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Habakkuk & Paul Series-Ep #4: Does Paul match ‘his Soul is Not Upright’ in the Prophecy of Hab. 2:4?

Jul 19, 2022

Video Description

Habakkuk and Paul Series – Ep #4: Does Paul match “his Soul is Not Upright” in the Prophecy of Hab. 2:4?

Habakkuk 2:4 is preceded by 2 verses that make clear this is a prophecy in verse 4:

KJV 1611

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

In Habakkuk 2:4, it reads:

4 Behold, his soul which is [1] lifted up is [2] not upright in him: but [3] the just shall live by his faith.

This video deals with factor #2 - "soul is... not upright in him."

Paul himself confesses use of guile in an end justifies the means mentality:

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. II Corinthians 11:8 (KJV)

But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile. (2 Cor. 12:16, ASV.)

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? Romans 3:7 (KJV)

Paul shameslly admits to hypocritical evangelism:

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without the law as without law... that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1Corinthians 9:19-22

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1Corinthians 10:31-33

The 4th century church leader and Bible translator, Jerome ,said likewise,. He knows that Paul's Epistles faulting Peter for withdrawing from eating with Gentiles when persons from James arrived are completely contrary to Paul’s actions in Acts. So Jerome says Paul was clearly a hypocrite, and misleading Bishop James as well as the 12 apostles, and could not fault Peter for doing the very thing Paul himself did. Jerome wrote:

"Oh...Paul...why then did you cause Timothy to be circumcised [Acts 16:3] contrary to your own convictions?...I ask you again Paul, why did you shave your head? [Acts 21, nazarite vow; cf. Numbers 6:15, must shave head] ....We have thus seen that for fear of the Jews...Paul pretended that [he] observed the precepts of the Law." (Quoted in Agenor Etienne Gasparin, The Concessions of the Apostle Paul, and the Claims of Truth (1854) at 57.)

There is also the ability of Paul in the same book to say one thing, and then the opposite:

“Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing [i.e., ERGA AGATHA -- "Good works"] seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:” (Romans 2:6-7 KJV)

3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3-5 KJV.)

Paul can with ease contradict his anti-law remarks with opposite sounding remarks:

Paul supports the Law in Romans 3:31 ("we uphold the Law"); 7:12 ("the law is holy"); 8:13 ("if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live"). Justification comes by being "doers of the Law." (Romans 2:13)(" those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.")

At odds with his frequent assurances of eternal security, Paul says one can lose their salvation (“not inherit the kingdom of God”) due to disobedience or certain enumerated sins identified in the Law (1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:5-7; Gal. 5:19-20; 6:7-9; 1 Thess. 4:6-8)

Perhaps most astonishingy of all, Paul says we cannot assure ourselves of personal justification before the day of Judgment for it would be prideful to do so even if we know of no present sin in ourselves. (1 Cor. 4:1-5; Phil. 3:12-13.)

Scholar Mark Given admits Paul's use of guile in his book Paul's True Rhetoric (Emory University, 2001), and lays out his biases:

“Paul's rhetorical strategies...display such a degree of intentional ambiguity, cunning and deception as to make him justifiably vulnerable to the polemical charge of perpetuating sophistries.” (Page 3)

“I am quite sympathetic with Paul, but I am also sympathetic to Paul's critics.” (Page 3.)

 

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