BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Bible Basics Paul - Who was he and was he correct?

I have to admit that in my reading of the Bible, I've stumbled and in the end skipped over the writtings of Paul. <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

I know he suffered greatly for Chrisitianity and it was his letters that kept many of the first churches glued together.

I still have problems with him though, mostly when he writes about women.

Does anyone else have issues with what Paul has written? Anyone have any insight into what he says?

What I like about Paul is that he was considered one of the greatest Pharisees in his time, then Jesus got ahold of him and his old friends shunned him. They basically called him crazy and tried to put him down wherever he went and taught, but he was undaunted. he was SURE he knew the truth and didn't back down. So much so, that he actually argued with and called Peter out when he thought Peter was faultering in his grace teaching.

Paul was a little guy, not very atractive. Probably down right ugly. He had the attitude that he was smarter than others, and he struggled witht that alot. He got that attitude from his training to be a Pharisee. Everything Paul did he did with gusto. It was all or nothing for him.

Lots of people have trouble with Paul. However, try to think of him as just another man who struggled with his pride while trying to teach others about the love he felt from Jesus. Even though he never knew him when he was alive. I think Paul was alot like most men these days...

I know that he was a Christian and a very staunch believer in Christ. I believe what happened to him on the road to Damascas happened because it turned him from persecutor to persecuted. He suffered greatly for his message no one would do that just to lead others astray. Those that lead astray usually stop when it gets too tough.

I still have so many issues with him though and can't read his writings. I enjoy the Gospels, Acts, 1&2nd John, Peter etc. Paul just makes me mad, and worse yet mad at God.

I've been over at the muslim website respectively learning more so I can understand where K7 is coming from. So far what I have read about the status of women according to the Quran are the same problems I have with Paul.

To an independant modern women Paul is very offensive in his rules that apply to women. In this I have not been able to come to an understanding, culteral or otherwise. He had the altimate chance to provide equality for women, who were his most dedicated followers, and he limited them.

I NEED HELP!!!

I think I'm loosing the battle. I'm stumped on the question does God understand women?

Jesus came as a man and suffered greatly, so I know that God understands man and suffering. How can I know if he understands women?

Does anyone know any books or website links that I could read to help me answer this question?

I'm new to this forum, so I'm not too sure where others stand on issues such as these. So I'm going to stick my neck out here and hope it doesn't get hacked off!
I've often heard that it is said that "We are more American than we are Christian." Ok, so that doesn't work for someone from Canada, but you get the picture. We often carry around ideas that we get from our culture, and when they clash with God's view, we get upset. We have to remember that God created us, so he 1.) understands us (women) and 2.) He's right.

So what does that have to do with Paul? Paul was chosen by God to bring the news of salvation to the Gentiles. I trust God knew what he was doing. We (women) don't always like what Paul has to say. But what if he's right about women?

I'm going to make a lot of radical feminists mad right now, but while we are equal in value to men, we are not the SAME as men. And we certainly weren't created to do the same things men were created to do. Our roles are DIFFERENT. From the very begining God created us different. But it is also from the begining that we begin to have the problem. When God banished Adam and Eve from the garden, he oppointed Adam as the head, he also said that women will always have a problem with that and try to rule over the man. It's in our very nature to rebel against the idea that men are over us. But the fact remains that that is how God created it to be. That doesn't mean we are to be abuse by men. They are commanded to love us, we are only commanded to honor them. Someone who loves doesn't abuse.

So the way our relationships work best is when we follow Gods plan. It doesn't make sense to our limited human brain, but God also said we would never understand his ways.

Perhaps you can give me exact examples of what offends you by Paul, maybe then I can give a better answer (or at least try!)

I know what your saying but it doesn't stop the anger from rising up inside me.

A male God, a male Messiah, Since men do not have a clue about women can they? Even as a creator can he really know what it means to be a women? Isn't his laws, his design and the whole Bible have issues with things that are specifically female?

I realize that Jesus held women in a higher regard then the men on earth did. I also know that many women have biblical books about what they'd done. I also get that we are loved the same as men, but can this mean that God gets us?

How is it right that a women should not have a leadership role in the church over men? If she is more pious why shouldn't she be able to teach to men? Both during the time of Moses and Jesus God had an opportunity to shed light on this question and raise the status of women to equality, but didn't. Why not?

I think if you read the book of Judges, God did use a woman to lead his people while a man was scared to do so.
Here are a couple of books that are really good.
Her Name Is Woman book one
Her Name Is Woman book Two by Gien Karssen
I think you will enjoy them.

I'll have to get them... I don't want to struggle with this much longer, I want to understand.

Mind me asking what part of Canada your from?

I haven't really read Paul (and from what I've heard I don't want to) so I can't comment specifically, but just a thought...

Perhaps God did not send a woman to rule/guide men(as in mankind, not just the gender) in spirituality because God knew that in those times the people were more likely to listen to a man. Women had little to no standing in those times; how can one be expected to lead if they were not respected/listened to/valued (for themsleves, not as property)? Jesus, as a man, had a hard enough time getting people to listen to him, how would a woman have faired?