Why Paul?
If we are followers of Jesus Christ, why not simply follow His earthly ministry in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Why look especially to Paul the Apostle?
The answer is not found in preference, tradition, or theology. It is found in Scripture itself. During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ declared plainly:
"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." — Matthew 15:24
But after Israel’s continued rejection and the climactic stoning of Stephen in Acts of the Apostles 7, the risen Christ revealed something previously hidden — something not spoken by the prophets since the world began.
He appeared from heaven and saved the very man who was leading the persecution against the church. That man was Saul of Tarsus. And in saving him, Christ did not merely convert an enemy — He appointed a new apostle and began revealing the dispensation of the grace of God.
The question, therefore, is not whether we follow Christ.
The question is: How does the risen Christ instruct believers today?
Scripture answers that question clearly and repeatedly — through the apostleship and revelation given to Paul.
Paul's Calling
When asking which part of the Bible contains direct instruction for believers today, the answer Scripture gives repeatedly is clear: the risen Lord Jesus Christ chose and appointed the apostle Paul as the divinely authorized apostle for this present dispensation of grace.
This was not a human appointment, nor was it a continuation of Christ’s earthly ministry to Israel. Paul’s apostleship began when the ascended, glorified Christ personally appeared to him from heaven.
“I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness…” — Acts 26:16
In Acts of the Apostles 9, Saul of Tarsus encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. This appearance was not for Saul’s conversion alone, but for his commissioning. Later recounting this event, Paul records the Lord’s words:
Paul emphasizes that his message and authority came directly from Christ Himself:
"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." — Galatians 1:11-12
This establishes the foundation: Paul’s gospel was not derived from the twelve apostles, nor from any human source. It was revealed directly by the risen Lord.
The Apostle of the Gentiles
Scripture plainly states that Paul was given a distinct office:
"For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry." — Romans 11:13
This was not merely a description of Paul’s missionary activity. It was a divinely appointed apostleship. The Lord declared concerning him:
"...he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles..." — Acts 9:15
Furthermore, the leaders of the Jerusalem church recognized this distinction. They acknowledged that Paul had been entrusted with a specific apostleship and message. Galatians 2:7–9 explains that while Peter had been entrusted with the apostleship of the circumcision, Paul had been entrusted with the apostleship of the uncircumcision. This was not a disagreement, but a recognition of God’s deliberate division of ministries.
The Revelation of the Mystery
Paul explains that he was entrusted with a body of truth previously hidden.
"If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery..." — Ephesians 3:2-3
He further explains:
"...according to the stewardship (dispensation) from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints." — Colossians 1:25-26
This “mystery” was not hidden within earlier Scripture to be discovered later. It was hidden in God and revealed for the first time through Paul. This is why Paul refers to “my gospel” (Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8) — not because it originated with him, but because it was first committed to him by revelation.
The Pattern for Believers Today
Paul was not only the recipient of revelation; he was also established as the pattern for those who would believe afterward.
"However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life." — 1 Timothy 1:16
Paul’s conversion and apostleship mark the beginning of a new dispensation in which salvation is extended to Jew and Gentile alike on the basis of grace — apart from Israel’s covenant program.
Direct Instruction to Follow Paul
Scripture does not leave this matter to inference. Believers are explicitly instructed to follow Paul’s doctrine and example:
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." — 1 Corinthians 11:1
Paul gave similar instruction to those under his care and commanded that his teachings be passed on to others. His epistles contain the doctrine, instruction, and explanations specifically given for the present dispensation of grace.
This does not diminish the rest of Scripture. All Scripture is true and profitable. But Paul’s epistles contain the direct instruction given by Christ from heaven for the Body of Christ today.
The Gospel by Which We Are Saved
Paul clearly defines the gospel that saves today:
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," — 1 Corintians 15:3-4
This message of salvation by grace through faith, apart from works, was committed to Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles and proclaimed throughout his ministry.
The Wise Master Builder
Paul describes his role in establishing the doctrinal foundation for the present-day church:
"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation..." — 1 Corintians 3:10
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate foundation, but the doctrinal structure for the present dispensation was revealed through Paul.
Conclusion
Paul the Apostle was personally chosen by the risen and glorified Jesus Christ, appointed as the apostle of the Gentiles, and entrusted with the dispensation of the grace of God. He received by direct revelation the gospel by which we are saved today and the body of doctrine that governs the present administration of grace.
For this reason, those who seek to understand God’s instruction for believers today must look to the epistles of Paul, where the risen Lord revealed His will, His gospel, and His doctrine for the Body of Christ.
If You Doubt Paul — Take it up with Peter.
The apostle most often set in contrast to Paul is Simon Peter. Yet Peter himself confirms Paul’s authority and message.
- Peter Publicly endorsed Paul's Epistles In Peter does three remarkable things here:
- Calls Paul "beloved brother."
- Says Paul's wisdom was given to him (divine source).
- Places Paul's epistlesin the category of "the rest of the Scriptures."
Peter explicitly recognizes Paul's writings as Scripture. - Peter Acknowledged Paul's Distinct Apostleship In Peter and the leaders at Jerusalem recognized that Paul had been entrusted with “the gospel of the uncircumcision,” just as Peter had been entrusted with “the gospel of the circumcision.”
- They did not correct Paul.
- They did not subordinate Paul.
- They gave him “the right hands of fellowship.”
- Peter Submitted to Correction from Paul We see in that Peter wasn't being consistent in his actions and Paul called him out on it.
- Peter never retaliated.
- Peter never denied Paul's authority.
- Years later, he refers to Paul with respect and calls his letters "Scripture."
Why This Matters
If someone says: “I follow Jesus, not Paul.”
Scripture shows that the risen Jesus Christ chose Paul.
If someone says: “I follow Peter, not Paul.”
Peter says Paul’s writings are Scripture.
You cannot claim Peter while rejecting Paul — because Peter himself tells you to read Paul.
If anyone questions whether we should listen to Paul the Apostle, Scripture directs them to Peter.
And Peter’s testimony is clear: Paul’s wisdom was given by God, his letters are Scripture, and his apostleship was divinely appointed.
To reject Paul is to reject the authority that both Christ and Peter affirmed.
Check YOUR denomination — does it follow Peter or Paul?
"and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our
beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some
things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to
their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
"But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed
to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for
the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James,
Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me
and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised."
"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all,
'If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?' "
