St. Paul, the Man and His Work is a work written by Heinrich Weinel in 1906. It is touted to have been "selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it."

Weinel's introduction explains that the only books of the Bible that can reliably be attributed to Paul himself  include only the following 8 books:

•    Romans
•    1 Corinthians
•    2 Corinthians
•    Philemon
•    Galatians
•    Philippians
•    1 Thessalonians
•    Colossians

It is chiefly through these writings that the author has ventured to tell the story of the venerable Saint Paul. In his words:

QuoteI trust that no essential feature will be found to be missing in the picture which I have attempted to draw of St Paul, although I have strictly  confined myself to those letters the authenticity of which is acknowledged by the great majority of critics, including myself.

Heinrich Weinel presents a careful examination of the facts as he sees them and sheds some interesting (and somewhat controversial) light on how the work of Paul has influenced modern Christianity. Although written in the beginning of the 20th century, many of these observations will be sure to edify even today's readers.

Available here in PDF format for your enjoyment. (other formats available at Archive.org)

I listened to this sort of randomly but was pleased to discover that this recording was of one of my favorite discussions by the group. Commenting now soas not to lose track of it

The original recording has disappeared so I am posting the quote referred to in Dave's comment:

Quote from: Dave T on Aug 28, 2018, 05:47 AMHuxley quote on mental illness is very interesting. It is hard to tell what is truly "normal" anymore, because normal is so distorted.

ââ,¬Å"The real hopeless victims of mental illness are to be found among those who appear to be most normal. "Many of them are normal because they are so well adjusted to our mode of existence, because their human voice has been silenced so early in their lives, that they do not even struggle or suffer or develop symptoms as the neurotic does." They are normal not in what may be called the absolute sense of the word; they are normal only in relation to a profoundly abnormal society. Their perfect adjustment to that abnormal society is a measure of their mental sickness. These millions of abnormally normal people, living without fuss in a society to which, if they were fully human beings, they ought not to be adjusted.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬â€¢ Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited

[embed=500,300]<iframe src="http://deburger.com/vestibule/embed/TolstoyConfession.html" width="500" height="300"></iframe>[/embed]

https://archive.org/details/confession_1505_librivox

LibriVox recording of My Confession by Leo Tolstoy.
Read in English by Expatriate
"My Confession" is a brief autobiographical story of Leo Tolstoy's struggle with a mid-life existential crisis of melancholia. It describes his search for answers to the profound questions "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?", without answers to which life, for him, had become "impossible." Tolstoy reflects on the arc of his philosophical life until then: his childhood abandonment of his Russian orthodox faith; his mastery of strength, will, power, and reason; and how, after he had achieved tremendous financial success and social status, life to him seemed meaningless. After despairing of his attempts to find answers in science, philosophy, eastern wisdom, and his fellow men of letters, he describes his turn to the wisdom of the common people and his attempts to reconcile their instinctive faith with the dictates of his reason. The main body of the text ends with the author reaching a compromise: faith, he realizes, is a necessity, but it must be constrained by reason. However, an epilogue that describes a dream he had some time after completing the body of the text suggests that he has undergone a radical personal and spiritual transformation. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Found this graphic that shows the writings of Paul in chronological order...

I plan to read in this order to see if it adds clarity.

This pdf is CLV presented in this order:
http://DeBurger.com/vestibule/concordant/Evangel.pdf

[embed=425,349]<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h6fcK_fRYaI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/embed]

The Egg
By: Andy Weir

You were on your way home when you died.

It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.

And thatââ,¬â,,¢s when you met me.

ââ,¬Å"Whatââ,¬Â¦ what happened?ââ,¬Â You asked. ââ,¬Å"Where am I?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"You died,ââ,¬Â I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.

ââ,¬Å"There was aââ,¬Â¦ a truck and it was skiddingââ,¬Â¦Ã¢â,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Yup,ââ,¬Â I said.

ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬Â¦ I died?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Yup. But donââ,¬â,,¢t feel bad about it. Everyone dies,ââ,¬Â I said.

You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. ââ,¬Å"What is this place?ââ,¬Â You asked. ââ,¬Å"Is this the afterlife?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"More or less,ââ,¬Â I said.

ââ,¬Å"Are you god?ââ,¬Â You asked.

ââ,¬Å"Yup,ââ,¬Â I replied. ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬â,,¢m God.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"My kidsââ,¬Â¦ my wife,ââ,¬Â you said.

ââ,¬Å"What about them?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Will they be all right?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Thatââ,¬â,,¢s what I like to see,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"You just died and your main concern is for your family. Thatââ,¬â,,¢s good stuff right there.ââ,¬Â

You looked at me with fascination. To you, I didnââ,¬â,,¢t look like God. I just looked like some man. Or possibly a woman. Some vague authority figure, maybe. More of a grammar school teacher than the almighty.

ââ,¬Å"Donââ,¬â,,¢t worry,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"Theyââ,¬â,,¢ll be fine. Your kids will remember you as perfect in every way. They didnââ,¬â,,¢t have time to grow contempt for you. Your wife will cry on the outside, but will be secretly relieved. To be fair, your marriage was falling apart. If itââ,¬â,,¢s any consolation, sheââ,¬â,,¢ll feel very guilty for feeling relieved.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Oh,ââ,¬Â you said. ââ,¬Å"So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or something?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Neither,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"Youââ,¬â,,¢ll be reincarnated.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Ah,ââ,¬Â you said. ââ,¬Å"So the Hindus were right,ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"All religions are right in their own way,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"Walk with me.ââ,¬Â

You followed along as we strode through the void. ââ,¬Å"Where are we going?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Nowhere in particular,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"Itââ,¬â,,¢s just nice to walk while we talk.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"So whatââ,¬â,,¢s the point, then?ââ,¬Â You asked. ââ,¬Å"When I get reborn, Iââ,¬â,,¢ll just be a blank slate, right? A baby. So all my experiences and everything I did in this life wonââ,¬â,,¢t matter.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Not so!ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"You have within you all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives. You just donââ,¬â,,¢t remember them right now.ââ,¬Â

I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. ââ,¬Å"Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine. A human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are. Itââ,¬â,,¢s like sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if itââ,¬â,,¢s hot or cold. You put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back out, youââ,¬â,,¢ve gained all the experiences it had.

ââ,¬Å"Youââ,¬â,,¢ve been in a human for the last 48 years, so you havenââ,¬â,,¢t stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we hung out here for long enough, youââ,¬â,,¢d start remembering everything. But thereââ,¬â,,¢s no point to doing that between each life.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"How many times have I been reincarnated, then?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Oh lots. Lots and lots. An in to lots of different lives.ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"This time around, youââ,¬â,,¢ll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 AD.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Wait, what?ââ,¬Â You stammered. ââ,¬Å"Youââ,¬â,,¢re sending me back in time?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Well, I guess technically. Time, as you know it, only exists in your universe. Things are different where I come from.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Where you come from?ââ,¬Â You said.

ââ,¬Å"Oh sure,ââ,¬Â I explained ââ,¬Å"I come from somewhere. Somewhere else. And there are others like me. I know youââ,¬â,,¢ll want to know what itââ,¬â,,¢s like there, but honestly you wouldnââ,¬â,,¢t understand.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Oh,ââ,¬Â you said, a little let down. ââ,¬Å"But wait. If I get reincarnated to other places in time, I could have interacted with myself at some point.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Sure. Happens all the time. And with both lives only aware of their own lifespan you donââ,¬â,,¢t even know itââ,¬â,,¢s happening.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"So whatââ,¬â,,¢s the point of it all?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Seriously?ââ,¬Â I asked. ââ,¬Å"Seriously? Youââ,¬â,,¢re asking me for the meaning of life? Isnââ,¬â,,¢t that a little stereotypical?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Well itââ,¬â,,¢s a reasonable question,ââ,¬Â you persisted.

I looked you in the eye. ââ,¬Å"The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"You mean mankind? You want us to mature?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Just me? What about everyone else?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"There is no one else,ââ,¬Â I said. ââ,¬Å"In this universe, thereââ,¬â,,¢s just you and me.ââ,¬Â

You stared blankly at me. ââ,¬Å"But all the people on earthââ,¬Â¦Ã¢â,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"All you. Different incarnations of you.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Wait. Iââ,¬â,,¢m everyone!?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Now youââ,¬â,,¢re getting it,ââ,¬Â I said, with a congratulatory slap on the back.

ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬â,,¢m every human being who ever lived?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Or who will ever live, yes.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬â,,¢m Abraham Lincoln?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"And youââ,¬â,,¢re John Wilkes Booth, too,ââ,¬Â I added.

ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬â,,¢m Hitler?ââ,¬Â You said, appalled.

ââ,¬Å"And youââ,¬â,,¢re the millions he killed.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Iââ,¬â,,¢m Jesus?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"And youââ,¬â,,¢re everyone who followed him.ââ,¬Â

You fell silent.

ââ,¬Å"Every time you victimized someone,ââ,¬Â I said, ââ,¬Å"you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness youââ,¬â,,¢ve done, youââ,¬â,,¢ve done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you.ââ,¬Â

You thought for a long time.

ââ,¬Å"Why?ââ,¬Â You asked me. ââ,¬Å"Why do all this?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Because someday, you will become like me. Because thatââ,¬â,,¢s what you are. Youââ,¬â,,¢re one of my kind. Youââ,¬â,,¢re my child.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"Whoa,ââ,¬Â you said, incredulous. ââ,¬Å"You mean Iââ,¬â,,¢m a god?ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"No. Not yet. Youââ,¬â,,¢re a fetus. Youââ,¬â,,¢re still growing. Once youââ,¬â,,¢ve lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born.ââ,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"So the whole universe,ââ,¬Â you said, ââ,¬Å"itââ,¬â,,¢s justââ,¬Â¦Ã¢â,¬Â

ââ,¬Å"An egg.ââ,¬Â I answered. ââ,¬Å"Now itââ,¬â,,¢s time for you to move on to your next life.ââ,¬Â

And I sent you on your way.

I just came across this helpful program:

Scripture 4 All
Greek / Hebrew interlinear Bible software

overcome the language barrier and get in touch with the original

Download: http://scripture4all.org/download/download_ISA3.php