The Apostle Paul vs Herbert W. Armstrong: Two Gospels, One Truth

Among followers of the Armstrong Church of God community, Herbert W. Armstrong is often regarded as the greatest man since the Apostle Paul. Many believe he restored lost truths, revived apostolic authority, and preached the one true gospel in a world of religious confusion. His legacy is revered, his writings studied, and his teachings followed with deep conviction.

But admiration and regard alone don’t make a message true.

When we compare Armstrong’s theology, prophetic claims, and personal character to that of the Apostle Paul—the man personally commissioned by Jesus Christ—we find not continuity, but contradiction. Armstrong’s gospel was not Paul’s gospel. His doctrines diverged from the heart of New Testament Christianity. And that matters.

This post isn’t about attacking a man. It’s about defending the Gospel.

⚔️ Truth vs Error: Apostle Paul vs Herbert W. Armstrong

Foundation of the Gospel - Grace vs Legalism

Paul preached salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9). The cross was central, and justification came apart from works of the Law.

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”— Ephesians 2:8–9

Armstrong taught that salvation required obedience to Old Testament laws—Sabbath-keeping, dietary restrictions, and annual festivals. Grace was conditional, distorted by legalism. The cross wasn’t enough.

Armstrong’s gospel adds requirements that Christ Jesus had already fulfilled.

❌ Armstrong replaced the finished work of Christ with a checklist of rituals. Paul declared, “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:21).

Who and What Is God?

Paul affirmed the Triune nature of the Godhead (the Trinity): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as coequal and coeternal (2 Corinthians 13:14)—three persons, one God.

Armstrong rejected the Trinity, teaching that “God is a Family” into which humans can be born as divine beings or ‘spirit beings’, and plainly said that humans can “become God just as God is God.” This “God is a Family” doctrine blurs the line between Creator and creature, veering into theological error, quasi-polytheism, and contradicts historic Christian orthodoxy.

❌ Armstrong’s theology redefines God and blurs the Creator-creature distinction. Paul upheld the mystery and majesty of the one true God revealed in Christ Jesus.

📖 Scripture and Authority

📜 View of Scripture

Paul’s letters are Scripture. He treated the Old Covenant as fulfilled in Christ Jesus and the New Covenant as superior (Hebrews 8:6–13).

Armstrong cherry-picked Bible verses and Old Testament laws while rejecting key New Testament verses and doctrines. He claimed to restore “lost truths” that the early church supposedly abandoned.

But Paul warned:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed”— Galatians 1:8 (NKJV)

Armstrong’s gospel is not Paul’s gospel. And that matters.

❌ Armstrong’s “restoration” was a reinvention. Paul warned against “another gospel” that distorts the grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6–9).

📣 Apostolic Authority

Paul’s authority came directly from Jesus Christ. He was called by Christ Himself, confirmed by signs, suffering, and Scripture.

Armstrong claimed apostolic authority without biblical validation. He taught that the early church lost the truth and that he alone had restored it. He also often silenced dissent and elevated his own writings above critique.

❌ Paul said, “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Armstrong preached Armstrong, as does the Armstrong Church of God community.

🌍 Identity and Division

Paul taught that in Christ, there is “neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The gospel breaks down ethnic barriers. The church is spiritual Israel.

Armstrong promoted Anglo-Israelism (i.e. British-Israelism, America & Great Britain in Prophecy)—the false idea that only the white-skinned people groups of Western European descent, and particularly of British descent, are the direct descendants of the Ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The core idea is that the promises and covenants made to the ancient Israelites apply to these modern-day people. This concept has been influential in some other religious groups as well, but is largely refuted by verified modern evidence.

This racialized theology undermines the unity of the gospel, divides the body of Christ, and distorts biblical history.

❌ Armstrong’s identity doctrine is speculative and divisive. Paul preached unity and a gospel that broke down ethnic barriers, not reinforced them.

🔮 Prophecy: Truth vs Failed Predictions

Paul spoke prophetically, but never set dates. His focus was on Christ’s return, the resurrection, and the hope of glory—not on timelines or geopolitical predictions.

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” - Acts 20:29-30 (ESV)

🔍 Context: Paul is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus. He doesn’t give dates or geopolitical forecasts—he warns of internal deception and urges the church to stay grounded in truth.

“¹Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 (ESV)

🔔 Emphasis: Paul avoids date-setting and instead calls believers to live in readiness, sobriety, and spiritual alertness.

Armstrong, by contrast, made bold prophetic claims that repeatedly failed. He predicted that the end of the world would come in 1936, then 1972, and that Jesus would return in 1975. He claimed Hitler was the “Beast” of Revelation and that a European superpower would enslave America. None of these came true.

❌Paul warned about false prophets and emphasized the importance of readiness over prediction.

Armstrong’s failed prophecies led to fear, confusion, disillusionment, deconstruction, and, in many cases, the renouncing of Jesus as Lord and the renouncing of the Christian faith and worldview.

🧍‍♂️ Character: Integrity vs Scandal

Paul lived modestly, worked with his hands, and endured persecution. He refused to exploit the church financially and said, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 2:17 (ESV).

Armstrong lived lavishly—flying in private jets, staying in luxury hotels, and spending millions on personal and promotional expenses. Allegations of sexual misconduct, including incest, have circulated for decades, though never formally prosecuted. His authoritarian leadership style silenced dissent and elevated his own voice above Scripture.

❌Paul suffered for the gospel. Armstrong profited from it.

🛡️ Final Thoughts

Herbert W. Armstrong was not a modern-day Paul. His teachings were not a bold return to original, apostolic, or biblical truth—they were a departure from it, as well as a distortion wrapped in religious zeal.

Herbert W. Armstrong’s gospel was not Paul’s gospel. His Christ was not the Christ Jesus of Scripture.

“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.” — 2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)

“If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:9 (ESV)

HWA’s gospel enslaves people to rituals and fear. Paul’s gospel liberates through grace and truth.

HWA’s church was not and is not the body of Christ, nor the “True Church” or even part of it.

The same goes with all of the organizations within the Armstrong Church of God community.

If you’re seeking truth, start with Scripture. Start with the Lord Jesus. Imitate Paul.

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”— 1 Corinthians 2:2

💬 Coming from the Armstrong COG tradition?

You’re not alone.

Many have wrestled with these issues and have questions. Scripture invites us to test every teaching (Acts 17:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:21) and hold fast to the gospel of grace.

Let’s walk through it together.