[kosta50]

In talking about great faith, Paul does not talk about Mary; instead he talks about Abraham as our example

There are a few things we know about Paul from his own letters and not through the perfumed lens of the Book of Acts. One of them was that Paul did not particularly consider women to be anything as far as the Church was concerned.

Not only did Paul not know Jesus in person, but by the time he died, I seriously doubt he even met Mary or if he did meet her he probably did not take extra time to honor the Mother of the Man he claimed was his God.

[HarleyD]

One of them was that Paul did not particularly consider women to be anything as far as the Church was concerned.

Doesn't this seem to be an odd statement especially the way Mary is now revered? Paul, btw, often refer to many women in his writings and how they were great supporters of his ministry.

[annalex]

Kosta, this is your personal and highly inorthodox opinion. This is Mary seen by St. Paul:

14 ...Adam was not seduced; but the woman being seduced, was in the transgression. 15 Yet she shall be saved through childbearing (1 Timothy 2)

[Forest Keeper]

There are a few things we know about Paul from his own letters and not through the perfumed lens of the Book of Acts. One of them was that Paul did not particularly consider women to be anything as far as the Church was concerned.

Categorically untrue, especially for the Orthodox. :) For example:

Gal 3:27-29 : 27 ... for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

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Not only did Paul not know Jesus in person, but by the time he died, I seriously doubt he even met Mary or if he did meet her he probably did not take extra time to honor the Mother of the Man he claimed was his God.

It is not Biblically sound to imply that the relationship between Christ and Paul was "less than" that with the other Apostles. Their "in person" relationship was very close. Unless one wants to call Paul a liar, he is very specific that his teachings came not from any man, but directly from Christ. Since he is by far the most prolific writer of the NT, I would call that a pretty special and close relationship.

On what would you base your assumptions about Paul if he met Mary? It's kind of funny because I actually agree with you that he would not have treated Mary with the veneration and devotion given by the Apostolic Church today. I'll bet we would have different reasons for that. :)