REL 105 - Chapter 7: Letters of Paul

Overview of the letters

• Most written by a scribe (Galatians 6:11)
• Written to the community
• Don’t be using the law to fit in with an accepted religion to avoid persecution

Seven undisputed letters

• All believed to be written by Paul
• Similar vocabulary, style, and theology
• Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon, 1 Thessalonians, Galatians

Six disputed letters

• Not fully written by Paul - Maybe on his behalf after he died
• Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians
• Pastoral letters
  • How to manage a church

Paul’s epistles are …

• Occasional documents
  • You have to think about the culture of the place they’re written to
• Ancient documents
  • Again, you have to think about the culture of the time

Historical context of Paul’s letters

• Locale of the recipents
• What are the issues and concerns facing that church?
  • You can read that right in the text or from Bible dictionaries

Literary context of Paul’s letters

• Read the whole letter
• Think paragraphs: content and context