Recently I read F.F. Bruce's The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? It was a great book. However it raised a few questions regarding Paul s apostleship. From my understanding most of the New Testament consists of the original teachings of Jesus either by references to source documents taken during his life or by the apostles teaching. So how are Paul's revelations to be explained -- since he was never directly taught by Jesus but instead was taught by men who were taught by the apostles? How can Paul's apostleship or authority be proven? How is his authority any more than that given to James (Jesus' brother) or Barnabas? -- Scott Wagoner
Paul was taught by Jesus! Go back and check the record in Acts. In addition you will want to read Paul's account in Galatians 1 where he addresses the very issue you raise. In fact, Paul is insistent that he did not receive the gospel from other men! Of course you are quite right that he never followed Christ during his earthly ministry, but that does not lessen his apostolic authority, even though he entered the circles "as one abnormally born" (1 Corinthians 15:8).
As for Barnabas, who was a fellow "missionary" but lacked apostolic authority (apostle has two different meanings, and Barnabas was a missionary not an apostle of the first order), and James brother of Jesus, who seems to have had some apostolic authority, Paul was by no means inferior to them. Paul did more, wrote more, influenced more, and explicated the gospel for more than either Barnabas or James.
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