From a secular point of view in what ways did Paul amplify and interpret the meaning of Jesus and his message?

Answer 1

Answer
From a secular point of view, it is hard to say that Paul amplified or interpreted the meaning of Jesus or his message. Paul's understanding of Jesus, as shown in the epistles, is more primitive and more spiritual than that shown in the gospels.

It seems from his epistles that Paul knew nothing of Jesus of Nazareth, nor even that he had lived in Palestine in the recent past. He never spoke of the life of Jesus, and seems at times to have regarded him as more spiritual than a real human person. Although he discussed the various places he visited, especially in Galatians and 1 Corinthians, he never mentioned visiting any of the places associated with the life, crucifixion or resurrection of Jesus. He never even mentioned an interest in doing so.

In his epistles, Paul does not tell his readers of the message of Jesus. He tells them of his own message. His moral insights are his own and he attributes them to no one else. No one taught him the gospel, because he received it by revelation (Galatians 1:12), perhaps in a dream. If no one taught him the gospel, then he knew nothing of what Jesus of Nazareth had said to his disciples, and could not interpret his message. There are some parallels between Paul's Epistles and the gospels, but this could be the result of copying. In some cases, Paul attributes a wise saying to himself, but the gospels, written somewhat later, attribute the same saying to Jesus.