Since TOL is a mad sight (I think) I will concede that Paul was given special revelation not given to the other Appstles.
Do you forget the vision of the clean and unclean given St. Peter? And the result of it as shown in Acts 10?
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
St. Peter knew that the Holy Spirit was not just for the Jews.
The difference with St. Paul is that he was chosen to go to the gentiles with the gospel.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Acts 9:15
I believe that Paul was so chosen not only because of his inherent great zeal, but because he was so highly educated in the Old Testament. Add that to what Jesus taught Paul with the result that Paul had a deep understanding that he could then relate to the until then uneducated gentiles.
Paul had a more difficult mission than the other apostles, imho, since they went to those who already had an understanding of the scriptures.
That's how I see it anyway. ymmv
I don't see it as the church gospel and don't think mad should demand it either.
Paul had 2 main revelations not revealed to the other apostles and they were:
1. That GENTILES would no longer be alienated as GENTILES but that they could approach God as GENTILES.
And
2. The theological teachings of positional truth "in Christ".
If there are those who don't understand Paul's unique doctrine, peter said that Paul's writings were scripture and that some of his stuff was hard to understand.
So if the first pope had difficulty understanding Paul's writings, don't feel bad if you do too Sheila and Publican Chick
lain:
