Peace and wellbeing everyone,
First of all I would like to point out that most people are getting far to heated over this discussion. Also, Swalch-meister I realize you are getting very attacking responses, but don't let it get to you. Your arguments are very sound. I've yet to make up my mind either way. Besides I barely read the Messianic writtings anyway. Besides the fulfillments, the Tanakh has everything we need anyway.
I still think that "Mattithyahu 7:15-20 should be considered here:
Pay attention to and direct your mind towards, watch out for and be on guard against, be concerned about and take heed of, be aware of and be careful of false prophets, those who falsely profess to declare the thoughts of the Supreme One before and in the presence of mankind, separating yourselves from them, they who come and appear, arise and make their public appearance to you in, by and with sheep’s clothing, garments and raiment’s, but nevertheless, from within and inside their soul and inner being they are and exist as vicious and destructive, rapacious and ravenous wolves, being cruel and violently greedy robbers, plunderers and extortionists, swindlers who only want to take your wealth and lead you astray. From their fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards you will accurately know and clearly see, perceive and fully understand, recognise and acknowledge them, completely comprehending who they really are. Do people gather or get, pick or collect clusters and bunches of grapes from thorns, thistles and brambles, or figs from thistles and briars, burrs and prickly samphire’s? So in this manner and way, thus and so, every good and pleasant, excellent and distinguished, useful and right, beneficial and fine, perfect and fitting, upright and worthy, admirable and satisfactory, dependable and pure, virtuous and honourable tree and large bush makes and performs, accomplishes and executes, practises and brings about, keeps and carries out, constructs and establishes, manufactures and creates, forms and produces, appoints and ordains, undertakes and prepares, constitutes and provides good and pleasant, excellent and distinguished, useful and right, beneficial and fine, perfect and fitting, upright and worthy, admirable and satisfactory, dependable and pure, virtuous and honourable fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards. But nevertheless, the bad and evil, unwholesome and corrupt, putrid and rotten, useless and unfit, harmful and worthless, dangerous and decayed tree and large bush makes and performs, accomplishes and executes, practises and brings about, keeps and carries out, constructs and establishes, manufactures and creates, forms and produces, appoints and ordains, undertakes and prepares, constitutes and provides evil and troublesome, sorrowful and poor, pitiable and unfit, unattractive and useless, worthless and morally reprehensible, morally corrupt and wicked, annoying and unethical, diseased and blind, perilous and criminal, vicious and malignant, harmful and incompetent, bad and wretched, pernicious and noxious fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards. A good and pleasant, excellent and distinguished, useful and right, beneficial and fine, perfect and fitting, upright and worthy, admirable and satisfactory, dependable and pure, virtuous and honourable tree and large bush does not have the power or might, ability or capability, force or influence, authority or significance, competence or excellence to make and perform, accomplish and execute, practise and bring about, keep and carry out, construct and establish, manufacture and create, form and produce, appoint and ordain, undertake and prepare, constitute and provide evil and troublesome, sorrowful and poor, pitiable and unfit, unattractive and useless, worthless and morally reprehensible, morally corrupt and wicked, annoying and unethical, diseased and blind, perilous and criminal, vicious and malignant, harmful and incompetent, bad and wretched, pernicious and noxious fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards, nor is an evil and troublesome, sorrowful and poor, pitiable and unfit, unattractive and useless, worthless and morally reprehensible, morally corrupt and wicked, annoying and unethical, diseased and blind, perilous and criminal, vicious and malignant, harmful and incompetent, bad and wretched, pernicious and noxious tree able to make and perform, accomplish and execute, practise and bring about, keep and carry out, construct and establish, manufacture and create, form and produce, appoint and ordain, undertake and prepare, constitute and provide good and pleasant, excellent and fine, useful and beneficial, nice and salutary, upright and worthy, admirable and commendable, precious and genuine, flawless and lovely, virtuous, beautiful and honourable fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards. Every individual and collective tree and large bush that does not make and perform, accomplish and execute, practise and bring about, keep and carry out, construct and establish, manufacture and create, form and produce, appoint and ordain, undertake and prepare, constitute and provide good and pleasant, excellent and fine, useful and beneficial, nice and salutary, upright and worthy, admirable and commendable, precious and genuine, flawless and lovely, virtuous, beautiful and honourable fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards is cut down and cut off, eliminated and removed, sundered and separated, struck down and hewn off, excluded and expelled, exterminated and done away with, and is thrown and cast, scattered and hurled, propelled and expelled into the blazing fire. Then and therefore, accordingly and as a result of this, from their fruit and works, acts and deeds, effects and products, outcomes and consequences, results and rewards you will indeed accurately know and clearly see, perceive and fully understand, recognise and acknowledge them, completely comprehending who they really are."
And the fruit of Paul is Christianity. I don't think this part of Mattithyahu is ABOUT Paul, but it may apply. Unless you argue that Christianity is based solely on Galatians in which case, if it wasn't written by Paul, we may be being a little unfair to Sha'ul here. Finally, once again, I think everyone should re-read their responses. becoming overly terse can cause people not to heed what you have written. Tact can be a powerful ally.
Your brother,
Mike Browell