Well, I would respectfully disagree because Paul wrote about predestination and election, and he was an inspired author of God. Therefore, I would give him credit for knowing more than any person around today on those subjects. As inspired, we consider Paul's writings "perfect" and not subject to being improved upon over the ages.
It is not until you are challenged on a particular point that you begin to pay attention.
Amen, and good for you and your wife for your memorization. I have memorized long passages before, but not a whole book. I agree with you that memorization, while always good, does not necessarily mean full comprehension. As I continue to learn today, I revisit old memorized passages and discover further meaning.
Did Paul know that he was writing scripture? (I suspect he did) and if he did know, did he realize that he was writing way over his head?
The first question is comparatively easy for me to address, and agree with you, that Paul knew he was writing scripture. Peter acknowledges that Paul's writings were scripture in 2 Pet. 3:14-16. So, if Peter knew ......
The second part was much harder for me and I went around and around about it. My conclusion was that to the extent that scriptures are comprehensible by man, Paul knew more about what he wrote than anyone since. He was an inspired author, and if Paul's own writings were above his head then who could have understood them? If no one, then the purpose of the Bible would be thwarted as the revealed word of God.
At the same time, I don't think Paul would have claimed to have had an equal understanding of all scriptures, for then he would have had no potential left for growth himself. But, I think this is OK, since the revelation to and the witness of each author in scripture is unique. Each author wrote what the author witnessed, either through experience or through revelation.
Paul is not the Author.
and if Paul's own writings were above his head then who could have understood them? If no one, then the purpose of the Bible would be thwarted as the revealed word of God.
Paul told us that scripture is inspired. Is there evidence of this? I believe that there is. There are things in the Bible that men could not have put there. It is Paul’s letters that take us into the sanctuary. Could he have known that his fourteen letters would be the Leviticus of the New Testament?
Of course Paul was writing over his head and I think he knew it. He referred to himself as “less than the least of all saints.” I am not being sarcastic here, but I suggest that this is what happens to us when we stand in awe before our creator.
I have found that the more I study the Bible, the bigger it gets. Please don’t take me wrong; I think that Paul had a great understanding. Have you considered how your arguments would apply to Old Testament scripture writers?