The Pauline Satan: not a Cosmic Power

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Jax
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Re: The Pauline Satan: not a Cosmic Power

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GakuseiDon wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 2:28 pm What a fascinating idea! I offer this, half-humorously but a little seriously: when Paul writes that he wanted to go "more than once" but "Satan hindered us", it immediately struck me that it sounded like "I wanted to go, but the ol' ball and chain didn't let me".

Could Paul have used "Satan" as a metaphorical name for... Paul's wife? Wouldn't that be great? Though perhaps James might be a better fit.
I also have always seen that passage as Paul referring to a human, someone in a position of power over Paul and his group that is making it impossible for them to do as they please.
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