Yes—the apostle Paul is uniquely important for the church today as the designated apostle of the Gentiles and the writer of the letters that provide the church's foundational truth.
Paul's letters, according to Les Feldick, are where believers are to gather the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church. They are the bedrock of the Christian faith, and they give a clear view of salvation by grace through faith, plus nothing.
Romans 11:13 — Paul explicitly identifies himself as the apostle of the Gentiles, which is the foundational biblical basis for his unique importance to the church.
Ephesians 3:8 — Paul describes his grace-given commission to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, even calling himself less than the least of all saints.
The Scripture itself highlights Paul's unique Gentile commission. Romans 11:13 records Paul's own words: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." In Ephesians 3:8 he explains that this grace was given to him "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Paul also describes himself in 1 Corinthians 15:9 as "the least of the apostles" because he once persecuted the church of God. The book of Acts devotes seventeen of its twenty-eight chapters to Paul, an apostle who was not one of the original Twelve and was converted only after Pentecost. Finally, Paul's own statement in 2 Timothy 3:16 — "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" — shows that the rest of Scripture remains profitable even as Paul's letters carry the church's foundational truth.
Les Feldick repeatedly teaches that Paul is the "designated Apostle of the Gentiles" for the present age of grace, which he calls the Church Age. Because of this unique calling, Les says the Pauline letters are where believers "have to garner basically the fundamental truths for salvation, for the Christian walk, for the operation of the local church." He is careful to say this does not make the rest of the Bible inappropriate, since Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is profitable. Les also points to the unusual amount of space the book of Acts gives to Paul — seventeen of its twenty-eight chapters — and says this shows there is a deep reason for Paul's prominence. He explains that Gentiles have a relationship to Paul that they do not have to the other apostles, and that until a person separates the ministries of Peter and Paul, they will be confused. Paul's epistles, Les says, are "the bedrock of our Christian faith"; without them believers cannot get a clear view of salvation by grace through faith plus nothing. Finally, Les stresses that Paul had a unique background and calling that fitted him for this role — "no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of this apostle of the Gentiles." That is why Paul had to defend his apostleship throughout his letters: many people then and now have been unwilling to accept that this former persecutor of the church was truly sent to the Gentiles. When reading Scripture, Les urges believers to ask "to whom is this being addressed?" since Paul wrote primarily to Gentile believers, unlike the Old Testament and the Gospel accounts, which were directed to Israel and the Jew.
Les says the Pauline letters are where believers must gather the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the operation of the local church. He is careful not to dismiss the rest of the Bible; he notes that Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is profitable.
Les notes that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of the apostle of the Gentiles; everything about his unique background fit. He also observes that Gentiles have a relationship to Paul that they do not have to the other apostles, and that separating Peter's and Paul's ministries is necessary to avoid confusion. The book of Acts itself devotes seventeen of its twenty-eight chapters to Paul, which Les says points to a deep reason.
Les urges readers to ask, "To whom is this being addressed?" because Paul's letters are written primarily to Gentile believers, whereas most of the Old Testament and the Gospel accounts were directed to Israel and the Jew. Recognizing Paul's role as the apostle of the Gentiles makes comprehension of the Scriptures much clearer.
Les acknowledges that some pastors and Sunday school teachers have said Paul's letters don't belong in the Bible, and that a seminary professor once called Paul's Damascus road experience an epileptic seizure. But Les calls Paul's epistles the bedrock of the Christian faith, and he says Paul, in Romans 11:13, magnifies his office as the apostle of the Gentiles.
Paul Twice Called the Least
Les points out that Paul calls himself the least of the apostles and less than the least of all saints, connecting him to Jesus' words about the least in the kingdom of heaven.
Paul's Apostleship Defended
Les shows that Paul had to constantly defend his apostleship and that even today many won't give Paul the time of day; Romans 11 is a letter to the Gentile congregation at Rome.
Paul's Letters Give Church Truth
Les teaches that for the Church Age, Paul is the designated Apostle of the Gentiles and that his letters contain the fundamental truths for salvation, the Christian walk, and the local church.
Why Acts Gives Paul 17 Chapters
Les highlights that 17 of 28 Acts chapters are given to Paul and says Gentiles have a relationship to Paul they do not have to the other apostles; failing to separate Peter and Paul leaves believers confused.
Paul's Epistles Are the Bedrock
Les says Paul's epistles are the bedrock of the Christian faith, and moving into them is necessary for a clear view of salvation by grace through faith plus nothing.
A Unique Apostle for the Gentiles
Les teaches that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of the apostle of the Gentiles, which is why Paul always had to defend his unique calling and background.
Ask 'To Whom Is This Addressed?'
Les stresses that Paul, as apostle of the Gentiles, writes primarily to Gentile believers, whereas the Old Testament and Gospel accounts were directed to Israel — so readers must ask who the original audience was.
Paul Magnifies His Office
Les uses Romans 11:13 to show Paul declaring "I magnify mine office" as the apostle of the Gentiles, never taking a back seat to the Twelve.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
This is the direct biblical statement in which Paul identifies himself as the apostle of the Gentiles, making it central to understanding his unique importance for the church.
Ephesians 3:8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul describes the grace given to him to preach to the Gentiles, while also humbly calling himself less than the least of all saints.
1 Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul acknowledges his past persecution of the church and calls himself the least of the apostles, highlighting the grace of his calling.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Paul's own words affirm the profitability of all Scripture, showing that emphasizing Paul's letters does not dismiss the rest of the Bible.
Paul identifies himself in Romans 11:13 as the apostle of the Gentiles. Les Feldick teaches that Paul was uniquely designated for this role in the present Church Age.
No. Les says the Pauline letters are foundational for church truth, but he also points out that Paul himself wrote that all Scripture is profitable and given by inspiration of God.
Paul constantly defended his apostleship because many people, even in his own day, would not accept that this former persecutor of the church was truly sent to the Gentiles. Les notes that some people today still think Paul's letters do not belong in the Bible.
Les urges readers to ask, "To whom is this being addressed?" Paul wrote primarily to Gentile believers, while the Old Testament and the Gospel accounts were directed to Israel and the Jew.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible