Gospel Grudge Match - Jesus vs. Paul?

September 4th, 2025
by Dr. Jay Jones

An objection to the Apostle Paul and the so-called “Paul’s gospel” has emerged and is circulating via social media, making its way into the minds of young men and women. If your children are in high school or college, they have probably been exposed to it. This new and novel idea asserts that Paul was not an Apostle, never met Jesus, and created a false gospel that is different than what Jesus and his twelve disciples preached. However, a simple reading of the New Testament shows this idea to be completely ridiculous. Let’s examine it.

Why Do Some Claim Paul Preached a Different Gospel?

Paul’s emphasis on justification by faith
Critics say Paul invented the doctrine of justification by faith apart from works (Romans Ch. 3–5; Galatians Ch. 2–3), while Jesus supposedly emphasized obedience and kingdom living (Matthew Ch. 5–7). SIDE NOTE – An emphasis on obedience and kingdom living is not contradictory to faith apart from works, and both appear explicitly in Paul’s writings.

Paul’s apostleship questioned
In Galatians 1–2, Paul defends his apostleship. Some point to this as evidence that his message was not the same as the Jerusalem apostles; otherwise, why defend it?

Different audiences
Jesus and the Twelve ministered primarily to Israel (Matt 10:5–6), while Paul was the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13). Some argue this led Paul to preach a different gospel that the disciples of Jesus wouldn’t recognize.

Answering Objectors of Paul

-Paul himself insists it’s the same gospel

Galatians 1:11-12: Paul says the gospel he preached was “not man’s gospel” but came by revelation from Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Paul summarizes the gospel (Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again). This is the exact same gospel preached by the apostles (Acts 2; Acts 3).

-The Jerusalem Apostles affirmed Paul

Acts 15 (Jerusalem Council) Peter declares that Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way: by grace through faith, not the law. This mirrors Paul’s teaching exactly and is a complete endorsement of Paul’s work in preaching to the Gentiles. James affirms that the ingathering of the Gentiles is a fulfillment of prophecy. Again affirming Paul’s preaching.

Galatians 2:7-9: James, Peter, and John gave Paul “the right hand of fellowship,” recognizing his gospel as the same gospel.

2 Peter 3:15-16: Peter refers to Paul’s letters as “Scripture.” Ironically, Peter also affirms that some people twist Paul’s teaching to their own destruction.

-Jesus preached the same message of grace and faith

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son (Grace), that whosoever believes in him (Faith) should not perish but have eternal life.

John 6:29: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Luke 24:46-47: Jesus said the news of his death and resurrection would be proclaimed as “repentance and forgiveness of sins.” And this gospel would be preached to all nations. Paul fulfills what Christ prophesied.

-Jesus and the disciples believed Jesus’ sacrificial death was a key component of the Gospel, just like Paul preached

Matthew

Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- A ransom involves substitution: Christ’s life for many lives.

Matthew 26:28: “... for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
- Blood poured out “for” others = penal substitution. This doctrine is explicit in Paul’s writings.

Mark and Luke Mirror Matthew

John

John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
- Lamb imagery implies substitutionary sacrifice.

John 10:11: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
- “For” = in the place of.

John 11:50–52: Caiaphas prophesies Jesus would “die for the nation … not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God.”

Peter

1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.”

So Does Paul Agree With Jesus and the Disciples? You Tell Me.

Read the Words of Paul

Acts 26:22–23: “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Romans 3:21–25: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

Romans 3:28: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

1 Corinthians 15:1–8: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

2 Corinthians 5:21: “He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Galatians 3:13-14: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

Ephesians 1:7: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”

Ephesians 2:8-9: “ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

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