Paul influenced Peter and, eventually, all of Christianity. James, on the other hand, was (as far as it's possible to tell now), the actual leader following the death of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul never met Jesus of Nazareth, and he wrote that. What he taught seems to have been what he, Paul, felt Jesus taught -- and Paul got that second hand, from people like Mark who HAD met Jesus.

But the Gospel of Mark was apparently based upon the "Q" Gospel, which has been lost. Matthew based his upon Mark and Q, Luke upon Matthew, Mark, Q, and interviews, and the Gospel of John has been said by many biblical scholars to be concocted from the mind of the writer. The Gospel of Thomas, on the other hand, is getting more and more scholarly approval -- and is the Gospel of Mary of Magdala.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode....