Graber - Section K, L, M, N

<Section K> H. Graber states: “DIVERGENT PAULINE DOCTRINE: Let us document some more of the apostle Paul’s confusing and contradictory doctrine. Paul tells us in Rom. 1:4, ‘And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:’ (emphasis added) Here Paul tells us that Jesus was not the Son of God untill [sic] he qualified himself by the spirit of holiness, and after His resurrection. Matthew tells us that Jesus was born the Son of God, by the virgin Mary, WHO DO YOU BELIEVE, MATTHEW OR PAUL?”

In reply to section <K>: Romans 1:4 is a difficult verse to translate, and here in this paragraph (which was the second paragraph on page 4 of his original document), Graber criticizes Paul only by the bad translation of this verse in the A.V. In April of 2000, translating Romans, I rendered 1:4: “Who has been distinguished as a son of Yahweh in the ability through the sanctity of the Spirit to rise up from the dead; Yahshua Christ our prince”, and I stand by the sense of that translation today. The Greek verb ὁρίζω (horizō) may by no means be translated “declare” as the A.V. has done here, the word meaning “to mark out or bound, ... fig. to appoint, decree, specify ...” Paul is indicating that the resurrection of Christ made the assertion that Christ is the Son of Yahweh an indisputable fact, i.e. He was the Son of God, and resurrection was the first device Paul uses to present that fact to the Romans. As usual, Graber’s condemnation of Paul is shown to be vanity.

<Section L> H. Graber states: “Paul tells us in II Cor. 5:15-19, ‘And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (emphasis added) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the words of reconciliation.’ Here Paul completely removes Jesus Christ from recognition, by saying, now that Jesus has accomplished this miracle on the cross, we know him no more, and we are now reconciled to God. Paul does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ and God are one and the same being. John 10:30, ‘I and the Father are one.’ John 14:9, ‘he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;’ WHAT PAUL IS SAYING IS, THAT NOW THAT JESUS’ TASK IS FINISHED, NOW WE SHOULD LOOK TO GOD.”

In reply to section <L>: At 2 Corinthians 5:15-19 Paul explains that we should not live “after” (i.e. according to or in relation to) the flesh, but after the Spirit instead. In other words, we should seek the spiritual rewards of life and not the carnal ones. We should seek to know Yahweh spiritually, and not as a man (Christ) even if any who had read Paul’s letter had known him in that manner (were among those in Palestine who had seen Him). Graber says “Paul does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ and God are one and the same being”, a blatant lie! Graber had just quoted Paul as saying “that God was in Christ”, the exact equivalent of such an acknowledgment! Paul explains elsewhere (and quotes the Old Testament doing so) that the body is just a vessel (i.e. or also a temple) for the Spirit, the “real us” so to speak. Does Graber have no understanding whatsoever? Paul says of Christ “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Divinity bodily” (Colossians 2:9, my translation), surely acknowledging that Yahshua and Yahweh are one. Who is a liar, but H. Graber?

<Section M> H. Graber states: “Paul tells us in Rom. 2:16, ‘In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to My gospel.’ (emphasis added) BY WHOSE GOSPEL? Here Paul admits that he is not preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, but rather his own gospel.”

In reply to section <M>: In this fourth paragraph (on page 4 of Graber’s original document), we have an argument four times as childish as those which precede! Paul says at Romans 2:16 “... according to my gospel”, and that is without dispute, and Paul also calls this same gospel which he describes to the Romans: “of God” (1:1), “of His son” (1:9), “of Christ” (1:16), “of peace” (10:15, quoting Isaiah, and at 10:16 Isaiah is quoted as saying “Yahweh, who hath believed OUR report?” (Isa. 53:1, emphasis mine), “of God” again at 15:16, “of Christ” again at 15:19 and 15:29, “my gospel” again at 16:25, and simply “the gospel” at 1:15, 10:16, 11:28 and 15:20. So have we here five different gospels? Certainly not! But it is one gospel which Paul presents. And surely Graber points no finger at Isaiah for claiming a share of it (Isaiah 53:1 is quoted at Romans 10:16 and by John at 12:38)! Oh the hypocrisy! Here, as in the previous paragraph discussed above, Graber is throwing everything including the kitchen sink onto the pile of counts with which he creates an indictment against Paul, hoping to make something stick, just like a government prosecutor, and a typical False Accuser indeed! Paul is preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and doing so to the Kingdom people!

<Section N> H. Graber states: “Paul tells us in Gal. 4:14, ‘And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me even as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.’ WHAT ARROGANCE! Paul puts himself on a pedestal, equal with Jesus Christ!”

In reply to section <N>: Graber’s lies here in this paragraph are a repeat from the fifth paragraph of his original Kingdom Courier’s second page, here designated <F>, in my reply. Graber repeats himself in an attempt to magnify Paul’s supposed “arrogance”, but only magnifies his own ignorance!