Originally Posted by Berkeley (Post 125528)

A thorn in the flesh.. A finger in the face... a nagging voice to the ear... I can go on!!!!!

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea (Post 125529)

I feel his pain.

Originally Posted by vrblackwell (Post 125526)

I believe that Paul's wife did not convert and he divorced her. Thus his writing that if you were married to an unbeliever that you could divorce but not remarry.

Originally Posted by vrblackwell (Post 125526)

I believe that Paul's wife did not convert and he divorced her. Thus his writing that if you were married to an unbeliever that you could divorce but not remarry.

I also believe that the thorn had something to do with it all.

Originally Posted by Sam (Post 123923)

Maybe she was the thorn in the flesh or messenger of satan he talked about in 2 Cor 12:7.

Originally Posted by Sam (Post 123954)

In Acts 26:10 when Paul is speaking of his persecution of the saints he says, "I cast my vote against them" (NKJV) I've read or heard somewhere that he literally said, "I cast my pebble against them" referring to the custom of using a white or black stone (black would mean guilty or "death") to record a vote. This may be a reference to his action while on the Sanhedrin. I don't know if there is any other reference, either in or out of Scripture, that would indicate Paul was part of the Sanhedrin. Also, do we know for sure that members of the Sanhedrin had to be married? There is a chance that Paul was widowed or divorced. Divorce was very common in that day. He could be one of those who was not under bondage because an unbelieving spouse had left him and he did not exercise his option to remarry but opted to remain celibate for the kingdom (a eunuch for the kingdom's sake).

Originally Posted by MissBrattified (Post 125603)

I think in order for that scenario to jive with the spirit of his writings, she would've had to leave him. As a Christian, he would have had to keep her around if she wanted to stay, believer or not. :coffee2

Originally Posted by Steve Epley (Post 125759)

I for one believe Paul was single and chose to give his all to God.
Paul says " For I would that all men were even as myself." 1Cor. 7:7

If he was widowed then it would be saying I would that your wives died?
If he was divorced then it would be saying I would that you would be divorced?

Paul writing to the UNMARRIED and widows said "It is good for them if they abide even as I." v.8

So to me he is encouraging to remain unmarried and give their all to Jesus.

Originally Posted by ILG (Post 125788)

You are adding what I have highlighted above. That's your interpretation of what he said but he might have meant other things.