Not trying to put words in anyone's mouth, but what follows is an attempt to clarifying statements as I remember them happening. Not sure who said what.
At some point, in this thread or another, a quesiton was asked about anointed singers. Then it further developed into a discussion about the offices of the church. Within that discussion a statement was made that Paul was one of the Apostles. My interpretation was it was a statement saying that Paul was one of the 12 Apostles that actually operated under the ministries of the Son of God while He was on Earth. Within the context of someone being anointed to sing reference was made about anointed messengers, apostles (apostates to some), being able to share a message from God in the present day. The only reference I was trying to make was that there are no Apostles today (served on earth with Christ) BUT since Paul received his message, a commentary about the Good News, AFTER the Death and resurrection of the Son of God, the same thing could be done today. But only as a commentary, with no new revelations. An anointed preacher can receive a message from the Holy Spirit today just as Paul did, and John, after the Ascension. No one is capable of receiving a message directly (physically) from Christ. But there are those who can see or hear visions or dreams from the Holy Spirit for the edification of the body, or even individuals. Just like Paul. Paul is no more special than any believer that God chooses to reveal Himself too, accept that he happened to have what he said put down in words and recorded in the Bible.
If I come to your house and ask for directions to grandma's house and you tell them to me then I have heard directly from you how to get there. If I see a flash of light and somewhere in my mind I hear directions to get to grandma's house then it could either be directions I have heard from somewhere else, or I made it up. The test will be in the verification. No doubt those who learned of the directions first hand will verify that I know what I am talking about. I may know of a shortcut when I understand the complete directions, but still they must match the overall directions I received to get me to the right place.
Paul was a human and he made a lot of mistakes in his interruptions of the directions he received. If he had figured it out and the message he received was clear then why did he argue with so many people. Why was it different than what the other Apostles received? Nevertheless, the original Apostles found that his message was for the most part valid and,
2 Peter 3:15-17 KJV
[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures (writings), unto their own destruction. [17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
The word 'scripture' here could very well be a group of letters already written and therefore the word 'writings' could have been used. And since the 'scriptures' hadn't quite been put together collectively at this time, I go with the idea of of letters. So, yes, Paul's writings were becoming as important as the Gospels, and other writings, but they had not yet become 'scripture'.
As far as Luke is concerned, he traveled and became friends with Paul, so what he wrote was influenced by Paul. Luke was only a witness to Paul's life, AFTER the Damascus road.
@Cap Paul had disagreements with the Apostles. Odd.
@cnystrom Indeed. In fact that is part of Paul's argument that he is not a lessor apostle, because he contended against Peter to his face, and he was right and Peter was wrong. See Galatians 2.
Galatians 2 is written by Paul, so of course he is going to say that. And Something strange was going on here in regards to the Paul's relationship with some of the original Apostles.
@Cap but I am saying that I believe Paul has a message to declare that came from Christ, no different than can be done TODAY for someone that God chooses to use to share His message TODAY.
@cnystrom I do not see the argument here. Of course the message can be shared today. It is being shared today by Christians all around the globe. From the pulpit to missionaries in far off lands. What has that to do with Paul's apostleship?
Misunderstanding here. Yes. of course the message that Paul proclaimed is being shared today. No argument from me. A very important message I might add.
@Cap But if Paul is elevated to 'A'psotle then that leaves little room to accept an understanding that God can use a man today to send a message.
@cnystrom Unless....UNLESS...you are saying we can come up with some sort of new Gospel, some sort of new revelation. Something not found in the Bible. Something delivered by Angels or on golden plates perhaps? What are you suggesting? Who are the candidates? What is this new message? Put in on the table and let us consider it.Again, there is no argument that God can. Indeed God can do anything.The more important question is did God, and is God doing this? If the answer is yes, than we need to see who and when to properly consider it. No one has, yet, stepped forward with specifics.
And this is where we have come. No one said there was a new message, either from Angels or Gold Plates. There are no new 'A'postles. The only thing that was said, or implied, was that just as God revealed Himself to Paul after the ascension, that I believe (read I believe and you don't have to) he can do the same today if He has a message that would help someone on their path to a greater relationship with Him. I have wept at a message I knew that came straight form God through a man to me, so I know perfectly well that God revealed something to him, for me and who knows who else. And nope, he was not an 'A'postle.