Author Archives: Paul Pavao

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About Paul Pavao

I am married, the father of six, and currently the grandfather of five. I teach, and I am always trying to learn to disciple others better than I have before. I believe God has gifted me to restore proper theological foundations to the Christian faith. In order to ensure that I do not become a heretic, I read the early church fathers from the second and third centuries. They were around when all the churches founded by the apostles were in unity. My philosophy for Bible reading is to understand each verse for exactly what it says in its local context. Only after accepting the verse for what it says do I compare it with other verses to develop my theology. If other verses seem to contradict a verse I just read, I will wait to say anything about those verses until I have an explanation that allows me to accept all the verses for what they say. This takes time, sometimes years, but eventually I have always been able to find something that does not require explaining verses away. The early church fathers have helped a lot with this. I argue and discuss these foundational doctrines with others to make sure my teaching really lines up with Scripture. I am encouraged by the fact that the several missionaries and pastors that I know well and admire as holy men love the things I teach. I hope you will be encouraged too. I am indeed tearing up old foundations created by tradition in order to re-establish the foundations found in Scripture and lived on by the churches during their 300 years of unity.

Fact Sheet on Evolution for Christians

I am often asked why I write about evolution. Evolution is not just a scientific issue; it is a theological issue that most Christians are interested in, whether to deny it or to learn about it. I think all Christians … Continue reading

Posted in Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evolution, Evolution and Creation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment (Acts 24:25)

As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.” (Acts 24:25) Shortly after I was saved … Continue reading

Posted in Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Early Christianity, Evangelicals, History, Modern Doctrines, Rebuilding the Foundations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Fair Summary of Paul’s Gospel? Salvation, Perseverance, and Judgment in His Own Words

What does the apostle Paul actually teach about salvation when all of his words are read together—his promises, his warnings, and his description of God’s grace? The answer is often assumed, but rarely examined in full. even though the apostles … Continue reading

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Jesus Is Building His Church on Peter’s Confession; Are We?

I was interviewed recently on the “Church Talk” podcast about my book, The Apostles’ Gospel. This is a short summary of what the book and the interview were about. We all know Matthew 16:16 because we want to refute the Catholic … Continue reading

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King David’s Secret Sauce: Works Are the Prize, Not the Price

There’s a whole paradigm, a worldview, packed into Psalm 119:56: “This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.” It is a blessing to keep God’s precepts. Titus 2:13-14 tells us that Jesus purchased a people for … Continue reading

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Do You Like the Bible? Or Only an Imaginary One?

Do we believe our Bible? In fact, do we even like our Bible? Or do we prefer a Bible made in the image of our wishful thinking? I am a Bible believer, but I believe the Bible we have, not … Continue reading

Posted in Bible, Dealing with Scripture Honestly, Evolution, Evolution and Creation, Modern Doctrines, science | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Working Out Salvation with Fear and Trembling in a Wealthy World

Apparently, there are people who think that when Jesus sits on his glorious throne and puts the sheep on his right and the goats on his left, that he will say to Mother Teresa, “I was hungry, and you did … Continue reading

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Bathing in the Scriptures and the Presence of God

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t get important reminders from Scripture. Today: Prov. 25:26 – Like a muddied spring … is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.–I have done that so much in my life. … Continue reading

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The Role of Early Church Unity in Strengthening Modern-Day Faith

This is a guest post by Merry Usman. In a world increasingly fragmented by denominational divisions, cultural conflicts, and personal preferences, the church is called to stand as a beacon of unity. Yet, this call often feels difficult to realize … Continue reading

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The Day God Put on Armor: Isaiah’s Hidden Explanation of the Atonement

Isaiah 59:15 and the chapters following are surely the best picture of the Atonement that no one pays attention to, much like Proverbs 8:22-31 in regard to the Trinity and creation. The Breach That Requires Atonement/Reconciliation Let’s jump right into … Continue reading

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