Why did people accuse Paul of being a false apostle?
People accused Paul of being a false apostle because he had not personally walked with the Lord Jesus during His three-year earthly ministry as Peter, James, and John had. His critics charged him with heresy and imposture, but Paul continually defended his apostleship, insisting he truly was an apostle who had received revelations.
Les explains that Paul was not setting himself up as the Savior or as some God, but as one who follows the resurrected, ascended Lord, telling believers, "be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." Paul defends his apostleship in all his letters because even the people of his day accused him of heresy and of being an imposter. The reason given is that he did not actually walk with the Lord Jesus those three years like Peter, James, and John did. Nevertheless, Paul constantly came back and said, "But I AM an Apostle. I AM the one who has received all these revelations." Les stresses that God designated Paul to take salvation to the Gentiles, so he makes no apology for emphasizing Paul, and cites passages such as I Corinthians 4, Philippians 3, I Corinthians 11, and I Corinthians 3:10.