5 Shocking Truths About Paul Every Christian Needs to Hear
This article (and video) was inspired by one of our awesome viewers who left a great comment on our video about women’s roles in church leadership. She wrote:
“Paul said HE doesn't permit a woman to teach. Did Jesus say that?”
“It talks about pursuing love and speaking in tongues and building the church. Forgive me as I've only just started my journey, but if Jesus himself said ‘women should sit silently,’ then I wouldn't question it.”
These are excellent questions. They show how important Jesus is to her faith—and how seriously she wants to follow Him. That’s something we should all admire.
And, honestly, her point makes a lot of sense. Jesus is the Son of God. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. He is our Savior—and He was God in the flesh. So if Jesus didn’t say it, how important could it be, right?
That brings us to a broader issue: the idea of being a Red Letter Christian—someone who gives more weight to the words of Jesus (often printed in red in your Bible) than to the rest of the New Testament, especially the letters from Paul.
Let’s unpack that together.
Did Jesus Talk About Everything?
You might be surprised to learn just how many important topics Jesus didn’t directly address during His earthly ministry. Here are just a few:
1. The Role and Organization of the Church
Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18), but He didn’t lay out its structure. That’s covered in places like Acts, 1 Timothy 3, and Titus.
2. The Lord’s Supper as an Ongoing Practice
Jesus instituted it (Matthew 26:26–29), but didn’t specify how often or how exactly it should be done. Paul fills in the gaps in 1 Corinthians 11:23–30 and Acts 20:7.
3. Detailed Christian Ethics and Morality
Jesus taught on morality, but the details—like sex, marriage, and divorce (1 Corinthians 7), government and authority (Romans 13:1–7), and even lists of specific sins (Galatians 5:19–21, Colossians 3:5–10)—are all explained in later writings.
4. Christian Giving and Financial Stewardship
Jesus spoke on generosity (Matthew 6:1–4), but the nitty-gritty on church support and financial stewardship is addressed in places like 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 and 2 Corinthians 8–9.
5. Inclusion of the Gentiles
Jesus hinted at the Gentiles’ inclusion (John 10:16), but the full explanation didn’t come until Acts 10–15, Romans 9–11, and Galatians 3.
6. The Second Coming and Resurrection of the Dead
Jesus spoke of His return (John 14:3; Matthew 24–25), but Paul dives into the details in 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, and 2 Thessalonians 1–2.
7. The Nature of the New Covenant
Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17–18), but He didn’t fully explain the transition to the New Covenant. That is laid out in places like Hebrews 8–10, Galatians 3–4, and Romans 7–8.
Why Didn’t Jesus Address These Things?
Jesus actually told us why.
“‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.’” (John 16:12–14 | ESV)
Jesus prepared his apostles for the cross, his resurrection, and his ascension. But some truths—like the full inclusion of Gentiles or the transition from the Law of Moses—would have been too difficult for them to grasp at that time.
Instead, He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. That’s exactly what happened in Acts and the epistles. The apostles didn’t contradict Jesus—they completed the message He intended to reveal.
The Problem with Red Letter Christianity
Red Letter Christianity teaches that only the words of Jesus—usually printed in red—carry full authority. The rest of the New Testament, especially Paul’s letters, is seen as optional or even suspect.
But that idea breaks down for a few key reasons:
1. Jesus Never Said That Only His Spoken Words Matter
He told His apostles:
“‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...’” (John 16:12–14 | ESV)
Jesus never intended to give the full message during His earthly ministry—He promised that it would come through the Spirit to His apostles after His ascension.
In the Great Commission, Jesus said:
“‘Make disciples… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’”
(Matthew 28:19–20)
That teaching includes what the apostles would pass on through the Spirit.
2. Jesus Personally Authorized His Apostles
He said:
“‘Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.’” (Matthew 10:40 | ESV)
“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the one who sent Me.’” (John 20:21 | ESV)
“‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.’” (John 14:26 | ESV)
“‘When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth... He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak...’” (John 16:13 | ESV)
“‘As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 10:21-23 | ESV)
“‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 | ESV)
In Acts 1:1–2, we read:
“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (Acts 1:1-2 | ESV)
You see, Jesus continued to teach after His resurrection through his apostles by the Holy Spirit.
To summarize, Jesus didn't leave his apostles to wing it. Instead, He:
Authorized them to speak and act for Him.
Sent the Spirit to guide them into all truth.
Promised that hearing them = hearing Him.
Warned that rejecting them = rejecting Him.
What About Paul?
Paul wasn’t one of the original Twelve—but he was no less an apostle. Here’s why:
1. Paul Was Personally Chosen by Jesus
Jesus told Paul (in red letters!):
“‘I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:16–18 | ESV)
2. Paul Received His Gospel Directly from Christ
Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11–12 | ESV)
3. Paul Was Accepted by the Other Apostles
In Galatians 2:6–9, Paul recounts how the apostles in Jerusalem gave him the right hand of fellowship, acknowledging that Paul was entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles just as Peter was to the Jews.
“..when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised…and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” (Galatians 2:7-9 | ESV)
4. Paul Performed the Signs of a True Apostle
“The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.” (2 Corinthians 12:12 | ESV)
5. Paul’s Writings Were Called Scripture by Peter
Peter said,
“...just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him... There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:15–16 | ESV)
When Peter said “the other Scriptures,” he was implying that Paul’s writings are Scripture.
So, is Paul Equal to the Other Apostles?
Yes, he was equal in calling, in authority, in inspiration, and in the mission Jesus gave them.
While Paul was not one of the original twelve apostles, he was a true apostle in every biblical sense:
He was personally chosen by Jesus
He was taught directly by Jesus
His apostleship was confirmed by miracles
He was recognized by the other apostles
He was inspired by the Holy Spirit
Rejecting Paul is Ultimately Rejecting Jesus
Paul himself warned,
“Whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8 | ESV)
The Whole New Testament Is the Word of Christ
“All Scripture is breathed out by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16 | ESV)
That includes the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. The “red letters” and the “black letters” are all equally God’s Word.
Red Letter Christianity Undermines Jesus
Red Letter Christianity has become a formal movement among some modern Christians, especially in more progressive circles. The idea is to elevate the words of Jesus in red while downplaying everything else—especially Paul’s letters.
Ironically, while attempting to honor Jesus it rejects the very method He chose to complete His message—through his Spirit-filled apostles and prophets.
If we believe in Jesus, we must believe in the messengers He sent. The apostles didn’t contradict Jesus—they completed the revelation He promised would come. To pit Paul or the epistles against Jesus is to misunderstand both.
The entire New Testament— the Gospels, Acts, the letters, and Revelation—is the word of Christ.
Final Thoughts & A Challenge
Many of the comments and questions we’ve been receiving show that a lot of folks are part of churches that don’t teach—or practice—what the Bible actually says.
If that’s your situation, I encourage you to lovingly bring it up. But if your church’s leadership won’t repent or realign with Scripture, it may be time to find another congregation.
If you’re near us, we’d love for you to visit! You’ll find all the info you need on the Contact page.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s our series of videos on the role of women in the church. I’ll see you there!
