Gary, its fitting that you bring up Paul and the "thorn of the flesh". Let's remember that before Paul was the apostle he was Saul of Tarsus, violent persecutor of Christians. He had anger management issues and some speculate that was his thorn rather then some other affliction.

Eric that is pure speculation about Pauls thorn (especially in regard to anger management - no one knows (he could have been gay for all we know or maybe he was a womanizer). For that matter you could say that Jesus had an anger management issue when he threw the money changers down the steps of the temple. Paul was a very interesting guy. In addition to his being highly educated, multilingual, and his father a leading Rabbi, he was also a reviled tax collector (in addition to a persecutor of Christians). He was also the only apostle not in the original 12 and Jesus appeared to him, after his death and facilitated his conversion. He also wrote about 1/2 of the books in the New Testament.

Gary,

Paul's violent behavior he admitted to openly (Galations 1:13-14, documented in Acts 8:1-3)...violence stems from unmanaged anger i.e. anger management issues so to that effect it's not speculation. The only speculation is to what the "thorn of the flesh" was which we'll never know. As far as his contribution to the cannonized New Testament, he's attributed with 13 epistles, and of course the speculation that he wrote Hebrews which is another question nobody will know the answer to. Of course there is contention on who actually wrote some of those letters, Ephesians, Collosians and 2 Thessalonians being the most contested.

Studying that period and the New Testament (culture and Koine Greek) was a hobby of mine. Mostly because I spent some of my youth in an unacredited bible college (got kicked out of!) and still keep in touch and debate with my old roommates from that time period.

Like the way you think Gary, I think sadly we've jacked this thread though

Perhaps there has been some hijacking here but as one who has been eavesdropping on this whole conversation I have to say I've found it very interesting and educational. I also learned, Eric, why I appreciate your very direct approach to expressing yourself - I grew up on the East coast in NH- so I guess that explains it! And about the thorn in the side - whether it is an anger issue or a symptom of alcoholism, if that "thorn" is removed or missing from one's life, there is a void and it needs to be filled with something else more positive. Maybe this is where AA comes in.