Read Now: The Difficult Teaching of Paul Explained With Clarity
Unpack the complexity of Paul’s Difficult Teaching with our expert guide. Gain clarity on theology, build authority in your faith, and master scripture today.
Paul’s Difficult Teaching: Taught In An Easy Words
Many believers feel overwhelmed when trying to reconcile the complexities found in Paul’s Difficult Teaching. These scriptures often spark intense debate and leave even seasoned scholars questioning their original intent. It is time to stop skimming over the hard parts and start mastering the full depth of the Word.
Understanding these passages is the key to building a credible theological foundation for your ministry or personal study. We dive deep into the cultural context and linguistic nuances that clarify the most misunderstood verses. You will discover how Paul’s Difficult Teaching actually provide a blueprint for a disciplined and empowered life.
Figure out the confidence you will feel when you can explain controversial doctrines with absolute clarity and authority. No more avoiding the “hard sayings” during Bible studies or feeling uncertain about your own beliefs. By mastering Paul’s Difficult Teaching, you unlock a level of scriptural insight that sets you apart as a biblical leader.
Don’t let confusion hold back your spiritual growth any longer; join our intensive study today. Read below to understand more the comprehensive breakdown of Paul’s Difficult Teaching.
To unravel Paul’s Difficult Teaching, we must first establish “Three Guard Posts”—the essential interpretive boundaries that keep us on track. By defining these pillars and evaluating them against common misconceptions, you can distill the core truth of the text. This approach honors Paul’s command to “rightly divide” the word of truth. This ensures your biblical foundation is both precise and unshakeable.
1. First Guard Post: Identity of Christ
Paul’s ministry was not a self-appointed mission; it was a divine commission from Jesus Christ Himself. As the chosen apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s doctrine was not an innovation. His was a direct reflection of his Master’s heart. He explicitly affirmed that his gospel was received through direct revelation. This makes sure that Paul’s Difficult Teaching never contradict Chris. It rather provides the authoritative application of the Lord’s truth to the world.
A. Who was Christ?
| Aspect of Christ’s Identity | Scriptural Foundation | The Authoritative Truth |
| The Way, Truth, and Life | John 14:6 | Christ is the exclusive source of truth and the only path to the Father; no doctrine can exist outside of Him. |
| The Sinless Jewish Messiah | 1 Peter 2:22 | As a sinless Jew, He walked in perfect purity, providing the flawless example of holiness. |
| Perfect Obedience | John 15:10 | He remained in the Father’s love by obeying every commandment, establishing the pattern for all believers. |
| The Great Commission | Matthew 28:20 | His final charge was for His followers to observe all things He commanded, without exception. |
| The Fulfiller of the Law | Matthew 5:17–19 | He did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it; greatness in the Kingdom is tied to teaching and keeping these commands. |
| True Righteousness Defined | Luke 1:6 | True righteousness is biblically defined as walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. |
| The Eternal Judge | John 12:48 | Those who reject Him are judged by one standard: the very words Christ spoke during His ministry. |
| The Foundation of the Church | Matthew 16:18 | Christ is the sole Founder and Architect of the Church, built upon the rock of His divine identity. |
Summary:
The Identity of Christ stands as the ultimate Guard Post. This defines His sinless life as a Jew and His perfect obedience to every commandment of the Father. He is the sole Founder of the Church and the Fulfiller of the Law. His commands remain the absolute standard that all believers are mandated to observe. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His specific words serve as the final authority and the benchmark by which every soul will be judged. And He was the teacher of Paul. And Paul imitated him.
2. Second Guard Post: The Identity of Paul
A. Who was Paul?
| The Identity of Paul | Scriptural Foundation | The “Guard Post” of Credibility |
| His Heritage | Acts 22:3 | Paul was a Jew, born in Tarsus and strictly educated under Gamaliel according to the Law of the fathers. |
| His Divine Call | 1 Cor. 1:1; 9:3-6, 15 | He was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, not by human appointment. |
| His Divine Instructor | Galatians 1:12 | Paul did not receive his gospel from men; he was taught directly by the revelation of Jesus Christ. |
| His Pattern of Life | 1 Corinthians 11:1 | He served as a secondary example, commanding others to follow him only as he followed Christ. |
| His View of the Rock | 1 Corinthians 10:4 | Paul identified Christ as the spiritual Rock that followed Israel, acknowledging Him as the God of the Old Testament. |
| His Scriptural Loyalty | Acts 24:14 | He remained faithful to his roots, believing everything written in the Law and the Prophets. |
| His Integrity | 2 Corinthians 4:2 | He renounced hidden things of shame and refused to handle the Word of God deceitfully. |
| His View of the Law | Romans 7:12, 22 | Paul delighted in the Law of God after the inward man, affirming that the Law is holy, just, and good. |
| The Warning of Error | 2 Peter 3:16 | Peter confirms Paul’s wisdom but warns that the unlearned and unstable twist his writings to their own destruction. |
Summary:
The Identity of Paul is defined by his direct commission from Jesus Christ and his unwavering loyalty to the Law and the Prophets. As a faithful imitator of the Master, Paul delighted in the holiness of the Law and refused to handle the Word of God with deceit or compromise. While his writings are often twisted by the unstable, his true identity is anchored in the belief that Christ is the eternal Rock and the source of all sound doctrine.
3. The Jewish Foundation of The New Testament Church
The Foundation of the Church of God
| Pillar of Truth | Verse Reference | Authority established |
| The Divine Purchase | Acts 20:28 | The Church is owned by Christ, bought with His own blood. |
| The Unified Foundation | Ephesians 2:20-22 | Built on Apostles and Prophets with Christ as the Cornerstone. They were all Jewish. |
| The Mandate of Obedience | Matthew 28:20 | The requirement to observe all things Christ commanded. |
| The Standard of Judgment | John 12:48 | The words of Christ serve as the final judge for the Church. |
Heirs of the Kingdom- All Obeyed The Laws of the Father
Note: These ‘summa cum laude’ heirs of the Kingdom of God are defined by their unwavering obedience to every commandment found in the Law and the Prophets. Their inclusion in the Kingdom serves as unmistakable proof that the Laws of God have not been ‘done away with,’ directly upholding Christ’s mandate in Matthew 5:17–19 that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
| Figure(s) | Scriptural Foundation | The Evidence of Assurance |
| John the Baptist | Matthew 11:11 | Jesus declared that among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. |
| The Twelve Apostles | Matthew 19:28 | Christ promised that in the regeneration, they will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| The Apostle Paul | 2 Timothy 4:7–8 | Paul testified at the end of his life that a “crown of righteousness” was laid up for him by the Lord. |
| Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob | Matthew 8:11 | Christ explicitly names these three as the primary occupants of the Kingdom of Heaven. |
| All the Prophets | Luke 13:28 | Scripture confirms that all the holy prophets will be seen within the Kingdom of God. |
| King David | Ezekiel 37:24-25, Acts 2:30 | God called him “a man after My own heart,” and prophecy indicates he will be raised as king over Israel forever. |
| Moses & Elijah | Matthew 17:3 | Their appearance with Christ during the Transfiguration serves as a literal preview of their Kingdom status. |
| Noah & Daniel | Ezekiel 14:14 | God singles out Noah, Daniel, and Job as the standard-bearers of righteousness. |
Gold Standard of Righteousness
The gold standard in the definition of God’s true righteousness is Luke 1: 6 “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
King David, a man of God’s own heart said: “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.” Psalm 119:172.
He was a prophet, Acts 2:30. David was one ofthe foundation of the Church of God in the New Testament.
Summary:
The New Testament Church of God is a divine building purchased by the blood of Christ and established upon the unified foundation of the Apostles and the Law-observant Prophets (Acts 20:28, Eph. 2:20). The foundation was composed by all Jewish servants of God who obeyed all his commandments.
With Jesus Christ, the sinless Jewish Messiah, as the Chief Cornerstone, the Church is fitted together as a holy temple and a dwelling place for God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22). Because the Church is owned by Christ and built on this prophetic foundation, it is strictly mandated to observe all His commandments or face the final judgment of His Word (Matt. 28:20, John 12:48).
Therefore, all those who would like to enter the coming kingdom of God are mandated to obey all the commandments of God and not by selection but all. And those who oppose this truth God will destroy their knowledge,
I Cor. 1: 19: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
2 Cor.10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
The best option and the only option is to Just Obey GOD.
Having established the Guard Posts, let us now demolish the arguments that destroy the correct meaning of the Holy Scriptures in favor the abolishment of the Old Testament laws.
Difficult Teachings of Paul now Explained Easy
1. On “Unclean” Meats
These scriptures are often used to claim that the distinction between clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11) is gone: Mark 7:18–19 “So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”
Many modern translations add the phrase, “Thus He declared all foods clean.” They argue Jesus abolished dietary laws here.
Those who “add” to God’s words by declaring unclean animals to be food risk the severe biblical warning that they will be found liars (Proverbs 30:6). Scripture is clear that no liar will inherit the Kingdom of God; instead, their portion is the second death (Revelation 21:8). If a pastor preaches against the Law of God, they are teaching lawlessness—a path that Jesus warned leads to being excluded from His Kingdom.
Pastors – Doers of Lawlessness
Matt. 7:22-23 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” !
Context: The debate between Christ and the Pharisees centered exclusively on human traditions regarding ceremonially unwashed hands, not the unclean food found in the Lev 11. To suggest that Jesus abolished the distinction between clean and unclean animals in these passages is to force a contradiction with Matthew 5:17-19, one of our Guard Posts, where Christ upheld every “jot and tittle” of the Law.
We must believe the actual conclusion of the Speaker, Jesus Christ, rather than the reinterpretations of modern teachers. Christ explicitly stated the point of His teaching in Matthew 15:20: “These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” The topic was hygiene and tradition, not the dietary laws of Leviticus 11.
2. Acts 10:9–15 (Peter’s Vision)
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”
Context: Peter himself explains the meaning in verse 28: “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” It was about accepting Gentiles, not changing diet. And Peter did not eat it. Let us believe on the conclusion of Peter not on the conclusion of deceptive pastors who disobey Matt. 5:17-19, one of our major truth guard post.
Believe on the explanation of Peter as he was the speaker. Do not believe your pastors. Believe Peter.
3. 1 Timothy 4:3–5
“forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer,”
Context: There is no mentioned of unclean animals here. But to satisfies the naysayers, Paul specifies these are foods “sanctified by the word of God.” The “word of God” (the OT) defines what is food. Let us not add the Scripture or we will be called LIARS. The only food sanctified by God are from the clean animals in Lev. 11.
4. Biological Facts Silence The False Teachers
When people claim Christ “cleansed all meats,” they are essentially claiming that the biological makeup of these animals—their role as “environmental cleaners”—has changed. However, history and science show that these animals still carry the same risks.
| Disease | Source / Intermediate Host | Biblical Status | Role in Nature |
| Black Death | Rats (via fleas) | Unclean (Lev. 11:29) | Scavengers/Waste management |
| Spanish Flu | Pigs / Wild Waterfowl | Unclean (Lev. 11:7, 13) | Mixers for avian/human viruses |
| Ebola | Bats / Primates (Bushmeat) | Unclean (Lev. 11:19) | High-viral-load reservoirs |
| COVID-19 | Bats / Pangolins | Unclean | Reservoirs for coronaviruses, rabies |
5. On Sabbath Keeping
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ,” Col.2:16-17.
Context: The true biblical viewpoint reveals that Paul was actually protecting new converts from the harsh judgment of outsiders. The Colossians were new believers who had abandoned paganism to observe God’s appointments; Paul was advising them not to let their former friends or ascetic critics mock them for how they were now celebrating these holy times.
Pastors frequently “twist” Colossians 2:16–17 to suggest that the seventh-day Sabbath, dietary laws, and Biblical festivals are now optional or obsolete. The teachings of these false pastors disagree with Christ and Paul, Matt.5:17-19 and Rom. 7:12. These false pastors disobey Matt. 28:20. Do not follow these deceitful workers. Leave that Church. The blind leads the bling, you will all fall to the ditch.
We must always explain Scriptures supporting the Guard Posts or Christ will say “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Lawlessness means non observant of the laws of God, John 12:48.
6. New Moon As Guard Post
Furthermore, Paul’s mention of “New Moons” is a vital “Guard Post” for our understanding. Without the New Moon, it is impossible to observe the festivals of Leviticus 23, as the count for Passover, the Feast of Trumpets (which begins on a new moon), and the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles (which starts on a full moon) all depend on the new moon.
By observing these days, the Colossian church was aligning itself with the “shadow of things to come,” pointing directly to the body and authority of Jesus Christ.
We must refuse to let those outside the faith judge our obedience to the Sabbath or the dietary laws of Leviticus 11. Paul was not telling the church to stop observing these days; he was telling them to ignore the ridicule of a world that does not understand the “holy, just, and good” instructions of the Creator.
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7. The Error of Personal Opinion in Romans 14
Romans 14:5–6: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.”
The “Twist”: Modern teachers frequently use this passage to claim that Sabbath-keeping is merely a matter of “personal opinion” or a secondary issue of individual conscience.
Contex: The entire theme of this chapter is focused on “doubtful disputations” regarding fasting and asceticism, not the Ten Commandments.
There is absolutely no mention of the Sabbath in this context. It is logically inconsistent for pastors to use such an obscure passage to attempt to demolish the Law of God, especially when clear biblical hermeneutics dictate that obscure verses must be interpreted by clear ones.
The clear foundational “Guard Posts” of Scripture—Matthew 5:17-19, Luke 1:6, Matthew 28:20, and Romans 7:12—unambiguously uphold the Law. If any interpretation of a difficult verse contradicts these clear mandates, that interpretation is fundamentally flawed.
The Sabbath command is not a temporary suggestion; it is a perpetual covenant and an eternal sign between the Creator and His people (Exodus 31:16-17). Because it is rooted in the Creation week, its observance is destined to continue into eternity.
As the Prophet Isaiah confirms, in the New Heaven and the New Earth, all flesh will continue to gather before the Lord from one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another to worship Him (Isaiah 66:22-23).
8. Pagan Astrology vs. God’s Holy Days
Galatians 4:9–10: “How is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements… You observe days and months and seasons and years.”
The “Twist”: Critics deceitfully handle this text to claim that Paul is insulting God’s own Holy Days by calling them “weak and beggarly elements.”
Context: This interpretation is a direct assault on our established “Guard Posts” (Matt. 5:17-19, Luke 1:6, Matt. 28:20, Exo. 31:16-17, and Isa. 66:22-23).
Paul is not rebuking the Galatians for following the Creator; he is rebuking them for returning to the “stoicheia”—the pagan astrological superstitions of “lucky and unlucky days” that they practiced before knowing the true God. It is logically impossible for Paul to call the instructions of the God he served “beggarly,” as he elsewhere declared the Law to be holy, just, and good (Rom. 7:12, Acts 24:14).
Furthermore, there is a deafening silence of Sabbath in this passage. Paul never mentions the Sabbath, the New Moons, or the Annual Feasts of God.
To assume he is attacking the Biblical holy days is to add to the Scriptures and ignore the clear testimony of his Master, Jesus Christ. By standing on the foundation of Matthew 5:17-19, we see that Paul was defending the Galatians from returning to heathenism, not discouraging them from obeying the Commandments.
9. The Galatians as Mercenaries from “France”
The Galatians were of Celtic (Gaulish) origin. In the 3rd century BC, a large group of Celts from Gaul (modern-day France) migrated into Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) after serving as mercenaries for various kings. They eventually settled in a region that became known as Galatia. Historians refer to this as the “Gallic migration.”
A. The “Lost Ten Tribes” Connection
The “lost ten tribes” refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel that was exiled by Assyria around 722 BC.
The Route: Many historical and theological researchers argue that the Israelites migrated through the Caucasus Mountains (becoming known as Caucasians) and moved into Western Europe—specifically the areas of France, Britain, and Scandinavia.
The Overlap: Since the Galatians were Celts/Gauls, and many believe the Gauls were the descendants of the migrated Israelites, it is logically consistent within this framework to suggest that the Galatians were part of the “Lost Tribes” returning to the knowledge of God.
B. Kindred Status
In Galatians 3:29, Paul tells them, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Most Bible scholars see this as “spiritual adoption.”
If Paul knew they were the physical descendants of the Ten Tribes (his “kindred”), his language takes on a much deeper meaning. He wouldn’t just be calling them “spiritual” Jews, but reminding them of their physical ancestry that had been “lost” in paganism.
This aligns with Paul’s heart in Romans 9:3-4, where he expresses his deep concern for his “kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites.” If the Galatians were indeed part of the lost tribes, Paul’s mission to them was a fulfillment of the prophecy that the “outcasts of Israel” would be gathered back.
10. On Holy Days being “Immaterial”
Hebrews 10:1 “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.“
The “Twist“: Since they are “shadows,” people argue they are no longer needed now that we have the “substance” (Christ).
A shadow remains attached to the body; as long as Christ (the body) is active, the shadow (the Holy Days) continues to point to His work.
The Sabbath will still be observed in the new heaven and new earth, Isa. 66:22- 23. And the holy days will be observed in the Millennium, Zec.14:16-19.
11. Hebrews 10:1 and The Animals Sacrifices
No law is specifically mentioned in verse 1. The Jews have many laws. In the New Testament, there is a vacuum in the teachings of animal sacrifices by Christ, the Apostles and Paul. Christ had changed the emblems of the Passover. No more unblemished lamb, Exodus 12:3–5, or blood on side post, Exo. 12:7,13 or bitter herbs, Exo.12:8.
Read Hebrews 10:1-8 clearly indicate only the laws of animal sacrifices are removed, which Christ did not originally commanded, Jer. 7: 21-22.
12. The New Emblems of the New Testament Passover
| Emblem | Scriptural Foundation | The Command of Christ |
| Unleavened Bread | Matthew 26:26 | Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.” |
| The Fruit of the Vine | Matthew 26:27–28 | He took the cup, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant.” |
| Foot Washing | John 13:14–15 | Christ established this as a mandate: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” |
| Sincerity and Truth | 1 Corinthians 5:7–8 | Paul instructs the Church to keep the feast not with the leaven of malice, but with the “unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” |
13. Animal Sacrifices Not Commanded Originally
Many theologians claim that “The Law” was a shadow that disappeared when Christ came. However, the context of Hebrews 10:1 identifies the specific law in question: the animal sacrifices offered “year after year.” These were added because of transgression (Jeremiah 7:22-23) and could never take away sins.
They were a “shadow” of the true sacrifice of Christ. When Christ offered Himself once for all, the shadow of animal blood reached its end.
The blood of Christ, His sacrifice, did not abolish the Moral Law—the Ten Commandments or the Dietary Laws—which define holiness, not the mechanism of sacrifice. What is perfectly clear is the law that is abolished was the law of animal sacrifices. Christ and Paul never observe those sacrifice.
14. The Master Teacher Deceiver
Those who twist the truths of God are from deceitful workers and teachers and their leader is Satan, who deceived the Whole World, Rev.12:9. He acts as Angel of Light.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15, describing Satan disguising himself as something good, truthful, and righteous to deceive people into following falsehoods or accepting evil disguised as good, often through false teachings or seemingly pious acts, all to lead people away from genuine Godly truth.
This is a warning about spiritual deception and the need to discern true motives, as Satan presents sin as desirable and fake spiritual experiences as profound.
15. FAQ: Mastering Paul’s Difficult Teachings
1. Who is the ultimate authority when interpreting Paul’s writings? Jesus Christ is the sole authority; as the sinless Way and the Truth, His commandments are the final standard by which all of Paul’s teachings must be measured (John 14:6, Matt. 28:20).
2. Did Paul create a new religion separate from Judaism? No; Paul remained a faithful Jew who believed everything written in the Law and the Prophets, delighting in God’s Law and calling it holy, just, and good (Acts 24:14, Rom. 7:12).
3. What is the foundation of the New Testament Church of God? The Church is built upon a unified foundation of both the Apostles and the Old Testament Prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself serving as the Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).
4. Where did Paul get the authority for his teachings? Paul’s doctrine was not a human innovation; he received it through direct revelation from Jesus Christ, who personally commissioned him as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 1:11–12, Acts 26:15–18).
5. Does “rightly dividing the word” mean we can ignore the Law? No; to “rightly divide” (2 Tim. 2:15) means to interpret Scripture with precision, recognizing that Christ did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it, and instructed us to teach it (Matt. 5:17–19).
6. Why are Paul’s teachings often considered “difficult”? As noted in 2 Peter 3:16, the unlearned and unstable often twist Paul’s complex writings because they lack the foundational “Three Guard Posts” of Christ’s Identity, Paul’s Identity and the Idenitity of the New Testament Foundation.
7. How should a believer view the commandments of Christ today? Obedience is mandatory; Christ’s own words will judge us on the last day, and He commanded His Church to observe all things He taught during His ministry (John 12:48, Matt. 28:20).
16. Strong Call To Action:
Stop guessing and start mastering the Three Guard Posts. Believe on God’s truth to understand “Paul’s Difficult Teachings.” Anchor your faith in the unshakeable words of Christ today!
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