Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Paul in I Cor 15 speaks of the coming Kingdom. In 2 Cor Paul mentions his visits to Paradise in Hades and the Throne of God. (Which I believed happened when he was stoned to death in Lystra.) Many things Paul saw and heard, he was forbidden to repeat.
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I agree Paul likely had an near death experience and I think he saw false believers in hell like so many others who had NDEs so that's why he himself was so afraid of being "disqualified" and wanted to make every effort to confirm his calling and election.
1 Cor 9:27
"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others
I myself should be disqualified. "
Notice he didn't say he was afraid of coming in second or third place which would be the case if it was related to loss of rewards, but he says "disqualified", kicked out of the race.
Paul also expresses similar fear elsewhere:
Phil 3:11-12
that by any means possible
I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
The resurrection of the dead is our living hope for salvation according to 1 Peter 1:3-9, yet Paul says that he did not assume that he already obtained it but wanted to keep pressing on to confirm his calling and election.