Why did the Jews oppose Paul's apostleship?
The Jews opposed Paul’s apostleship because they were unwilling to accept that pagan Gentiles could enter salvation without becoming part of Judaism. The opponents are identified as Jews—Hebrews, Israelites, and Abraham’s seed—whose heritage meant everything to them, though the context calls the Jerusalem-leader explanation speculation.
Les explains that the people constantly opposing Paul’s apostleship were Jews. He suspects the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were behind it, because they still were not ready to accept that pagan Gentiles could enter into a salvation experience without becoming part of Judaism. But Les cautions that this is speculation; the Scripture does not say it. Whoever Paul refers to, it was Jews. Paul asks whether they are Hebrews, Israelites, and the seed of Abraham, and answers that he is too. Les notes that this heritage meant everything to a Jew. He then points to Acts 3, where Peter speaks to the men of Israel and invokes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, showing that their heritage back to Abraham and the covenant men was the engine of everything they did.
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
More Questions
Did Paul's opponents in 2 Corinthians include the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem?
Les suspects, though he admits it is speculation not stated in Scripture, that the Jews opposing Paul were the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
How did Paul answer the charge that the twelve had superior Jewish credentials?
In 2 Corinthians 11:22 Paul claims equal standing with Peter and the eleven on every Jewish credential — Hebrew, Israelite, and seed of Abraham — answering each with 'So am I,' so they had nothing on him there.