The Prodigal Son and Paul, the Apostle – Contradiction? 5-2-25

After writing the message yesterday about Paul saying he was the chief among sinners, and the Prodigal son’s father welcoming his son who was dead and he was alive again, I felt that the scriptures relating to Paul and the Prodigal sone should be explained.

So today, I want to share what seems to be contradictions are not; one must know how to rightly divide the Word of truth. We can only rightly divide the Word; by yielding to the Spirit of God- He is our Helper and leads and gives illumination when we stop leaning to our own understanding.

The Prodigal son had squandered all his money living it up, and he hit rock bottom before he came to his senses. The son said:  I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,  and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Make me like one of your hired servants.”

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on feet.”  And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry (Luke 15:18-24).

Dead -to recover life; to live again, revive. Alive again -Those who wander away.

Notice the verse never said the son had lost relationship with his father. Proof that this does mean he lost relationship with his father. In the last message you can walk away but you are still the child of your parents. If it meant to lose one’s salvation that would mean that he no longer belonged to his Father.

Always search the meaning of words to get a better understanding. I call them “KEY” words because if the Word is not studied carefully, the verse will be misinterpreted. The scriptures should always be within the proper context.

Paul - According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life (1 Timothy 1:11-16).

Who put Paul in ministry? The Lord did; Paul did not call himself something or someone whom God did ordain for a particular aspect of ministry. If Jesus called Paul faithful and committed him to the ministry, does that sound like Paul was a sinner? How about Paul saying that he was the chief among sinners, and the very next verse says: However, I obtained mercy!

After reading this, does it make sense for Paul to say that he was still a sinner when Jesus counted him faithful? Does Jesus call His faithful sinners? Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21,23).

Saints, please remember this, God’s Word never contradicts itself. To know that one must study (2 Timothy 2:15).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministreies.org