Interesting sleuthing and analysis! I grew up in the church and I don't ever recall Paul's physical deformity (or whatever) being highlighted. The notion of "flesh" was always equated to human "effort" and the "carnal" mind, as opposed to being "lead by the Spirit" (whatever that means). Whether or not Paul ever existed (doubtful), another thing that occurs to me just now is that his "conversion" from "Saul the tax collector" to "Paul" might have been insincere... a CONversion, the platform from which he could misdirect and he could con his readers into giving away their power, etc.
Interesting sleuthing and analysis! I grew up in the church and I don't ever recall Paul's physical deformity (or whatever) being highlighted. The notion of "flesh" was always equated to human "effort" and the "carnal" mind, as opposed to being "lead by the Spirit" (whatever that means). Whether or not Paul ever existed (doubtful), another thing that occurs to me just now is that his "conversion" from "Saul the tax collector" to "Paul" might have been insincere... a CONversion, the platform from which he could misdirect and he could con his readers into giving away their power, etc.