Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, Jan. 1, 2025 By AimanAbir18plus – Own work, CC BY 4.0, Wikipedia
The apostolic authority and gospel of Paul have long been under assault—both from liberal Bible critics and various sects and cults seeking to undermine the credibility of New Testament doctrine. Among the most aggressive and deceptive of these attacks come from Islamic polemicists and the heterodox cult known as the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPAL). These groups attempt to argue that Paul was a self-appointed apostle who corrupted the original message of Jesus. Yet both Scripture and—ironically—the Qur’an itself testify to Paul’s authenticity and victorious gospel mission. This article will thoroughly refute the common claims against Paul and affirm his divine commission, drawing from Parts 1 to 5 of our extended apologetic discussion.
I. False Claims: Paul Invented Christianity and Opposed the Disciples
One of the common tropes repeated by Muslims and sects like AROPAL is that Paul never met Jesus and, as such, had no authority. They claim Paul hijacked the message of Jesus and created a new religion based on his own theology.
But what does Scripture actually say? In Galatians 1:11–12, Paul declares:
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul’s encounter with Christ was not a figment of imagination. It was a real, divine revelation on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), where the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to Paul, appointed him as a chosen instrument (Acts 9:15), and opened his eyes—both physically and spiritually.
The assertion that Paul contradicted or opposed the disciples is also dismantled when we consider his deliberate actions to confirm his message. In Galatians 1:18–19, Paul writes:
“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
The Greek term for “to see” (ἱστορῆσαι, historesai) means to examine or verify—rooted in the word “history.” Paul deliberately went to verify that the gospel he received by revelation matched what the original eyewitnesses—Peter and James—were preaching.
Later, in Galatians 2:9, Paul says:
“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.”
So much for the myth that Paul was rejected by the disciples. The original apostles themselves confirmed and endorsed Paul’s message.
II. The Irony of Qur’anic Confirmation: Paul Defeats the Followers of Allah
It is highly ironic that while Muslims attack Paul as a corrupter, the Qur’an itself confirms the victory of Paul’s gospel mission. In Surah 61:14, we read:
“O you who believe, be helpers [in the cause] of Allah, as Jesus the son of Mary said to the disciples, ‘Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are helpers of Allah.’ So a group of the Children of Israel believed and another disbelieved. Then We supported those who believed, so they became dominant.”
The Tafsir (exegesis) of this verse in al-Tabari, al-Qurtubi, and other classical commentaries explicitly states that this refers to the followers of Jesus who were helped by Allah and became victorious over the disbelievers. And who were these victorious believers? Paul is named explicitly in the commentaries of Ibn Kathir, al-Qurtubi, and others as among those whom Allah helped to victory.
Paul, then, according to the Qur’an and classical Islamic exegesis, is among the dominant and victorious followers of Jesus. But how can this be, if Paul was supposedly a deceiver? The only logical conclusion is that Paul’s message was true—and Islam itself, by inadvertently confirming him, collapses under the weight of its own inconsistency. Paul’s gospel defeated the disciples of Allah.
III. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light: Gnostic Islam Repackaged
The cult known as the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, which blends Islamic esotericism with New Age mysticism and Gnostic reinterpretations of Christian texts, frequently makes Paul the scapegoat of their heresy.
They claim, like many liberal theologians, that Paul deviated from the message of Jesus and that the early apostles rejected him. But the biblical record flatly contradicts this. Paul was acknowledged not only by Peter and James, but also wrote most of the New Testament in partnership with known apostolic figures like Luke, Silas, Barnabas, and Timothy.
Moreover, if the Ahmadi sect accepts the Qur’an as a valid book, then they must also accept the Qur’an’s admission that Paul was divinely helped and that his gospel prevailed.
You cannot deny Paul and affirm the Qur’an without logical contradiction. Either Paul was true, and the Qur’an is consistent, or the Qur’an is false and Paul still remains true according to historical and biblical testimony. Either way, the Ahmadi position is indefensible.
IV. Paul’s Endurance and Divine Favour
Critics also cite Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” as evidence of spiritual deception, citing 2 Corinthians 12:7–10:
“There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me… Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’”
The very passage used to “discredit” Paul actually proves that he had direct communication with the risen Christ. Paul prays, and the Lord answers him. That is not deception. That is divine relationship.
So if you trust this passage enough to accuse Paul of being afflicted by Satan, you must also trust the words of Jesus in the very next verse, where He assures Paul that His grace is sufficient. This undermines the entire foundation of the attack.
V. Conclusion: You Cannot Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
The attacks against Paul by Islamic critics and AROPAL are logically, theologically, and historically bankrupt. They cherry-pick verses, ignore historical context, and pretend that the apostles and early church were ignorant of Paul’s alleged deception.
Yet the biblical record is unanimous:
- Paul met Jesus personally.
- Paul verified his gospel with Peter, James, and John.
- Paul’s gospel was confirmed by divine revelation and apostolic endorsement.
- Paul’s endurance of trials, visions, and miracles attest to his authenticity.
- Even the Qur’an and its top commentators affirm that Paul was helped by Allah and became dominant.
Paul’s gospel—justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—remains the cornerstone of Christian truth. As he himself declared:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)
To all who seek to discredit Paul: your quarrel is not with the apostle—but with God Himself who appointed him.
Written for ukapologeticslibrary.net
This article is part of a multi-part series equipping believers to defend the authority of Scripture against cults, heresies, and false religions.