Literary Discussions

I don't think ANYONE spoke in terms of "a personal relationship with Christ" during the first 1000 years of Christianity.  I doubt that Martin Luther or John Calvin used that phrase. If one looks at the 1st and 2nd "Great Awakenings" in America in the 19th century and especially at the most famous sermon of those awakenings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinners_in_the_Hands_of_an_Angry_God one does not see such language. As for Paul and his epistles, Paul was a brilliant man who faced many problems with great success but I dont really understand why people see Paul as the sock puppet of the Holy Spirit. I think Paul said a lot of things from his own subjective point of view and it is not clear that every word that came from Paul's mouth was the incontrovertible word of God almighty.