Srsly??? If by "opponents" you mean those indicted as "a bunch of people who follow him (Paul) like he was a god...", then it should certainly NOT be reassuring, very or otherwise, nor surprising that "they" have not responded. No, my dear Mark, there is no response simply because no one of this imagined "bunch" post on Free Republic much less on this thread.
I genuinely hate to burst anyone's bubble and I sure hope my words do not cause you undue uncertainty but I would be remiss if I left a FRiend relishing in something of which he has no reason TO relish. :o)
These two groups are largely, but not entirely coincident.
If one's beliefs come exclusively, or nearly exclusively from the Pauline Epistles, with backup from the OT, and spurn the Gospels as to the Jews only, then what can be the only conclusion? When silly statements are made to the effect that anything Paul says (on the assumption that God is Paul's ventriloquist), and anything that the Incarnated Christ said doesn't matter to Christians, why then we have a number of this 'imagined bunch' posting right here even on this thread.
I genuinely hate to burst anyone's bubble and I sure hope my words do not cause you undue uncertainty but I would be remiss if I left a FRiend relishing in something of which he has no reason TO relish. :o)
I don't relish it. It is bitter and it is something that the Church had responsibility to avoid. It is a failure of the bishops of the time and we are living with the consequences today.