Paul ("alive"! :)

>>Previous Person> Now, this is strange indeed! especially in view of how the Judeans were portrayed to the Inhabitants of Phillipi. (Phil.3:1-6)

>Curious Questioner> Paul did not die at Philippi but at Rome.

The Bible doesn't say he died at Rome, but rather we see that he was stoned at Lystra and left for dead outside the city in Acts 14:19; But later, when the "disciples" gathered around him, he rose up, and went right back into the city! After fourteen years, Paul said:

"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." (2Cor.12:2)

Although it was not lawful for him to tell, yet, it is apparent that his battered body that was left for dead outside Lystra remained behind, and he was having an "out of the body" experience (OBE) or as some say, an NDE or Near Death Experience. Plainly, "the body without the spirit is dead", so how could he be hurt of a second death after he rose up? (Paul experienced a pre-rapture rapture! :)

And BEHOLD, Silas and Timothy were present at Lystra when Paul was caught up to paradise! The evangelist Timothy and the prophet Silas were co-authors with Paul of the two letters to the Thessalonians, in the first of which (not Paul alone, but) they prophesied:

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." (1Thes.4:15)

Clearly, the mouth of two or three witnesses established the word of that prophesy that plainly indicates that Paul, Timothy and Silas would be alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. Therefore how can you say that Paul died at Rome? After he rose up at Lystra, do you really think he experienced a "second death"?

Paul did not say that his "decease" was at hand, but that the time of his "departure" (release) was at hand, having finished his course. His "ministry" was certainly not finished, or else how could Mark be profitable unto him in the ministry? The Bible simply does not support the catholic myth that Paul died at Rome.

>CQ> Refer to Acts of the Apostles ch.25:6-12 and ensuing chapters for evidence that Paul was sent to Rome where he was later executed.

Paul wasn't dispatched to Rome until Acts 27, and rather than saying he was "executed" as you claim, the word of God says: "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." (Acts 28:30,31 - end of Acts. :)

Paul, when cast to the lions, "was delivered out of the mouth of the lion", by the Lord who "stood with" him. (Not from, out of! :)

And Paul plainly prophesied: "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2Tim.4:18)

Clearly, Paul was allowed to leave Rome and go to such places as Corinth, and Miletum, and he left his cloke at Luke's town, Troas. He left Titus behind in Crete and he left Timothy at Ephesus when he went into Macedonia and he spent one winter in Nicopolis. He had planned to go to SPAIN after his stay in Rome. When Nero died, the next Caesar was Galba, the governor of SPAIN. (Clement said Paul "travelled even to the utmost bounds of the West" with the gospel.)

Now it is evident in epistles written from Rome, that Paul was not only hoping to be released, but when he knew his departure was at hand, requested that Philemon prepare a lodging place for him.

"But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner." (Heb.13:19)

"Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you." (Heb.13:23)

"But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you... Him therefore I hope to send presently, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly." (Phil.2:19p,23,24)

"But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." (Philemon 1:22)

It seems apparent that Paul did come to Philemon at Colosse, and visited the neighboring town of Laodicea where he wrote 1st Timothy, which was "written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana." (1Tim.sub. That part of the "country" of Phrygia was in the Roman "province" of Asia. :)

"When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter." (Titus 3:12)

There is also no evidence in the Bible that Peter died at Rome. In the Bible, he got as far west as the seashore of Joppa, but plainly, when the original apostles finally departed from Jerusalem, Peter went EAST to the Jews of the dispersion at "Babylon" and surrounding areas. When Paul came to Jerusalem before being captured, he met with "James" and the "elders", but not with any apostles.

My understanding of Jesus' prophecy in Jn.21:18 concerning Peter's death, is that Peter would die of "old" age. Peter himself, speaking of his decease said, "I must put off this my tabernacle"; which to me indicates that he simply "gave up the ghost in a good old age."

Remember that Jesus is the Lord and receive the love of the truth. Grace be to your heart in love, for Jesus' sake. Amen. --Richard