September 25, 2025

Did Paul Care What Jesus Said?

For almost two hundred years, some scholars have claimed that Paul knew and cared very little about what Jesus said during his lifetime. They point to Paul's denial that he had received his gospel from others, including the disciples of Jesus; and the almost complete lack of Jesus's sayings in the letters of Paul. Is it true that Paul was in effect a second founder of Christianity? Or is there another way to look at the evidence?

We had a packed-out Great Room for Bill’s lecture on how the teachings of Paul line up with Jesus’ teachings. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

🎙️ Click the link below to listen to the lecture on our podcast, or find it anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Listen

View Bill’s slides here.

A large conference room filled with people attending a presentation. The presenter is at the front near a screen, speaking to the audience, who are seated at tables and looking towards the front.
Two men smiling, one older with gray hair wearing a checked shirt with a name tag that says 'Kevin Officer,' and one younger with blonde hair wearing a checkered shirt and backpack, standing indoors.
Two women smiling, wearing name tags, standing indoors in front of a beige wall with a small landscape painting, one with short wavy brown hair in a red shirt, the other with shoulder-length brown hair in a blue T-shirt and black hoodie.
Two men having a conversation indoors. The man on the left, with a badge that says 'Jim,' wears a plaid shirt and glasses hanging from his collar. The man on the right, with a beard, wears a black clerical shirt with a white collar and holds a red mu
An older man with glasses reading from a book while standing in front of a group of young men seated at a table, listening attentively, in a room with a large window and wooden decorative wall panel.
Group of five men standing and talking at an indoor event or conference, smiling and engaging in conversation.
A man standing and speaking during a presentation to a seated audience in a conference room with large windows and natural light.
A teacher giving a presentation to a classroom of students in an educational setting. The teacher is standing in front of a projector screen displaying a slide, and engaging with the audience.
Three young men standing and talking in front of a wall filled with posters, smiling and laughing.
Audience attending a presentation or lecture in a conference room with large windows, some individuals are taking notes or drinking beverages.
Two smiling women sitting at a table with bowls of food, one wearing a pink shirt and the other a dark shirt with a name tag that says "Anna."
A group of three people, two young women and an older man, are engaging in a lively conversation at an indoor event. The young woman on the left is holding a bowl of salad and smiling, while the woman in the middle is holding a plate and a water bott
Three smiling men sitting at a table with bowls of food in a room with other people in the background.
Four young women sitting in a row, smiling, holding bowls of salad, wearing casual clothes and name tags, in a social or community setting.
Four young men sitting at a long table, smiling at the camera in a dining area with other people in the background.
Three men standing together indoors, smiling at the camera. The man on the left is wearing a clergy collar and a dark jacket. The man in the middle has a name tag labeled 'William' and is wearing a dark jacket with a logo. The man on the right is wea
Group of smiling young women sitting in a row at a social gathering, holding bowls of food.
A large group of people seated at tables in a bright conference room, some eating from bowls, others engaging in conversation or listening. There are posters on the wall and a couple of people standing and talking.
Two women are engaged in conversation at an art gallery opening, with paintings on the walls and other guests in the background.
People lined up at a buffet table serving themselves food at a social gathering in an art gallery.