Education
Paul is considered Christianity’s first and foremost theologian What is not always recognized–and is an embarrassment to some pastors–, Paul was also a mystic- this was Albert Schweitzer's assessment in his work The Mysticism of Paul the ApostleSchweitzer, “. . . when all is said and done, Pauline personal religion is in its fundamental character mystical. . . . its own essential life lies in the mystical.""Paul is therefore a mystic.”• I see this too – how could Paul not be a mystic, given his conversion encounter with Jesus Christ?◦ his letters are as mystical as they are theological◦ he fills them with the message of what had been revealed to him- this is why Paul can guide Corinthians into a deeper experience of God• they had a certain kind of religious experience and spiritual knowledge,◦ but still, Paul could not address them as spiritual people (1 Cor. 3:1)• what they needed was not more information or new information◦ but a new awareness, a new consciousness of God◦ he opens some of those doors for them in this chapter