I like to write and study, which is partly why I write blogs on Watchmakers Pulse. And I like to write series of related posts. It helps me focus and saves the difficulty of generating new ideas. So far, I’ve written the following series of posts (which can also be accessed from the menu at the right side of the page), listed in order from longest to shortest series:

• Chronological Bible – I wrote 53 posts associated with my annual reading through the Bible. Each post highlighted excerpts from that week’s scripture reading.
• 3:16 – The Rest of the Story – This was a series of Bible studies I wrote about all the “3:16” verses in the Bible. It is essentially an nearly complete overview of the Bible and had 50 posts.
• Social Media Posts for the California Trail Center – While under employment in Nevada, I posted copies of all the U.S. History posts that I wrote there.
• Watchmakers Pulse Progress – I wrote a number of posts explaining our progress before, during, and after the launch of our travels and life in our motorhome.
• Daniel – I wrote 17 bible studies based on the book of Daniel
• Hebrews – 13 studies from the book of Hebrews.
• Song of Songs – 9 Bible studies based on that book.

As you can see from the list in the sidebar, there are other topics that I’ve linked to various blog posts, but the ones I listed above were my most consistent sets of series.

I’ve also occasionally proposed series that fell flat for various reasons (Walks with Scooter & Fundamental Christian Doctrines). I mention these because I’m about to propose another series that I really want to write, but time will tell whether it plays out.

When I wrote the 3:16 series, I was thinking (and still think) that it might turn into a book someday. I’m feeling the same way about this series. Whether I write a book or not, the fun comes in the research, in my opinion. For many years (over a decade) I’ve periodically outlined and researched things that could lead to a historical fiction novel treatment of the life of Paul the Apostle. For the purposes of a blog, I wouldn’t be writing the fictional narrative parts, but I could write about what I’ve found so far in my research.

Up front, I’ll identify the primary sources that I would be using. Besides internet research, I have the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the NIV Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, and Nave’s Topical Bible. I’ve also recently found several good video series from RightNow Media which help visualize Paul’s life.

I will make no claims to being an “expert” or that I will discuss everything that should be discussed or even that I’ll get everything right. While the purpose of a blog might be to get people to read it, I’m using it mostly for my own growth and exploration of topics that interest me.

Why Paul? Paul is the subject of, or wrote (under the influence of the Holy Spirit) about 1/3 of the New Testament. By studying Paul’s life, we gain further insight into the context and content of his letters and theology. Paul is not to be especially venerated as someone other than a man used by God, but Paul did encourage the church in Corinth to “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Corinthian 11:1)” As we understand the ways that Paul pointed to Christ, we can learn from him how to do the same.

Paul was born to a Jewish family from the tribe of Benjamin in Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 22:3). He had at least one sister (Acts 23:16), but nothing else is known for certain about his family. He was apparently born a Roman citizen (as opposed to somehow acquiring or purchasing it himself). His family may have moved to Jerusalem when he was young because in the passage above he says that he was “brought up” there and was “educated at the feet of Gamaliel“.

Gamaliel was a well-respected rabbi who is mentioned one more time in Scripture. In Acts 5:34-39, Peter and the rest of the apostles were brought before the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) because of their testimony about the resurrection and glorification of Jesus. When they wanted to sentence them to death, Gamaliel stood up and advised against it, saying that “if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

Gamaliel is referenced as a contributor in the Jewish Mishnah, which is a 6-part collection of Rabbinic commentaries on the law (Torah) that were compiled in early centuries. At one point in the Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 5:21) it describes how old a person should be for various activities. “At five years of age the study of Scripture; At ten the study of Mishnah; At thirteen subject to the commandments; At fifteen the study of Talmud; At eighteen the bridal canopy; At twenty for pursuit [of livelihood]; At thirty the peak of strength; At forty wisdom; At fifty able to give counsel; At sixty old age; At seventy fullness of years; At eighty the age of “strength”; At ninety a bent body; At one hundred, as good as dead and gone completely out of the world.” This actually gives us insight into Paul’s probable early upbringing. He would have reached about the age of thirty when we are first introduced to him in Acts 7, which is where I’ll pick up with the next post.