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There was a [[synagogue]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amman Philadelphia] that had never been subject to the supervision of the [[Sanhedrin]] at Jerusalem, and it was here that Abner taught three times a day with the result of Philadelphia becoming the largest group of [[persons]] [[embracing]] the teachings of Jesus in all the cities of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perea_(Holy_Land) Perea]. As the Jews of [[Jerusalem]] had always had difficulty with the Jews at Philadelphia, after [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 Jesus' crucifixion], the Jerusalem church, of which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James], the Lord's brother was head, began to have serious difficulties with the Philadelphia congregation of believers. It was this congregation of which Abner became head and continued as such until his [[death]], and this estrangement with Jerusalem explains why nothing is heard of Abner and his work in the [[Gospel]] records of the [[New Testament]]. This feud between Jerusalem and Philadelphia lasted throughout the lifetimes of James and Abner and continued for some time after the destruction of Jerusalem. Philadelphia was really the headquarters of the early church in the south and east as Antioch was in the north and west.

There was a [[synagogue]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amman Philadelphia] that had never been subject to the supervision of the [[Sanhedrin]] at Jerusalem, and it was here that Abner taught three times a day with the result of Philadelphia becoming the largest group of [[persons]] [[embracing]] the teachings of Jesus in all the cities of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perea_(Holy_Land) Perea]. As the Jews of [[Jerusalem]] had always had difficulty with the Jews at Philadelphia, after [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 Jesus' crucifixion], the Jerusalem church, of which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_the_Just James], the Lord's brother was head, began to have serious difficulties with the Philadelphia congregation of believers. It was this congregation of which Abner became head and continued as such until his [[death]], and this estrangement with Jerusalem explains why nothing is heard of Abner and his work in the [[Gospel]] records of the [[New Testament]]. This feud between Jerusalem and Philadelphia lasted throughout the lifetimes of James and Abner and continued for some time after the destruction of Jerusalem. Philadelphia was really the headquarters of the early church in the south and east as Antioch was in the north and west.

It was the apparent misfortune of Abner to be at variance with all of the leaders of the early Christian church. He fell out with [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] and James (Jesus’ brother) over questions of [[administration]] and the [[jurisdiction]] of the Jerusalem church; he parted company with [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] over [[differences]] of [[philosophy]] and [[theology]]. Abner was more Babylonian than Hellenic in his philosophy, and he stubbornly resisted all attempts of Paul to remake the teachings of [[Jesus]] so as to present less that was objectionable, first to the [[Jews]], then to the Greco-Roman believers in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults|the mysteries]].

It was the apparent misfortune of Abner to be at variance with all of the leaders of the early Christian church. He fell out with [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] and James (Jesus’ brother) over questions of [[administration]] and the [[jurisdiction]] of the Jerusalem church; he parted company with [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] over [[differences]] of [[philosophy]] and [[theology]]. Abner was more Babylonian than Hellenic in his philosophy, and he stubbornly resisted all attempts of Paul to remake the teachings of [[Jesus]] so as to present less that was objectionable, first to the [[Jews]], then to the Greco-Roman believers in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults the mysteries].

Thus was Abner compelled to live a life of [[isolation]]. He was head of a church which was without standing at [[Jerusalem]]. He had dared to defy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James, the Just|James the Lord’s brother], who was subsequently supported by [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]]. Such conduct effectively separated him from all his former associates. Then he dared to withstand [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]. Although he was wholly [[sympathetic]] with Paul in his mission to the [[gentiles]], and though he supported him in his contentions with the church at [[Jerusalem]], he bitterly opposed the version of Jesus’ teachings which Paul elected to [[preach]]. In his last years Abner denounced Paul as the “clever corrupter of the life teachings of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]], the Son of the living God.”

Thus was Abner compelled to live a life of [[isolation]]. He was head of a church which was without standing at [[Jerusalem]]. He had dared to defy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James, the Just|James the Lord’s brother], who was subsequently supported by [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]]. Such conduct effectively separated him from all his former associates. Then he dared to withstand [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]. Although he was wholly [[sympathetic]] with Paul in his mission to the [[gentiles]], and though he supported him in his contentions with the church at [[Jerusalem]], he bitterly opposed the version of Jesus’ teachings which Paul elected to [[preach]]. In his last years Abner denounced Paul as the “clever corrupter of the life teachings of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]], the Son of the living God.”