Paul’s home town was in Tarsus of Cilicia. However, due to Jewish feast days and his Jewish training under Gamaliel, Paul spent a lot of time in Jerusalem traveling to it through the surrounding regions. Gamaliel was a renowned Jewish scholar of scripture in Jerusalem and a Pharisee of the Pharisees like Paul. Due to Paul being a sort of dual citizen, he had more opportunities and freedoms than those not born with Roman citizenship. Paul’s family was wealthy, having access to Roman rights and the means to educate some of their children under esteemed doctors of the law in Jerusalem.
Paul had a clear idea of the kingdom gospel the 12 were preaching. He was at the stoning of Steven and heard all of what is recorded in Acts 7. He got letters from the chief priest that if he found any of “THAT WAY,” he would bring them bound to Jerusalem in Acts 9:2. At Damascus, Ananias preaches elements of the kingdom gospel (recorded in Acts 22:16) to Paul after Paul had seen and spoken to Jesus. Paul’s training in the Old Testament scriptures alone would have deeply informed him of Israel’s future kingdom from their prophets. Paul most certainly had heard and understood the kingdom gospel message before and after Christ appeared to him. Paul himself says that Peter, James, and John added nothing to him in Galatians 2:6.
It is apparent then that Paul not only knew but could clearly identify the supposed “heresy” or “THAT WAY” that the little flock was preaching. The letters from the chief priest would have delineated the condemnable heresy required to take those that believed such doctrine captive.
Galatians 2 further explains Paul’s unique apostleship and gospel by how Paul went up by revelation to communicate his gospel that he preached among the gentiles to the little flock kingdom gospel saints at Jerusalem. Paul says in conference the little flock added nothing to him: but contrariwise, they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto Paul, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter. The context of Galatians chapters 1 and 2 bare out that there are 2 different gospels to 2 different audiences being communicated in Galatians 2 during the Acts 15 meeting.
Given these simple facts from the scripture, Galatians 1:11-12 would be a untrue if Paul preached the same gospel about Christ as the little flock. The reason why is because he had already been informed of that message hearing it from men. He rejected “THAT WAY” and got letters to persecute those that professed “THAT WAY.” The plain reading of Galatians 1:11-12 (in light of the other mentioned passages) proves that the gospel given to Paul was not something previously voiced abroad by Christ or any of the little flock.
The plain reading of 2 Peter 3:15-16 further shows the separate and distinct nature of both Peter and Paul’s ministries. If Paul and Peter taught the same doctrine and gospel to the same audience, it would not have been hard for Peter and his audience to understand Paul’s doctrine in his epistles. What Paul was given was unique and separate. If Paul and Peter taught the exact same thing, then Galatians 2:1-10 and 2 Peter 3:15-16 would be dishonest to say “contrarywise” or “hard to be understood.” The truth is the information is distinct and separate to differing audiences.
Simply comparing the doctrines of the little flock and Paul in context flush out the distinct nature of each. The content of Paul's gospel and the content of the Kingdom gospel are not the same.
It’s not THAT Christ is preached by these different groups that is obvious and undebated by Christendom at large. HOW Christ is preached is where people either rightly divide or (more often than not) wrongly combine the things that differ.
Paul preached Christ according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began. This mystery was hid in God until it was revealed by Christ to Paul to preach to all. Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:1-9
The 12 and the rest of the little flock preached Christ according to Prophecy spoken since the world began. Acts 3:19-21, Luke 1:68-79
It is that simple.
For the past almost 2000 years, the dispensation of grace that was made known by Christ through direct revelation to Paul is the modus operandi for how to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth in this present age. All scripture is profitable but Paul’s epistles are directly to us for our doctrinally application today.
