How Did Paul Know What He Tells Us About Jesus?

We often marvel at Paul's lack of interest in the life and times of Jesus. He says Jesus was born of a woman but says nothing about his mother. He tells us Jesus was killed for the sins of others but tells us nothing about where the event occurred. He tells us that Jesus was buried but he tells us nothing about the gravesite. Did Paul not think the information was available in his time?

We know Paul could read the Old Testament as allegory as we see in Galatians 4:22-31:

Galatians 4:24 ESV
24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.

Paul tells us over and over that he got his information from the scriptures. Why not? Isaiah said God declares things before they happen, things that were new, at least in Isaiah's time:

Isaiah 48:3-8 ESV
3 "The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. 4 Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, 5 I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, 'My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.' 6 "You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. 7 They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.' 8 You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel.

This must have included his "revelation of Jesus Christ".

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ESV
6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

1 Corinthians 9:8-10 ESV
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

Romans 1:1-2 ESV
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Romans 15:3-4 ESV
3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written,
    "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." {Psalm 69:9}
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 16:25-27 ESV
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Galatians 1:11-12 ESV
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Here Paul quotes Hosea and Isaiah together while citing each by name:

Romans 9:25-33 ESV
25 As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" {Hosea 2:23} 26 "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" {Hosea 1:10} 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." {Isaiah 10:22-23} 29 And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah." {Isaiah 1:9} 30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; {Isaiah 8:14} and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." {Isaiah 28:16}

Let's see where Paul got his information and how he used it. In Galatians 3:1, Paul reminds the foolish Galatians that "it was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified." Surely, he didn't mean that they re-enacted a public crucifixion so we'll go with the idea that Paul is restating the portrayal in verses 6 to 15.

• In Galatians 3:6, he cites Genesis 15:6 to show that Abraham was declared righteous because he believed God.
• In Galatians 3:8, Paul alludes to promises in Genesis 12:3, 18:18, and 22:18 to support that God would justify the Gentiles by faith" and that "those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham."
• In Galatians 3:10, he quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26 that “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out”
• In Galatians 3:11, he quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 that “the righteous will live by faith.”
• In Galatians 3:12, he quotes from Leviticus 18:5 that “The person who does these things will live by them.”
• In Galatians 3:13, Paul stretches when he quotes Deuteronomy 21:23 that “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole” to establish that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” This is a non sequitur. Paul is saying that Jesus dying under one point of the law kills the whole law.
• In Galatians 3:14, Paul alludes to Joel 2:28 with "so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit" to reflect back to his question in Galatians 3:2 where he asked "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?"

But Paul's argument goes off the rails in Galatians 3:16, when he claims the promises in Genesis that Abraham's offspring would flourish when Paul insists that the singular form of the word for "offspring" refers to Jesus alone. The singular word form for "offspring" and "seed" is used many times in the collective sense.

It appears that Paul used a pesher or a midrash methodology to combine OT passages to evolve a new theology.

I have tried to reverse Paul's process to try to identify his sources in the OT. Some sources are easy because he quoted portions of them. He mentioned Isaiah and Hosea by name in Romans 9. Some have been identified where Paul appears to have remembered a phrase and repeated it verbatim. Isaiah, Psalms, Genesis, and Deuteronomy appear to be his favorite OT books so this reconstruction has plenty of those.

These could be the sources for the Philippians Hymn. The Isaiah 45 and 49 verses fall out very easily, many are found in NIV, ESV, and NJKV cross references. After that, we barely need to leave the twenty verses from Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 54:5 to find plausible OT sources.

The Philippians Hymn Sources
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)		Isaiah or Deuteronomy Reference
5	Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus	{Opening Exhortation}
6	who, though he was in the form of God,	Isaiah 52:14b ESV his form beyond that of the children of mankind--
	did not count equality with God	Isaiah 9:6b ESV 6 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
	a thing to be grasped	Isaiah 53:7 ESV 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
7	but emptied himself	Isaiah 53:12b ESV 12b because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
	by taking the form of a servant	Isaiah 52:13a ESV 13a Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
	being born in the likeness of men.	Isaiah 49:5 ESV 5 And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him-- for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--
8	And being found in human form	Isaiah 53:2 ESV 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
	he humbled himself	Isaiah 53:3 ESV 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
	by becoming obedient to the point of death	Isaiah 53:10 ESV 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
	even death on a cross.	Deuteronomy 21:23 ESV (per Galatians 3:13) 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree {ξυλου}, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
9	Therefore God has highly exalted him	Isaiah 52:13 ESV 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
	and bestowed on him the name that is above every name	Isaiah 54:5 ESV 5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
10	so that at the name of Jesus	Isaiah 49:22 ESV 22 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
	every knee should bow	Isaiah 45:23a ESV 23a By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow'
	in heaven and on earth and under the earth	Isaiah 45:22 ESV 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
11	and every tongue confess	Isaiah 45:23b ESV 23b every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
	that Jesus Christ is Lord	Isaiah 45:24 ESV 24 "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.
	to the glory of God the Father	Isaiah 45:25 ESV 25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory."

Here is everything else Paul tells us about Jesus. There are corresponding verses from the Old Testament for each claim.

Everything Paul Tells Us about Jesus
Past
Descended from Abraham
Galatians 3:16 ESV 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring {σπερματι}. It does not say, "And to offsprings {σπερματιν}," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring {και τω σπερματι σου}," who is Christ. Note: This plural form for "offsprings" is used nowhere else in the Greek Bibles.	Genesis 12:7 ESV 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring {τω σπερματι σου} I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 13:15 ESV 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring {και τω σπερματι σου} forever. Genesis 22:18 ESV 18 and in your offspring {τω σπερματι σου} shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." Genesis 24:7 ESV 7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring {και τω σπερματι σου} I will give this land, ' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
Descended from David
Romans 1:3 ESV 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh Romans 15:12 ESV 12 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope {η ριζα του ιεσσαι και ο ανισταμενος αρχειν εθνων επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν}." Note: Jesse is David's father.	2 Samuel 7:12 ESV 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. Context: In verses 4&5, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, the prophet, to tell David. Isaiah 11:10 ESV 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire {η ριζα του ιεσσαι και ο ανισταμενος αρχειν εθνων επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν}, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Declared Son of God
Romans 1:4 ESV 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,	Psalm 2:7 ESV 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Made of woman
Galatians 4:4a ESV 4a But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman {γενομενον εκ γυναικος} ... Notes: The word form "γεννητος" is used five times in Job but nowhere else in the Greek Bibles. It comes from the root "γενναω" which is usually translated as "begat" or "be born". The word form "γενομενον" is used in Luke 18:24 but not translated, in Luke 23:47 translated as "had happened", and in Acts 10:37 translated as "what happened" or "took place". It comes from the root "ginomai" which is usually translated as "to become", "to appear", and "to be made". Did Paul just misremember the phrase?	Job 14:1 ESV 1 "Man who is born of a woman {γεννητος γυναικος} is few of days and full of trouble. Job 15:14 ESV 14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman {γεννητος γυναικος}, that he can be righteous? Job 25:4 ESV 4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman {γεννητος γυναικος} be pure?
Made under the law
Galatians 4:4b ESV 4b ... born under the law, Galatians 3:10-12 ESV 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."	Deuteronomy 27:26 ESV 26 "'Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' Habakkuk 2:4 ESV 4 "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. Leviticus 18:5 ESV 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
To redeem
Galatians 4:5 ESV 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons {απολαβωμεν}. NIV Footnote: The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.	Isaiah 53:11-12 ESV 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Was rich
2 Corinthians 8:9a ESV 9a For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,	Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Became poor
2 Corinthians 8:9b ESV 9b yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.	Isaiah 53:3 ESV 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Was meek and gentle
2 Corinthians 10:1 ESV 1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!--	Isaiah 53:7 ESV 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Did not please himself
Romans 15:3 ESV 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."	Psalm 69:9 ESV 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
Became a servant of the circumcised
Romans 15:8 ESV 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,	Isaiah 53:11 ESV 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
For the Gentiles
Romans 15:9-12 ESV 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." 10 And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." 12 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."	Psalm 18:49 ESV 49 For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. 2 Samuel 22:50 ESV 50 "For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. Deuteronomy 32:43 ESV 43 "Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people's land." Psalm 117:1 ESV 1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! Isaiah 11:10 ESV 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Became Wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,	Isaiah 11:2 ESV 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Was crucified
1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 2 Corinthians 13:4 ESV 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Galatians 3:13 ESV 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree {ξυλου}"--	Deuteronomy 21:23 ESV 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree {ξυλου}, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Died for sins
1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, Galatians 2:20 ESV 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.	Isaiah 53:5, 8, 12 ESV 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Was buried
1 Corinthians 15:4a ESV 4 that he was buried ...	Isaiah 53:9 ESV 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Was raised
1 Corinthians 15:4b ESV 4 ... that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day {τη ημερα τη τριτη} in accordance with the Scriptures, Romans 1:4 ESV 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 8:34a ESV 34a Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised ... 2 Corinthians 4:14 ESV 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 Corinthians 13:4 ESV 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.	Hosea 6:2 ESV 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day {τη ημερα τη τριτη} he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Psalm 16:10 ESV 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 41:10 ESV 10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
Present
Sits next to God
Romans 8:34b ESV 34b ... who is at the right hand of God, ...	Psalm 110:1, 5 ESV A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
Intercedes
Romans 8:34c ESV ... who indeed is interceding for us.	Isaiah 53:12 ESV 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Future
Will come
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 ESV 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." Philippians 3:20-21 ESV 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.	Isaiah 26:19-21 ESV 19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. Daniel 7:11, 13 ESV 11 "I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 13 "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. Daniel 12:2 ESV 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Isaiah 25:8 ESV 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 40:26 ESV 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

Paul doesn't tell us anything about a recent Jesus or his teachings.

2 Corinthians 11:4-6 ESV
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these "super-apostles" {υπερλιαν αποστολων (hyper apostolos)}. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

2 Corinthians 12:11 ESV
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these "super-apostles" {υπερλιαν αποστολων (hyper apostolos)}, even though I am nothing.

How could Paul claim to not be inferior to the "super-apostles" if they had hung out with Jesus and everybody knew it? How could he claim his knowledge was not inferior to their knowledge if they got their knowledge straight from Jesus while Paul dug it out of centuries-old scriptures?

Galatians 2:6-9 ESV
6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Galatians 3:1 ESV
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

Paul writes about James and Cephas/Peter as if the Galatians knew them. If they did, why didn't Paul tell the Galatians to ask them whether Jesus was crucified rather than torture logic and the scriptures to make them confess that if the law is a curse and hanging someone on a tree/cross is a curse, then the death of the someone also eliminates the curse of the law.

Instead, Paul could have just told the Galatians to ask James to tell them how his stepmother and mother saw Jesus on a crucifix.

Or could James and the circumcision faction have been the "bewitchers" of the Galatians?