bblreader wrote:
In looking at what I could find on the matter, Paul was following within rabbinical tradition with respect to what was questioned regarding Psalm 68, and it included that in taking of gifts, Yahweh God was using an occasion to give back gifts, for God gives more than we can give to him. That there were ungodly abuses from institutions later in history, to lay this as a direct responsibility of Paul is certainly unfair, as this practice may be used against anybody, as some have said even against Christ, it would still be unfair. It was not because of a truth, because it is true God gave gifts.


Was not the gift of salvation enough? Paul comes up with these so called gifts, to make his followers believe they are special. But he reminds them time and again that he is more special than everyone, including those who lived with Yeshua and sat at his feet throughout his whole ministry. I won't even go into his worse false 'gifts' which have no Biblical backup, suffice it to say that many have been lead so far astray by these far more than drawn closer to the L-RD in their life, not to mention those who felt they were not worthy because they didn't have these gifts. I have witnessed this myself.