Letters of Paul

Letter Writing in the First Century

  • Materials:
    • Papyrus — VERY fragile
  • Amanuensis — wrote letters
  • Paul’s letters probably weren’t word for word
  • A deliverer was needed to send the messages
    • Made sure the letter was read to the congregation
    • Had to clarify the letter
    • Phoebe carried letter to Rome
  • Scribes — copiers
    • Sometimes took freedom when copying over
  • No original manuscripts of the letters exist

Form

  • Salutation — “dear”
  • Greeting — Identified authors
  • Blessing/Prayer to Receiver
  • Body
  • Greetings from Other People

Pseudepigrapha

  • Pseudepigrapha — who authored the letter/book
  • Literal Authorship — the author wrote with their own hand, from their own mind the letter/book
  • Dictation — the amanuensis/secretary had to write word for word what the author said
  • Delegated Authorship — the amanuensis/secretary freedom in crafting the letter
    • Author would still read over the letter and sign off on it before sending it
  • Posthumous Authorship — author dies before the letter is completed and the amanuensis/students would finish the letter
  • Apprentice Authorship — a student or school continues to write letters in the name of the author after they dies
  • Honorable Pseudepigrapha — admirers write in the authors name
  • Forgery — writing in another name without any authority

Pseudepigrapha in the New Testament

  • Anonymous Letters - Hebrews, 1-3 John
    • Text does not explicitly state author
    • Up for debate who wrote them
  • Universally Accepted Letters - Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon
    • Most scholars agree to the idea of the stated author
  • Disputed Letters - Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, James, 1&2 Peter, Jude
    • “Deutero-Pauline Letters” - authorship is questioned (in this case Paul) — Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus

Why is Authorship Questioned?

  • Language and style differences
  • Theological differences
    • Ex. Paul believes that Jesus is the foundation of faith and has little respect for “apostolic authority” (Galatians), but calls the disciples the foundation of the faith in Ephesians
  • Historical Anachronisms
    • If the letter references things from after their death
  • Biographical Material
    • Refer to something/an event in the author’s life that we have no record of them doing
    • Ex. (1 Timothy/Titus) author mentions visiting towns that Paul does not mention any where else
  • Unreliability of Tradition
    • Church creates a tradition consensus that is wrong
    • Ex. Paul wrote Hebrews (early tradition), but nowadays scholars rarely believe that

Challenge to Faith?

  • Not necessarily, because God used all sorts of people to further his faith, so why not someone who isn’t an apostle