[SaltyJoe]

We also know that St Paul was a killer. He could have suffered from the trauma that killing brings to a soul: paranoia, vanity (rush of power), rage (or impatience with others' views). Recall that he encouraged those who wanted gentiles to be circumcised that the enforcers should go further and castrate themselves completely. That's not something I'd expect Jesus Himself to say, but hey, St Paul was just human. He had his pride to conquer.

Also, those who've murdered/killed have to deal with the ghosts of their past--literally. Jesus describes that when a Christian returns kindness for those who persecute, it's like dumping hot coals on their head. Persecuting Christians before becoming a Christian may have had lingering affects of guilt, along with the feeling of betraying his hardliner scholars and colleges he left behind (and had to abandon).

[Just mythoughts]

"We also know that St Paul was a killer."

Paul held the coats of those stoners of Stephen! Paul did not lie in 'wait' and premeditate to kill anybody, he was protecting what he believe to be preservation of the OLD way.

Now no where do you find it written that Paul was accused as being a killer.

[AnOldCowhand]

Killer or not, Paul was a Christian and as such he knew total forgiveness.

[Sola Veritas]

"Recall that he encouraged those who wanted gentiles to be circumcised that the enforcers should go further and castrate themselves completely. That's not something I'd expect Jesus Himself to say"

I disagree. Paul was writing under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. There is no error in what he wrote. Besides, Paul was using a rhetorical hyperbole to make a point about those Judiazers that would require gentile Christians to be circumcized - become Jews. The Lord Jesus Himself used strong language in His condemnation of pharisees, sadducees, the priests. Paul wasn't far from his Lord in his verbage.

Whatever, I do agree that Paul probably carried, although fully forgiven, lingering guilt all his life about what he had done to his fellow Christians before he became a believer. He referred to himself as the least of the apostles for this reason. It was not something he gloried in, except that he had been redeemed from it.

Whatever,