Not Paul But Jesus

BY JEREMY BENTHAM, ESQR.,—
The Eminent Philosopher of Sociology, Jurisprudence,
&c., of London.

With Preface Containing Sketches of His Life and
Works Together with Critical Notes by
John J. Crandall, Esqr., of the New Jersey Bar—
author of Right to Begin and Reply

INDEX TO CONTENTS.

[EDITOR'S PREFACE]

[INTRODUCTION]

TABLE I-XXII

CHAPTER I.
Paul's Conversion. Improbability and Discordancy of the Accounts of it	1
1. List of these Accounts, with preliminary Observations. Table in which they are confronted	1
2. Vision I. Dialogue on the road: Paul hears a voice, sees nothing	8
3. Vision II. Ananias's	21, 34
4. Ananias: his Visit to Paul at Damascus	26, 57
5. Vision III. Paul's anterior Vision, as reported by the Lord to Ananias. Acts ix. 12	62
6. Visions, why two or three, instead of one?	64
7. Commission to Paul by Jerusalem Rulers—Commission to bring in Bonds Damascus Christians—Paul's Contempt put upon it	69
8. Companions—had Paul any upon the road?	72
9. In Paul's Epistle to his Galatians,—by his silence, Acts Accounts of his Conversion are virtually contradicted	77
TABLE II
CHAPTER II.
Outward Conversion—how produced—how planned	89
1. Motive, Temporal Advantage—Plan	93
2. At Damascus, no such Ananias probably	97
3. On Damascus journey—Companions none	100
4. Flight from Damascus: Causes—false—true	101
5. Arabia Visit—mentioned by Paul, not Acts	108, 113
6. Gamaliel—had he part in Paul's plan?	125
[Pg 436]
CHAPTER III.
Paul disbelieved.—Neither his divine Commission nor his inward Conversion ever credited by the
Apostles or their Jerusalem Disciples.—Source of Proof stated	135
1. To Paul's Conversion Vision, sole original Witness himself	135
2. Counter-Witnesses, the Apostles: by them, the Story probably not heard—certainly not credited	136
3. In proof, so much of the Acts history must here be anticipated	138
4. Topics under his several Jerusalem Visits: viz. I. Reconciliation Visit	139, 143
5. Topics under Visit II.—Money-bringing Visit	153
6. Remarks on Visit III.—Deputation Visit	154
7. Topics under Visit IV.—Invasion Visit	156
8. Self-written Biography—its superior Value and Claim to Credence	159
CHAPTER IV.
Paul disbelieved continued. First of his four Visits to Jerusalem after his Conversion—say Jerusalem Visit I.
or Reconciliation Visit.—Barnabas introducing him from Antioch to the Apostles	160
1. Paul's Proceedings between his Conversion and this Visit.—Contradiction. Per Paul, it was not till
after three Years spent in Arabia; per Acts, immediately	164
2. Grounds of Paul's Prospect of Reconciliation on this Occasion with the Apostles and their Disciples	171
3. Occasion of this Visit, as per Paul's own Account	177
4. Occasion, as per Acts Account compared with Paul's	180
5. Cause of the Discordance between the two Accounts	188
6. Length of this Visit	192
7. Mode and Cause of its Termination	197
[Pg 437]
CHAPTER V.
Paul disbelieved continued. Jerusalem Visit II. Money-bringing Visit.—Barnabas accompanying him from Antioch	203
1. At Antioch, Agabus having predicted a Dearth, Money is collected for the Jerusalem Saints	203
2. Barnabas and Paul dispatched with the Money to Jerusalem	208
CHAPTER VI.
Paul disbelieved continued.—Jerusalem Visit III. Deputation Visit.—Paul and Barnabas delegated by Antioch
Saints, to confer on the Necessity of Jewish Rites to Heathen Converts to the Religion of Jesus	211
1. Occasion of this Visit	211
2. The Delegates how received.—Council of Apostles and Elders	215
3. Debates—Course carried by James against Peter	220
4. Result, supposed Apostolic Decree and Letter to Antioch, which, per Acts, Paul circulates	224
CHAPTER VII.
Paul disbelieved continued. After his third Jerusalem Visit, Contest between him and Peter at Antioch. Partition
Treaty: Paul for himself: Peter, James and John for the Apostles	228
1. Contest and Partition-Treaty, as per Acts and Paul's Epistles	228
2. Partition-Treaty—Probability, given by the financial Stipulation, to Paul's Account of it	238
3. Time of the Partition-Treaty, most probably that of Visit I	242
[Pg 438]
CHAPTER VIII.
Interview the Fourth.—Peter at Antioch.—Deputies to Antioch from Jerusalem, Judas and Silas.—Paul disagrees with
Peter and Barnabas, quits Antioch, and on a Missionary Excursion takes with him Silas. What concerns the Partition
Treaty, down to this Period, reviewed.—Peter and the Apostles justified	249
1. Paul's Account of this Interview quoted.—Acts Account of what followed upon it	249
2. Paul disagrees with Peter and Barnabas; quits Antioch, taking Silas from the Apostles	252
3. The Partition Treaty, and the proceedings in relation to it, down to this Period, reviewed	255
4. Peter and the Apostles justified, as to the financial Stipulation in the Treaty, and the succeeding Missionary
Labours of Peter among the Gentiles	258
CHAPTER IX.
Paul disbelieved continued.—Jerusalem Visit IV. and last Invasion Visit. The Purpose concealed: Opposition universal;
among his own Disciples, and among those of the Apostles	266
1. Motives to this Visit	266
2. The Visit announced by Paul and deferred	267
3. The design indefensible	272
4. Opposition made to it by his own attendants and other adherents	275
5. Opposition made to it by the Apostles and their disciples	277
6. Plan of the Apostles for ridding themselves of Paul	282
[Pg 439]
CHAPTER X.
Paul disbelieved continued.—Jerusalem Visit IV. continued. His Arrival and Reception. Accused by all the Disciples of the Apostles,
he commences an exculpatory Oath in the Temple. Dragged out by them—rescued by a Roman Commander—sent in Custody to Rome	288
1. At Jerusalem, Paul is received by the Elders and James; but by no other Apostle	288
2. Low Tone assumed by him on this Occasion	291
3. Posterior to all his supposed Miracles, his Silence proves them unreal	295
4. Accused by the Disciples, he commences, at the Recommendation of the Apostles, an exculpatory Oath in the Temple	298
5. The Design of this Recommendation justified	308
6. Dragged out of the Temple by Jews or Christians, he is saved by a Roman Commander	309
CHAPTER XI.
Paul disbelieved continued.—Paul's fourth Jerusalem Visit continued. Perjurious was the Purpose of the exculpatory
Ceremony commenced in the Temple	310
1. General Proof of the Perjury from the Acts	310
2. Proof from the Epistles	327
CHAPTER XII.
More Falsehoods.—Resurrection-Witnesses multiplied.—World's End predicted.—To save credit, Antichrist invented	333
1. Resurrection-Witnesses multiplied	333
2. False Prophecy, that the World would end in the Lifetime of Persons then living	338
3. Disorder and Mischief produced by this Prediction	343
4. Paul's Remedy for the Disorder, and Salvo for himself. Antichrist must first come	347
[Pg 440]
CHAPTER XIII.
Paul's supposable Miracles explained	354
1. Objections, applying to them in the Aggregate	354
2. Supposable Miracle I. Elymas the Sorcerer blinded.—Acts xiii. 6-12	358
3. Supposable Miracle II.—At Lystra, Cripple cured.—Acts xiv. 8-11	361
4. Supposable Miracle III.—Divineress silenced.—Acts xvi. 16-18	362
5. Supposable Miracle IV.—At Philippi, an Earthquake: Paul and Silas freed from Prison, A.D. 53	365
6. Supposable Miracle V.—At Corinth, Paul comforted by the Lord in an unseen Vision, A.D. 54—Acts xviii. 7-11	369
7. Supposable Miracle VI.—At Ephesus, Diseases and Devils expelled by foul Handkerchiefs.—Acts xix. 1-12	372
8. Supposable Miracle VII.—At Ephesus, Exorcist Scevas bedeviled.—Acts xix. 13-20	373
9. Supposable Miracle VIII.—Magical Books burnt by the Owners.—Acts xix. 19, 20	380
10. Supposable Miracle IX.—At Troas, Eutychus found not to be dead.—Acts xx. 7-12	382
11. Supposable Miracle X.—On Shipboard, Paul comforted by an Angel.—Acts xxvii. 20-25	385
12. Supposable Miracle XI.—At Malta, a Reptile shaken off by Paul without hurt.—Acts xxviii. 1-6	386
13. Supposable Miracle XII.—At Malta, Deputy Publius's Father cured.—Acts xxviii. 7, 8	389
14. Conclusion: the Supposable Miracles classed and summed up	393
[Pg 441]
CHAPTER XIV.
Acts, Part false, Part true: Author not Saint Luke	397
1. By the false Parts, the Gospel not affected: most Parts true	397
2. Time between Resurrection and Ascension—Acts contradicts Luke	398
3. As to Ascension, Acts inconsistent with Luke	403
CHAPTER XV.
Law Report.—Jews versus Paul: Trials five, with Observations	406
1. Introduction	406
2. Trial I. Place, Jerusalem-Temple.—Judicatory, the mixed Multitude.—Acts xxii. 1-21	407
3. Trial II. Judicatory, Jerusalem Council-Board.—Acts xxiii. 1-10	409
4. Trial III. Place, Cæsarea.—Acts xxiv. 1-23	413
5. Trial IV. Place, again, Cæsarea.—Acts xxv. 1-12	417
6. Trial V. and last.—Place, still Cæsarea	420
CHAPTER XVI.
Paul's Doctrines Anti-Apostolic.—Was he not Antichrist?	426
1. Paul's Doctrine was at variance with that of the Apostles	426
2. Of Conformity, use made of the Name of Jesus no Proof	428
3. Paul, was he not Antichrist?	432

Not Paul, But Jesus