#158 – Why Paul's Churches Won Early Christianity

What if Paul’s vision of Christ reshaped Christianity in ways Jesus’ own brother, James, never intended? In this episode, we explore the intense clash between Paul’s Christ movement and the Jesus movement, led by James in Jerusalem, as they battled over the faith’s direction. Paul’s independent gospel, born from a divine encounter, drove him to spread his message to Gentile cities like Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome, outpacing the Jewish-focused Jesus movement. As the Jerusalem community waned after the city’s fall in 70 AD, Paul’s universal vision took root, defining the Christianity we know today. Join Nate and Shelby as they uncover these pivotal shifts, question Paul’s authority, and ask: could the Jesus movement have changed history if it had prevailed? Tune in to rethink the origins of your faith.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Christ Movement

03:03 Understanding Paul and His Background

05:31 The Conflict with Jerusalem Leadership

08:35 Paul's Independent Revelation

11:40 The Divergence of Movements

16:28 The Tension of Jewish Customs

19:01 The Jerusalem Council and Gentile Inclusion

22:45 Paul's Distinct Gentile Christianity

25:13 The Expansion of Paul's Movement

35:22 Grassroots Movement and Rituals

40:19 The Decline of the Jesus Movement

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