paul

first put jesus into words

but never met him
never even spoke to him
to hear what the deal really is
yet he was the one

proclaimed
jesus' promise
to man

made up

so that all
who come to church
may inherit the idea of eternal life

at around ten percent

paul was a creative man
created more jesus
as he went along

by the way
a reformation
was needed
because
an almighty god
is pretty useless
if he lets you be
oppressed
by romans

a new heaven had to come
a green pasture for weary sheep
to save people from hells
through positive thinking
and faith

the good news
for everyone
who has ever
feared a day of death

promises
of a heavenly kingdom
for those with horrible lives
the fabulous fable
of a salubrious eternal paradise
after you die

though you have to admit
death may well be
fabulous
if it means
the end
of misery

an opportunity
like no other
seized by a man
from tarsus
a roman citizen
on the road to damascus
he received a new commission
in the voice of god

but back in those days
everyone knew
that the highest of gods
wore the emperor's shoes

leave the christians
alone now
and crucify the jew
blame them for jesus
and make jesus great

and according to acts
when paul quarrelled
with the brother
of jesus
james the just
the accusation was clear
paul made his shit up
fake news
as fact
as faith

and when the unwavering jews
true to the word
rose up against paul
over his perversion of it
they cried

"away with such a fellow from the earth
for it is not fit that he should live"

40 jews swore an oath
not to eat again
until paul was dead

no fewer than 470 roman soldiers

200 foot soldiers
200 spearmen
70 on horseback

saved paul at the very last moment
by supposedly "arresting" him
by saddling him
on a lekker old horse

surely long dead by now

for a ride to felix the governor
and to safety

a comfortable existence
under so-called house arrest

false witness protection program

nice service
the very special prisoner
paul
receives
in days when romans
easily hung jews
up
on crosses
easily

james the just
became
james the murdered
in the church
of all places
under the high priest
ananias
rumours went round
of his scheming
with romans

but the seed that would defeat the jews
was planted by this time
and the new narrative had taken root
and in line with the roman army
the jewish revolt was crushed

the messiah

who was to save
jew
from roman

was hijacked