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This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig.

Question

I read your response to the person who responded to Jesus and disliked Paul. I too find myself in this position and was surprised that you found it difficult to figure out why somebody would object to Paul who is drawn to Christ. Jesus is filled with incredible love power mercy and grace and humility. Paul is full of well, Paul. He says he doesn't boast then boasts. I can't imagine Jesus approved of his rules for helping widows (or that any actual widow would make the cut and receive help.) Despite all of the efforts made to defend him he is obviously no fan of women and he worries far too much what other people think. So much so that he is willing to act like a phony to convert them. And whenever you go to church and meet a modern day Pharisees if you ask them a couple questions they always turn out to be really Paul focused. In fact the lack of Christ-like love in the American church and the eagerness to point out other people's sins seems to come from this guy because it's definitely not coming from Christ. I would love for you to finish answering your question and address the issues that most people have with Paul that it seems like you must be aware of. Thanks!

Amanda

United States

Dr. William Lane Craig’s Response

Now hang on, Amanda! In my I freely admitted that Paul could be overbearing at times and gave a couple examples. But I also defended his genius and amazing courage, which ought to be an inspiration to all of us. Of course, Paul was no Jesus of Nazareth, but then who is? God’s Son outshines everyone.

You don’t like Paul’s boasting. But, Amanda, Paul was driven to defend his credentials by the threat of itinerant pseudo-apostles touting their eloquence and worldly wisdom and threatening to destroy the church in Corinth. In displaying his credentials as an apostle, Paul says repeatedly, “I am speaking as a fool!” (II Corinthians 11.21; cf. 11.1, 16-17; 12.11). Even then, he ends up boasting, not of his accomplishments, but of his weaknesses, including the physical disability he bore, an inspiration to anyone who bears such weakness (11.30-12.10). It’s not that he worries about what others think, but that these false apostles were destroying the church in Corinth, which was already riven with divisions as a result.

You don’t like the rules for the care of wi