Overview

Anti-Paulinism is the belief that the Apostle Paul was not an inspired author, but instead a heretic. This belief claims that none of the Pauline Epistles were inspired, ultimately throwing out almost half of the New Testament (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon).

​These claims are usually the result of other heresies. Most commonly, these heresies are Arianism or Works Righteousness. This belief could also be considered a form of Liberalism.

Why is this Heresy?

Anti-Paulinism is a heresy because it denies half of the books of the New Testament and therefore attacks the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture. Romans 10:17 (ESV) says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." This shows that the word of God is the means by which we have the Christian faith. The two cannot be divorced. To deny the Bible is to deny the Christian faith.

Etymology

This heresy is named for the prefix "Anti" (Meaning false) and the word "Pauline", which basically means "Of Paul".

History

The very first Anti-Paulinists would be those who rejected Paul while he was still alive. That would include the "Super-Apostles" of Corinth, Hymenaeus, Philetus, Alexander the Coppersmith, the Judaizers in Galatia, and the Arians who remained within Judaism. It is likely that other cults, such as the Nicolatians, also rejected the teachings of Paul.

After this, the Ebionite sect in the late 100s was recorded as having rejected Paul. Irenaeus mentioned a man named Ebion by name, but it is unknown if this person existed or if it was a misconception Irenaeus had about the Ebionites. In 375, the Ebionites reportedly settled in Cyprus, but by the 500s they had vanished from the area. While there is speculation that certain other groups were the Ebionites, none of them can be validated. Essentially, the Ebionite cult was dead.

Sometime in the 300s, another sect arose called the Nazarenes. These cultists rejected Paul as well. This cult was opposed by theologians like Jerome, and had likely dissipated soon after its conception.

in 1878, Shaker Bennett taught that Paul distorted Christianity, and he called his belief "Jesuism". This Jesuist movement included Leo Tolstoy, Ammon Hennacy, and many others.

In 1805, deist Thomas Jefferson released the Jefferson Bible, which removed, among other things, Paul's epistles. This may have less to do with Anti-Paulinism and more with a general disregard for Christianity.

In modern times, many Liberals and Judaizers reject Paul. A lot of those who identify as "Messianic Jews" (in the religious sense), such as Leon Klinghoffer, also reject Paul's teachings. In his book A New Kind of Christianity, Brian McLaren puts forward something similar to Anti-Paulinism

Notable Adherents

• Brian McLaren

• Leo Tolstoy

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