Full acknowledgment to Don Samdahl see this link.
Controversy has arisen regarding Jesus versus Paul as scholars debate the different emphases and messages of Jesus and Paul.1 Jesus preached the kingdom of heaven. Paul did not. Paul preached justification by faith alone. Jesus did not. What are we to make of this? Can the two be reconciled? The answer depends on what is meant by reconciliation.
The below chart identifies the chief differences in the ministries and message of Jesus and Paul. Each will be analyzed.
| Differences of the Ministries of Jesus and Paul |
| Jesus: |
Paul: |
| 1. Preached the gospel of the kingdom |
1. Preached the gospel of the grace of God |
| 2. Defined the “kingdom of heaven” as Israel’s prophetic earthly kingdom |
2. Defined the “kingdom of heaven” as the heavenly position of the body of Christ |
| 3. Presented Himself as the Messiah and King of the Jews (Israel) |
3. Presented Jesus as the risen Lord, Head of the Church, the body of Christ |
| 4. Preached repentance, water baptism, keeping the Law, forgiving others, and faith in who He was as necessary for salvation |
4. Preached faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as necessary for salvation |
| 5. Had Jews as His audience (a couple exceptions) |
5. Had Gentiles as his primary audience |
| 6. Operated under the Mosaic Law |
6. Operated under grace |