How can anyone say Paul was in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ?
Paul was not in direct opposition to Christ's teachings; his ministry is an extension of them. The difference is not contradiction: Jewish believers came through the Kingdom economy and Kingdom Gospel, while Paul goes in a different direction under Grace, yet serves the same God and same Christ, as Ephesians 3:1 affirms.
Les explains that Paul is not in opposition to Jesus; there is a difference, not a contradiction. The same God and same Christ are involved. Jewish believers had come in by the Kingdom economy and the Kingdom Gospel, but Paul now goes in a different direction while still serving the same God. Some theologians promote the theory that Paul founded a Christianity totally opposed to what Jesus taught, but Les says such claims make for good book sales. The real distinction is that Paul's message is not under Law but under Grace. In Ephesians 3:1, Paul calls himself the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles. So his teaching is an extension of Christ's teachings, not direct opposition.