichrist of flesh and blood,--they need not go far to look for one. Of Saul, alias Paul, the existence is not fabulous. If, in his time, a being there was, in whom, with the exception of some two or three attendants of his own, every person, that bore the name of Christian, beheld, and felt an opponent, and that opponent an indefatigable adversary, it was this same Paul: Yes, such he was, if, in this particular, one may venture to give credence, to what has been seen so continually testified,--testified, not by any enemy of his, but by his own dependent,--his own historiographer,--his own panegyrist,--his own steady friend. Here then, for anybody that wants an Antichrist, here is an Antichrist, and he an undeniable one.
Antichrist, as everybody sees, Antichrist means neither more nor less than that which is opposed to Christ. To Christ himself, the bugbear, christened by the English bishops _Antichrist_, was not, by its creator, spoken of as opposing itself. To Christ himself, Paul himself could not, at that time, be an opponent: the Jesus, whom he called Christ, was no longer in the flesh. But of all that, in the customary figurative sense--of all that, in any intelligible sense, could on this occasion be called _Christ_--namely, the real Apostles of Jesus, and their disciples and followers,--Paul, if he himself is to be believed, was an opponent, if ever there was one.
Paul preached the resurrection of the dead. Agreed. But did not all Pharisees do so, too? And was not Paul a Pharisee? And Jesus--had he not in all Pharisees so many opponents? And the real Christians, had they anywhere in his lifetime, any other opponent so acrid or so persevering as this same Paul?
Paul preached the resurrection of the dead. Agreed. But _that_ resurrection of the dead which he preached, was it not a resurrection, that was to take place in the lifetime of himself and other persons then living? And--any such resurrection, did it accordingly take place?[84] [83] "Were ye baptized," says he, speaking to his Corinthians, 2 Cor.
ii. 13. "Were ye baptized in the name of Paul?--I thank God," continues he, "that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius,--Lest any man should say that I had baptized in mine own name.--And I baptized also the household of Stephanas; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other." For an experiment of this kind, it should seem from that Epistle, that motives were by no means wanting. For, among these same disciples, in the preaching of his doctrines, he had found himself annoyed by divers names more or less formidable: there was the name, though probably never the person--of _Cephas_, the real Hebrew name, of which, in the four Gospels, written as they are in Greek, _Peter_ is the translation: there was the name, and not improbably the person--of _Apollos_, whom, about three years before, Acts 18:18-26, two female disciples of Paul's, Aquila and Priscilla, had at Ephesus enlisted under his banners: there was, according to him, _the name of Christ_, though assuredly, never the person of _Jesus_.
"For it hath been declared unto me of you, brethren," says he, 1 Cor. i.
11, "that there are contentions among you,--Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." Thereupon follows immediately a short flourish of Paulian eloquence:--"Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" and so forth, as above.
"Division," says he, "among you:" in this phrase may be seen the style of modern royalty. Towards a will so intimately connected with the divine as the royal, no such temper of mind, so intolerable as opposition, is ever to be supposed: were it on all occasions equally known--known to all, and alike interpreted by all, no division could have place: but, some put one interpretation upon it, some another: in some eyes, this course is regarded as best adapted to the giving effect to it; in others, that: hence that division, to which, on every occasion, it is the duty of all to put the speediest end. Now then as to Paul. This same assumed fatherly affection, under the name of elder-brotherly--this desire of seeing concord among brethren--what was it in plain truth? Answer, love of power. Would you have proof? Take in hand this same Epistle of his to his Corinthians, or, if at verse the tenth, it will be to this purpose early enough, and read on, till you come to chapter iv. verses 15, 16. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.--For it hath been declared unto me," and so forth, as above. Read on, and at length you will come to the essence of all this good advice, 1 Cor. 4:15. "For, though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ," says he, "yet have ye not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, _I have begotten you_, through the Gospel.--Wherefore, I beseech you, _be ye followers of me_." At this time, it should seem that, on the occasion of this his courtship of the Jews of Corinth, not only was the name of Peter an object of his declared rivalry, but the name and person of his own sub-disciple Apollos, an object of his jealousy. "For, while one saith," 1 Cor. iii.
4, "I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not," says he, "carnal?--Who then," continues he, "is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?--I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.--Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." Fifteen verses after comes a flourish, in which Apollos is spoken of for the last time. "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours;--23. And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." At the word _Cephas_ ends, it may have been observed, common sense: what follows being dust for the eyes: dust, composed of the flowers of Saulo-Paulian eloquence.
As to Apollos, if so it was, that, at one time, in the mind of our spiritual monarch, any such sentiment as jealousy, in regard to this sub-minister had place, it seems to have been afterwards, in some way or other, removed: for, in his Epistle to Titus, bearing date about seven years after, namely A.D. 64, the devotion of the subject seems to have been entire. Speaking to Titus, Tit. 3:13, "Bring with you," says Paul, "Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them."
[84] Paul must have thought that he had the Church at Corinth under complete control of his hypnotic suggestion or otherwise so much under his control as to assume the exalted office of Clairvoyant Oracle without question. He says, 2 Cor. 1-7, "I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord, I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not, God knoweth). Such a one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not, God knoweth); how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weakness. For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me.
"And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations--wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me _a thorn in the flesh_, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
"And he has said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee."
It would require a Swift, Dryden, Pope, Milton or Knowles to stage the above so as make appreciable objective quantities out of the above verbal terms. They might create characters and give them the plumage of angels, nymphs, spirits, heathen gods, etc., and so feast the imagination into paranoia.
"Thorn in the flesh." This phrase has baffled the Ecclesiastics. The earlier Commentators interpreted it to mean Paul's great disappointment in all his schemes to subordinate the Apostles of Christ to his personal dominion of which so much has been disparaged by the author.
END.
INDEX TO CONTENTS.
TABLE I-XXII CHAPTER I.
Paul's Conversion. Improbability and Discordancy of the Accounts of it 1 1. List of these Accounts, with preliminary Observations.
Table in which they are confronted 1 2. Vision I. Dialogue on the road: Paul hears a voice, sees nothing 8 4. Ananias: his Visit to Paul at Damascus 26, 57 5. Vision III. Paul's anterior Vision, as reported by the Lord to Ananias. _Acts_ ix. 12 62 6. Visions, why two or three, instead of one? 64 7. Commission to Paul by Jerusalem Rulers--Commission to bring in Bonds Damascus Christians--Paul's Contempt put upon it 69 8. Companions--had Paul any upon the road? 72 9. In Paul's Epistle to his Galatians,--by his silence, Acts Accounts of his Conversion are virtually contradicted 77 TABLE II CHAPTER II.
2. At Damascus, no such Ananias probably 97 3. On Damascus journey--Companions none 100 4. Flight from Damascus: Causes--false--true 101 6. Gamaliel--had he part in Paul's plan? 125 CHAPTER III.
_Paul disbelieved_.--Neither his divine Commission nor his inward Conversion ever credited by the Apostles or their Jerusalem Disciples.--Source of Proof stated 135 1. To Paul's Conversion Vision, sole original Witness himself 135 2. Counter-Witnesses, the Apostles: by them, the Story probably not heard--certainly not credited 136 3. In proof, so much of the _Acts_ history must here be anticipated 138 4. Topics under his several Jerusalem Visits: _viz_.
5. Topics under Visit II.--Money-bringing Visit 153 6. Remarks on Visit III.--Deputation Visit 154 7. Topics under Visit IV.--Invasion Visit 156 8. Self-written Biography--its superior Value and Claim to Credence 159 CHAPTER IV.
_Paul disbelieved_ continued. _First_ of his four Visits to Jerusalem after his Conversion--say _Jerusalem Visit I_. or _Reconciliation Visit_.--Barnabas introducing him from Antioch to the Apostles 160 1. Paul's Proceedings between his Conversion and this Visit.--Contradiction. Per Paul, it was not till after three Years spent in Arabia; per _Acts_, immediately 164 2. Grounds of Paul's Prospect of Reconciliation on this Occasion with the Apostles and their Disciples 171 3. Occasion of this Visit, as per _Paul's_ own Account 177 4. Occasion, as per _Acts_ Account compared with Paul's 180 5. Cause of the Discordance between the two Accounts 188 6. Length of this Visit 192 7. Mode and Cause of its Termination 197 CHAPTER V.
_Money-bringing Visit._--Barnabas accompanying him from Antioch 203 1. At Antioch, Agabus having predicted a Dearth, Money is collected for the Jerusalem Saints 203 2. Barnabas and Paul dispatched with the Money to Jerusalem 208 CHAPTER VI.
_Deputation Visit._--_Paul_ and _Barnabas_ delegated by _Antioch_ Saints, to confer on the Necessity of Jewish Rites to Heathen Converts to the Religion of Jesus 211 1. Occasion of this Visit 211 2. The Delegates how received.--Council of Apostles and Elders 215 4. Result, supposed Apostolic Decree and Letter to _Antioch_, which, per _Acts_, Paul circulates 224 CHAPTER VII.
_Paul disbelieved_ continued. After his third Jerusalem Visit, Contest between him and _Peter_ at Antioch.
and _John_ for the Apostles 228 1. _Contest_ and _Partition-Treaty_, as per _Acts_ and 2. Partition-Treaty--_Probability_, given by the _financial Stipulation_, to Paul's Account of it 238 3. _Time_ of the Partition-Treaty, most probably that of _Visit I_ 242 CHAPTER VIII.
_Interview the Fourth._--_Peter_ at _Antioch_.--Deputies to Antioch from Jerusalem, _Judas_ and _Silas_.--Paul disagrees with _Peter_ and _Barnabas_, quits Antioch, and on a Missionary Excursion takes with him _Silas_. What concerns the Partition Treaty, down to this Period, reviewed.--Peter and the Apostles justified 249 1. _Paul's_ Account of this Interview quoted.--_Acts_ Account of what followed upon it 249 2. Paul disagrees with _Peter_ and _Barnabas_; quits Antioch, taking _Silas_ from the Apostles 252 3. The _Partition Treaty_, and the proceedings in relation to it, down to this Period, _reviewed_ 255 4. Peter and the Apostles justified, as to the _financial Stipulation_ in the Treaty, and the succeeding Missionary Labours of _Peter_ among the _Gentiles_ 258 CHAPTER IX. last _Invasion Visit_. The Purpose concealed: Opposition universal; among his own Disciples, and among those of the Apostles 266 1. Motives to this Visit 266 2. The Visit _announced_ by Paul and _deferred_ 267 3. The design indefensible 272 4. Opposition made to it by his own _attendants_ and other _adherents_ 275 5. Opposition made to it by the _Apostles_ and their disciples 277 6. Plan of the _Apostles_ for _ridding themselves_ of Paul 282 CHAPTER X.
continued. His Arrival and Reception. Accused by all the Disciples of the Apostles, he commences an _exculpatory Oath_ in the Temple. Dragged out by them--rescued by a Roman Commander--sent in Custody to Rome 288 1. At Jerusalem, Paul is received by the _Elders_ and 2. Low Tone assumed by him on this Occasion 291 3. Posterior to all his supposed Miracles, his Silence proves them unreal 295 4. Accused by the Disciples, he commences, at the Recommendation of the Apostles, an _exculpatory Oath_ in the Temple 298 5. The Design of this Recommendation justified 308 6. Dragged out of the Temple by _Jews_ or _Christians_, he is saved by a Roman Commander 309 CHAPTER XI.
Visit_ continued. _Perjurious_ was the Purpose of the exculpatory Ceremony commenced in the Temple 310 1. General Proof of the Perjury from the Acts 310 2. Proof from the Epistles 327 CHAPTER XII.
End predicted.--To save credit, Antichrist invented 333 2. False Prophecy, that the World would end in the Lifetime of Persons then living 338 3. Disorder and Mischief produced by this Prediction 343 4. Paul's Remedy for the Disorder, and Salvo for himself.
_Antichrist_ must first come 347 CHAPTER XIII.
1. Objections, applying to them in the Aggregate 354 2. Supposable Miracle I. Elymas the Sorcerer blinded.--_Acts_ xiii. 6-12 358 3. Supposable Miracle II.--At Lystra, Cripple cured.--_Acts_ xiv. 8-11 361 xvi 16-18 362 5. Supposable Miracle IV.--At Philippi, an Earthquake: Paul and Silas freed from Prison, A.D. 53 365 6. Supposable Miracle V.--At Corinth, Paul comforted by the Lord in an _unseen_ Vision, A.D. 54--_Acts_ xviii. 7-11 369 7. Supposable Miracle VI.--At Ephesus, Diseases and Devils expelled by foul Handkerchiefs.--_Acts_ xix. 1-12 372 8. Supposable Miracle VII.--At Ephesus, Exorcist Scevas 9. Supposable Miracle VIII.--Magical Books burnt by the 10. Supposable Miracle IX.--At Troas, Eutychus found not to be dead.--_Acts_ xx. 7-12 382 11. Supposable Miracle X.--On Shipboard, Paul comforted by an Angel.--_Acts_ xxvii. 20-25 385 12. Supposable Miracle XI.--At Malta, a Reptile shaken off by Paul without hurt.--_Acts_ xxviii. 1-6 386 13. Supposable Miracle XII.--At Malta, Deputy Publius's 14. Conclusion: the Supposable Miracles classed and summed up 393 CHAPTER XIV.
Acts, Part false, Part true: Author not Saint Luke 397 1. By the false Parts, the Gospel not affected: most Parts true 397 2. Time between Resurrection and Ascension--Acts contradicts Luke 398 3. As to Ascension, Acts inconsistent with Luke 403 CHAPTER XV.
Law Report.--Jews _versus_ Paul: Trials five, with Observations 406 1. Introduction 406 2. Trial I. Place, Jerusalem-Temple.--Judicatory, the mixed 3. Trial II. Judicatory, Jerusalem Council-Board.--_Acts_ xxiii. 1-10 409 4. Trial III. Place, Cæsarea.--_Acts_ xxiv. 1-23 413 5. Trial IV. Place, again, Cæsarea.--_Acts_ xxv. 1-12 417 6. Trial V. and last.--Place, still Cæsarea 420 CHAPTER XVI.
Paul's Doctrines Anti-Apostolic.--Was he not Antichrist? 426 1. Paul's Doctrine was at variance with that of the Apostles 426 2. Of Conformity, use made of the Name of Jesus no Proof 428 3. Paul, was he not Antichrist? 432 * * * * *