Search — Theology Explorer

Paul the Apostle historical reliability independent attestation

Paul's letters predate the Gospels — his knowledge of Jesus is independent from them

Key methodological point: Paul's testimony cannot be derived from the Gospels since he wrote earlier.

Philippians 2:6-8 kenosis incarnation Philippians 2:6-8

Philippians 2:6-8 — Jesus lived a humble, godly life and died by crucifixion

Continuing the biographical details about Jesus that Paul records.

1 Corinthians 9:5 James (brother of Jesus) Galatians 1:19 1 Corinthians 9:5 James (brother of Jesus) Galatians 1:19

Galatians 1:19 and 1 Corinthians 9:5 — Jesus had brothers, specifically James

Paul's knowledge of Jesus's family members as evidence of biographical familiarity with the historical Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Passover Last Supper 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 — Paul 'received from the Lord' the Last Supper tradition, predating the Gospels

Paul's detailed knowledge of the Last Supper is one of the strongest demonstrations that he knew specific events from Jesus's life.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Mark 14:22 Matthew 26:26 Last Supper independent attestation 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Last Supper account in Paul matches the Synoptic order — too many coincidences to be unrelated

Mike compares Paul's sequence in 1 Corinthians 11 with the Synoptic Gospels to argue they are describing the same event.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 historicity of Jesus 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 death of Jesus

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 — Paul identifies the Jews who killed Jesus as the same people persecuting the early church

Paul's reference to Jesus's killers as earthly, identifiable people further anchors Jesus in physical history.

1 Timothy 6:13 historicity of Jesus crucifixion of Jesus 1 Timothy 6:13

1 Timothy 6:13 — Paul references Jesus's testimony before Pontius Pilate

Paul's specific mention of Pontius Pilate ties Jesus's death to a named Roman governor, confirming his historical existence.

1 Corinthians 7:10 divorce 1 Corinthians 7:10 Jesus's teaching on divorce

1 Corinthians 7:10 — Paul distinguishes Jesus's teaching from his own on divorce

Paul's explicit attribution of a teaching to 'the Lord' rather than himself demonstrates his awareness of Jesus's specific teachings.

Romans 12:14 Luke 6:27-28 Romans 12:14 Luke 6:27-28 love of enemies

Romans 12:14 echoes Luke 6:27-28 — bless those who persecute you

Paul's ethical instructions parallel Jesus's teachings in the Sermon on the Plain, suggesting he is drawing from Jesus's tradition.

Romans 12:17 Matthew 5:39 Romans 12:17 Paul echoing Jesus's teaching Matthew 5:39

Romans 12:17 echoes Matthew 5:39 — do not repay evil for evil / turn the other cheek

Another parallel between Paul's ethical instructions and the Sermon on the Mount.

Romans 13:7 Mark 12:14-17 Paul echoing Jesus's teaching Romans 13:7 Mark 12:14-17

Romans 13:7 echoes the 'Render to Caesar' teaching of Jesus (Mark 12:14-17)

Paul's instruction to pay taxes parallels Jesus's teaching about taxes to Caesar, which was a highly contested political/religious issue.

Romans 14:14 Mark 7:18-19 Luke 11:41 Romans 14:14 Paul echoing Jesus's teaching Mark 7:18-19

Romans 14:14 — Paul says he is persuaded 'in the Lord Jesus' that nothing is unclean in itself, echoing Mark 7:19 and Luke 11:41

Paul explicitly attributes a specific conviction to Jesus's authority, pointing to his awareness of Jesus's actual teachings.

1 Corinthians 9:14 Luke 10:7 Paul attributing teaching to Jesus 1 Corinthians 9:14 Luke 10:7

1 Corinthians 9:14 — Paul says 'the Lord commanded' that gospel workers be supported financially

Paul explicitly attributes a specific command to Jesus regarding financial support for those who proclaim the gospel.

Deuteronomy 25:4 Luke 10:7 1 Timothy 5:18 Deuteronomy 25:4 Luke 10:7 laborer deserves wages

1 Timothy 5:18 quotes Luke 10:7 alongside Deuteronomy 25:4 and calls both 'Scripture'

The author of 1 Timothy introduces two quotations with 'the Scripture says' — one from the OT and one from Luke 10:7 — implying canonical status for Gospel material in the first century.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Mark 14:22 Matthew 26:26 Last Supper independent attestation 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Detailed Synoptic comparison of Last Supper: Paul, Mark, Matthew, and Luke all describe the same sequence

Mike does a detailed side-by-side comparison of the Last Supper accounts across Paul and the three Synoptic Gospels.

Gamaliel Paul the Apostle Pharisees

Paul was a Pharisee trained in Jerusalem under Gamaliel and likely encountered Jesus personally

Mike addresses the claim that Paul never met Jesus, arguing circumstantial evidence strongly suggests they crossed paths.

Galatians 1 James (brother of Jesus) 2 Peter Galatians 1 Peter (Cephas) James (brother of Jesus)

Paul's apostolic authority confirmed by Peter and James; 2 Peter calls Paul's writings Scripture

Q&A: question about how Paul went from persecutor to authoritative apostle.

Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 7-9 Matthew 1 virgin birth Isaiah 7:14 Old Testament fulfillment

Isaiah 7:14 — 'alma' means young maiden; the context of Isaiah 7-9 supports the virgin birth interpretation

Q&A: question about whether Isaiah 7:14 refers to a young woman or a virgin, and whether it was a sign to Ahaz.

Matthew 10:23 Acts 1:8 Second Coming eschatology Matthew 10:23

Matthew 10:23 — 'Son of Man comes' refers to Jesus's first coming during the disciples' mission trip, not the Second Coming

Q&A: question about a verse that appears to predict Jesus would return before the disciples finished preaching in Israel.

Matthew 10 judgment Bethsaida sending of the twelve

Sodom and Gomorrah judgment comparison for towns rejecting Jesus's envoys

Part of the Matthew 10 discussion — Jesus says it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for towns that reject the disciples.

Galatians 4:4 Galatians 4:4 Jesus as Jewish born under the law

Galatians 4:4 'born under the law' consistently refers to Jews in Paul's usage

Q&A follow-up: clarification on whether 'born under the law' in Galatians 4:4 implies Jewish identity.

salvation repentance sanctification

Repentance restores relationship with God, not salvific status; analogy of marriage reconciliation

Q&A: question about whether believers must live sinlessly or must continually repent.

empty tomb resurrection of Jesus historical reliability

Empty tomb: majority scholarly agreement exists, but Mike doesn't know a compelling argument against it

Q&A: question about why the empty tomb is only majority (not unanimous) scholarly agreement.

Romans 14 James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:17-26 circumcision Nazirite vow Romans 14

Acts 21:17-26 — Paul participates in a Nazirite vow to demonstrate continued Torah observance as a Jewish believer

Q&A: question about Paul's behavior in Acts 21 and what it tells us about his relationship to Torah.

Christian ethics sinlessness of Jesus Temple cleansing

Jesus overturning tables in the Temple — anger is not inherently sinful, but it creates temptation to sin

Q&A: question about whether Jesus's table-turning in the Temple constitutes sinful anger.

salvation Ben Shapiro 613 commandments

Ben Shapiro's actual question: he observes 613 commandments and does good in the world — does that earn him heaven?

Mike carefully scopes Ben's question to exclude 'those who have never heard the gospel'

salvation conscience grace

Bishop Barron's answer: Vatican II teaches a person can be saved outside explicit Christian faith through conscience or sincere law-keeping

Mike quotes and plays a clip of Barron's response to Ben

conscience Vatican II Lumen Gentium

Vatican II text: Lumen Gentium chapter 16 — what it actually says about Jewish people, Muslims, and the unevangelized

Mike goes to the primary source Barron cited to evaluate his claim that Vatican II is 'very clear'

biblical authority Ben Shapiro Robert Barron

Mike's verdict: Vatican II is not actually clear on Ben Shapiro's specific case

Summing up the Vatican II analysis

John 3:1-3 kingdom of God Pharisee John 3:1-3

John 3:1-3 — Jesus tells Nicodemus (a devout Pharisee) he must be 'born again'

Mike turns to Jesus's own words to a religious Jew as the direct scriptural answer

John 3:6 Holy Spirit born again John 3:6

John 3:6 — born of flesh vs. born of Spirit: the new birth is spiritual, not physical

Jesus explains what 'born again' means to Nicodemus

Matthew 5:20 righteousness Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:20

Matthew 5:20 — righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom

Mike cites another teaching of Jesus directly applicable to Ben's case

Luke 18:18-24 law-keeping Luke 18:18-24 Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:18-24 — Rich Young Ruler: keeping commandments is not enough; Jesus reveals his hidden sin

Mike introduces a third parallel case from Jesus's ministry

Luke 18:27 salvation grace Luke 18:27

Luke 18:27 — what is impossible with man is possible with God: salvation requires divine provision, not human effort

Disciples ask 'who then can be saved?' after the Rich Young Ruler episode

Galatians 2:15-16 Paul justification works of the law

Galatians 2:15-16 — even Jewish believers know that justification is by faith in Christ, not works of the law

Mike adds Galatians to the scriptural case

Matthew 5:27-28 Sermon on the Mount law Matthew 5:27-28

Sermon on the Mount: Jesus internalizes the law — lust equals adultery in the heart

Mike illustrates why outward law-keeping is not sufficient

gospel Messiah substitutionary atonement

Substitutionary atonement: Jesus pays the price so believers can be born again

Mike states the positive gospel solution after showing the problem

Romans 10:9-10 justification by faith gospel resurrection

Romans 10:9-10 — confess Jesus as Lord and believe in the resurrection: the simple formula for salvation

Mike states Paul's positive prescription for Ben

John 5:45-47 revelation Moses parables Torah

John 5:45-47 — if you believed Moses you would believe me: encountering Jesus reveals whether one truly believed Moses

Mike addresses the logical question: what about Ben, who has heard of Jesus but rejected him?

Jeremiah Jeremiah Israel Messiah

Old Testament pattern: Israel claimed to believe God but rejected his prophets — same dynamic with Messiah

Mike draws an analogy from Israel's prophetic history

Council of Trent Vatican II inclusivism

Q&A: When did inclusivism/relativism become prevalent in the Catholic Church? Vatican II was deliberately vague

Answering viewer question from Michael Cato

Matt Dillahunty The Atheist Experience resurrection of Jesus

Introduction of Matt Dillahunty and announcement of upcoming resurrection debate

Mike pauses the video clip to identify Matt Dillahunty and announce a planned debate.

Acts 18:27-28 Apollos typology evidence-based faith

Acts 18:27-28 — Apollos vigorously refutes Jewish opponents using Scripture to show Jesus is the Christ

New Testament example of evidence-based persuasion in the early church.

John the Baptist John 5:31-39 resurrection evidence-based faith John the Baptist

John 5:31-38 — Jesus presents three specific evidences for his identity: John the Baptist, miracles, and Scripture

Mike analyzes Jesus's own self-defense in John 5 as a model of evidence-based persuasion.

John 5:39 evidence-based faith messianic prophecy John 5:39

John 5:39 — the Old Testament scriptures testify of Jesus as a third category of evidence

Continuation of the John 5 analysis; the Father's testimony through Scripture.

Matthew 9:5-7 miracles as evidence Matthew 9:5-7 paralytic healing

Matthew 9:5-7 — Jesus heals the paralytic as evidence of authority to forgive sins

Mike uses Jesus's healing of the paralytic as another instance of miracles functioning as proof.

John 20:24-29 hermeneutics faith Thomas

John 20:24-29 — Thomas passage: 'not seen' does not mean 'without evidence'

Mike addresses the Thomas story as the third counter-passage.

John 20:24-27 Jehovah's Witnesses resurrection body Thomas

Thomas's demand to see the nail marks refutes Jehovah's Witness teaching that Jesus rose in a different body

Side point made while explaining the Thomas narrative.

John 20:27-28 resurrection evidence-based faith Thomas

Jesus gives Thomas evidence first, then commands belief — a model of evidence-based faith

The climax of Mike's Thomas analysis.