First Facts Learned

I was not sure what I had gotten myself into when I started this class but now I am very excited. So many times I see the ministry of a man and not the man. As I read some of the history of Paul some things just made better sense. For example, I did not know how he could have been so anti-Christ only later to be such an advocate. Now that I know about the intensive training he went through in Jewish studies, I can see that his mind would not wrap around this "Jesus as the Messiah" bit because it contradicted everything he had known to be true. I notice a bit of me in that. If some other religion were presented to me, I would be staunch against it unless that God audible spoke to me, took my sight, and changed my name.
I look forward to further examining Paul, but I am also excited to get so much outside information. I really had no idea that Roman Citizenship carried so much weight. I knew that Paul was one but what advantages that gave him, I had no clue. The more background I can get about the bible times and surrounings of the authors the better. However, I am not to keen on breaking down the writting style. I guess it is because I just want to read Paul's writtings without trying to remember the difference between Lasterkatolog and Peristasenkatolog and what verse each is and more importantly will it be on the test. Such is the nature of education though, so bring it on. Those are my thoughts about the first two days of class; I am sure the tune will change with time and understanding.