New Testament References To Balaam Unmistakably Paul

As Augustine confessed, in 75 AD, Jude, the third bishop of Jerusalem, and thus a subsequent successor to James’ office, as well as another brother of Jesus, writes his epistle in obvious disdain once more for Paul. In Jude, George Reber in The Christ of Paul (1876) Ch. 16, defending Paul, says: “The epistle of Jude is nothing but a bolt hurled at the head of Paul….”

Why? Because in Jude 4 and 11, we read an obvious indictment of none other than Paul for following a different Jesus:

“(4)For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (11) Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error, and perish in Korah’s rebellion.

Why is this about Paul? This person / persons “secretly gained” admission among Christians, and “perverted” grace / favor as taught by the true Jesus, rendering it “licentious.” This term means “unrestrained by law / lawless.”

These wolves in sheep’s clothing thereby denied the authority of the true Lord Jesus. How so? Obviously first because the true Jesus endorsed the Law in Matthew 5:17-19. And because Paul’s view of grace was contrary to the true Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16:32-34 and 17:8-9 about a merited grace (“charis” used 4x by Jesus). Jesus four times says “charis” (Grace) is earned by exceptional good behavior beyond what sinners do. (Grace does not necessarily save you in Jesus’ view but means when God’s favor / grace is upon you.) Incidentally, translators never once render “charis” as anything but “credit” or “thanks” in these Lucan passages, obscuring our ability to discern Jesus even had a message on grace. It should not surprise us.

Next, Jude compares this false teacher and his followers to Cain who resented the grace / favor that a superior offering by Abel earned in God’s eyes. Paul taught that earning grace this way necessarily leads to human boasting (Eph. 2:8-9) rather than God’s pleasure. Grace had to be supposedly unmerited to avoid human boasting. However, this too disowns the authority of the true Jesus as Lord and Master who speaks contrarily. It also directly contradicts Genesis 4:1-9.

Next, Jude said this person and his followers also teach Balaam’s error. What was that? It was eating meat sacrificed to idols (Rev. 2:14) — something Paul endorses multiple times unless you are around a “weak” brother who thinks it is wrong. You refrain only if such a “weak” minded brother might see you exercising the right to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and violates his “weak” conscience. See 1 Cor. 10:28-29; 1 Cor. 8:4-12.

Finally, Jude compares this teacher and his followers with Korah’s rebellion. What was that? Korah’s rebellion was against Moses ruling over the people. See Numbers 16:1-11. Paul’s overthrow of Moses’ rule over even Israel in Romans 7:1-7, and Paul’s exclusion of the Law ever applying to Gentiles at all, is in Romans 7:1-7 as well, and in many other places.

Reber was correct. The epistle of the third bishop of Jerusalem — Jude — was a “bolt hurled at the head of Paul.”

More articles exposing Paul as a false teacher here.

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