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PAUL AND REVELATION
And The Importance It Had To His Weakness
(2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
PAUL AND REVELATION reveals the Biblical evidence
of Paul's weakness, his affliction, his thorn in the side. Paul was blind
or nearly blind. Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, “For I bear you record, that if it had
been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.” It was not a figure of speech
at all when he said, “For
we walk by faith and not by sight.” (Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:7) Students should
note also that 2 Corinthians 10:10 and 12:10 make reference to Paul's
physical infirmity (ασθενης,
ασθενειαις,
disease, sickness, physical infirmity, weakness; Strong No. 769) as well
as the insults, needs, persecutions and distresses, all of which he
endured through God's grace. Other examples of Paul's physical weakness,
his blindness, are revealed in this text and also in Volume IV
of Paul: The Apostle To The Jews At Rome. (Copyright©1995 by
Richard J. Willoughby, Sr. LCCN: 96-96215 ISBN:
0-9651120-0-4)
PAUL: THE APOSTLE
TO THE JEWS AT ROME
Volumes I
through V
These small volumes reveal the Biblical
evidence that Paul was not an apostle to Gentiles, as traditionally
taught. Paul was a Jew who was sent out by Jesus to carry his name to the
Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews) of the Dispersion, the remnant of the
House of Jacob, who lived in the nations of Syria, Asia, Galatia,
Macedonia, Achaia, Italia (Rome) and Spain (Tartessus). The volumes are
not commentaries, introductions, exegeses, interpretations or histories of
early Christianity. They present the Biblical evidence, the Biblical
witnesses, of Paul's apostleship to the kings and sons of Israel (the
descendants of Jacob) and his journeys from synagogue to synagogue of the
nations. Acts 9:15, 28:17-29, Romans 1:16-11:36 and Hebrew scripture are
the primary sources of the evidence and Biblical witnesses.
 VOLUME I
Romans 1:16-3:20
Volume I lays the groundwork for the evidence that Paul was one who was sent
out to the Jews of the diaspora (Dispersion), not to Gentiles. Acts 9:15
and its relationship to Acts 9:20; 13:5, 14, 42, 43, 46; 14:1; 17:2, 10,
17; 18:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 46; 19:8; 28:14-29 is viewed within the
context of Paul's journeys. His journeys were from synagogue to synagogue
of those Jews who lived in the nations of Syria, Asia, Galatia,
Macedonia, Achaia, Italia (Rome) and Spain (Tartessus). The Greek word εθνος is translated as the English
word nation, not Gentile, and is done so within the
context of Paul's journeys to the Jews of the Greek speaking nations, not
to Gentile assemblies. The structure of Paul's letter To Romans
is briefly presented including the addition of Romans 9, 10, and 11 to
Chapters 1:16 through 8:39. Also revealed is the evidence that Paul's
letter, To Romans, is a compilation of two or more epistles,
written down by Paul's scribe Timotheos and set together by "I
Tertius, the writer of this letter". Initial evidence is presented
that reveals how much the author of Acts relied on that man from
Macedonia, Aristarchus, for the source of the "WE" sailing
voyages as well as many or most of the other accounts to which he was not
an eyewitness himself. The traditional birth date of Jesus is viewed in
light of the evidence of John 2:20, 8:57; Luke 2:1-2, 3:23; Matthew 2:2,
2-10 (including the date of the appearance of "the star") and
the construction of the Temple as early as 24 BC.
Romans 1:16-3:20 is presented within the context of Paul's teaching of
Jews and not Gentiles. This includes Paul's words of salvation for the
Jews of the Dispersion that the Word of God was to be given to "the
Jews first, then to Greek." (to Hellenists, ´Ελληνι(νος) ), not Gentiles; Acts 13:36;
Romans 1:16; 2:9,10) (Copyright©1998 by Richard J. Willoughby,
Sr. LCCN: 97-95521; ISBN: 0-9651120-1-2)
 VOLUME
II
Romans 3:21-31, 4:1-25
Volume II uncovers two important misconceptions that have plagued
contemporary Biblical teaching. The first misconception is that Paul was
an apostle to Gentiles, when the Biblical evidence reveals that he
invariably went to the synagogues of the Jews of the Dispersion of the
Greek speaking nations teaching them from the law of Moses and the
prophets. This false impression has been confounded by the persistent translation
of the Greek word εθνος as the English word Gentile, when it must be translated
as the English word nation within the context of Paul's
journeys.
The second misconception is that it was Luke who was the source of the
"WE" sailing voyages in Acts, when there is greater probative
evidence that it was the man from Macedonia, Aristarchus, who was with
Paul on his journeys, including his final journey, his journey to Rome.
Volume IV pursues these two misconceptions in greater detail and should
not be overlooked by students of the Bible.
The text of Romans 4:1-25 is a continuation of Romans 3:20, 21-31 wherein
Paul told the Jews at Rome, "By the deeds of the law there shall no
flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God outside the law is revealed, being
witnessed to by the law and the prophets." (Romans 3:20-21)
(Copyright©1999; by Richard J. Willoughby, Sr. LCCN:
99-90057; ISBN: 0-9651120-2-0)
 VOLUME
III
Romans 5:1 - 8:39
Volume III presents the general structure of Paul's letter to Rome and
compares it with the structure of I Corinthians, their
Introductions, Bodies and Conclusions, and with Paul's letter to Hebrews.
Romans 1:16 - 11:36 is Paul's exhortation to the Jews of the Dispersion
and contains within it his Great Parenesis, Chapters 9, 10 and 11, which
is the substance of Acts 28:23-29. Paul summoned to him the leaders of
the Jews, not Gentiles, and taught them from the Law of Moses and the
prophets. (Acts 28:23) Some believed Paul and some didn't. (Acts 28:29)
The verses of Romans 5:1-21 are characterized by Paul's insistence that
it is faithfulness, not only faith, that a person must live by as an
action. Paul echoes James' "You see that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only." by quoting Habakkuk 2:4 "the
just shall live by faithfulness", as an action, not a belief.
"Therefore", Paul said, "being justified by faithfulness (πιστεως means faithfulness not
faith), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." That
is, a person must do, as an act, that which is believed. (James 2:24;
Romans 1:17; 5:1) Romans 6:1-23, 7:1-25 and 8:1-39 reveal, respectively,
that one does not do evil that good should come, that Paul's brethren
were those Jews who knew the law, and that the use of abba/pater
is evidence of Greek speaking Jews more than it is evidence of Greek
speaking Gentiles. (Copyright©2000 by Richard J. Willoughby,
Sr. LCCN: 99-90057; ISBN: 0-9651120-4-7)
 VOLUME
IV
Paul's Great Parenesis, Romans 9, 10 and 11
Volume IV reviews both the text and context of Paul's journeys to the
Jews of the nations, synagogue to synagogue, as witnessed to by Acts and
Romans 9, 10, and 11. Evidence of Paul's blindness in Galatians and in 1
and 2 Corinthians is presented. The definition of εθνος is given as nation
and not as Gentile. The definition of Israelites is
given as the descendants of Jacob who were the remnant, the Jews of the
Dispersion. The genealogy of Paul is diagramed so that he is more clearly
seen as a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, an Israelite, a Hebrew of
Hebrews and as to the law a Pharisee. Paul was an example to the Jews of
the Dispersion that God's word had not failed them.
The tradition that Paul was fluent in many languages is without Biblical
foundation. The probative facts are that Paul only communicated in the
Hebrew tongue, not in the Greek, Latin or Egyptian languages. Paul was
not a Greek speaking Jew, a Hellenist, but a Hebrew speaking Hebrew who
journeyed to the synagogues of foreign, Greek speaking nations. Paul said
so himself. My "speech is of no account" and, "I am not
skillful in speech." (2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:6) He
was aided in translation by his Greek language-knowing scribes. (Timothy
of Acts 16:1,3; Sosthenes of Acts 18:17, 1 Corinthians 1:1; Aristarchus,
a Macedonian of Thessalonica of Acts 16:9-17, 20:4-15, 21:1-18,
27:1-28:16; Silvanus of Acts 15:22b-23a; Apollos of Alexandria of Acts
15:24).
Paul's Great Parenesis, Romans 9, 10, and 11, is analyzed verse by verse
within the context of his apostleship to the Jews of the Dispersion, out
of the law of Moses and the prophets. The connection between Acts
28:17-29 and Romans 9:1 is clearly presented. It was for the hope of
Israel, not Gentiles, that Paul was under arrest. (Acts 28:20) Paul said
that it was on behalf of his brother Jews, who were Israelites
(descendants of Jacob, the remnant) to whom was given the promise that
his grief was greatest. He was not grieved for Gentiles.
Paul's desire and prayer to God was that the nation of Israel might be
saved, not Gentile nations. "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer
to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." (Romans 10:1ff, KJV)
As Paul also said, "It is for the hope of Israel that I am bound
with this chain."(Acts 28:20) Paul did not say, "My desire was
that for Gentiles to be saved and that it is for the hope of Gentiles
that I am bound with this chain." He would have said such things if
he were an apostle to Gentiles. Paul's emphasis on the righteousness
which is of faithfulness is revealed in his teaching from the law of
Moses and the prophets. (Habakkuk 2:4; Leviticus 18:5; Galatians 2:16,
3:11, 12ff; James 2:22,24; Romans 1:17; 2:6; 10:5,6)
Paul exhorted the Jews at Rome and told them that God had not cast away
his people. (Romans 11:1) Paul said that he was an example of God not
having cast away his people because he was of the tribe of Benjamin; he
had not been cast away. The inaccuracy of English translations of the Old
Testament that were based on the Septuagint is reviewed, in particular
are those assumptions that εθνος must mean Gentiles and not nations.
(Copyright © 2002 by Richard J. Willoughby, Sr., LCCN:
2002091024; ISBN: 0-9651120-5-5)
VOLUME V
Chapters 1 and
12-16
“For the Hope of
Israel I Am Bound With This Chain”
Volume V is no different and presents sufficient and
compelling evidence to challenge the commonly held tradition that Paul
was an apostle to Gentiles. Instead, Paul is revealed as the chosen one
who was sent out by Jesus of Nazareth to carry His name to the
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the lost sheep of the House of
Israel who scattered to the Greek speaking nations (Roman provinces) of
the ancient near east: Syria, Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and
finally to Rome itself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard J. Willoughby, Sr. received his
Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, cum laude, from New England
College , Henniker, N. H. and
his Master of Science degree, also in chemistry, from the University
of New Hampshire , Durham
, N. H. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Theology from
the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge,
Massachusetts with fields of
concentration in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Theology.
He has published 8 books on the Apostle
Paul and authored Christian Bible study lessons for college students. He
has led Bible study groups and taught Scripture, social studies, science,
chemistry and mathematics at levels up to and through college. He
provides an online source for Bible students through his website, www.oldangel.com,
which includes lessons and answers to questions
on Scripture.
Richard, Sr. is married, has four
children and 8 grandchildren.
Books are free and may be ordered from
Richard Willoughby
P.O. Box 365
Bradford, NH 03221-0365
Please indicate your shipping address
and the book(s) you are ordering.
For questions or ordering information
about the books, please contact me through e-mail.
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