Paul the Thirteenth Apostle? Or James the True Heir to Jesus? (S6E4)

Was Paul really an apostle like the Twelve, or did he take the Jesus movement in a new direction the original apostles never taught?

In this episode of “Mind of Christ” Series 6, we bring the story full circle. We compare Paul’s claim to apostleship with the criteria Peter set in Acts, look at his clashes with Peter and James, and weigh his teaching on faith, grace, and the Law against the words of Jesus and the letter of James.

We follow Paul from persecutor to missionary, tracing how his letters helped turn a small Jewish movement into a global faith, and we ask what was gained and what may have been lost. Then we turn to James, the brother of Jesus, to see how his short, sharp letter echoes the Sermon on the Mount and insists that faith must be seen in works.

If you are trying to understand why Christianity looks so different from Jesus’ own teaching, this episode will help you see the tension between revelation-based theology and eyewitness teaching, and why the choice between Paul and James still matters for anyone seeking the true mind of Christ.
   • The Gospel of John: Messiah or Something M...  

Primary Scriptures:
Acts 1:8
Acts 1:21–22
Acts 2:44
Acts 11:19–24
Acts 15:1–29

Gospels and Wisdom:
Matthew 5:17
Matthew 7:21
Matthew 13:44
Proverbs 18:21

Pauline Letters:
Romans 3:20–22
Romans 6:14
Romans 10:9
1 Corinthians 9:1
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
Galatians 1:18–19
Galatians 2:11
Galatians 3:13

James:
James 1:2
James 2:1
James 2:17–19, 26
James 3:1, 5–6
James 4:1–3
James 5:4–5

Questions or thoughts?
Drop them in the comments —
I respond when I can or cover them in future videos.

© 2025 Joss Goodall, Independent Biblical Researcher