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Pauline epistles

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Events in the Life of Paul according to "Acts of the Apostles"

Early life Tarsus Gamaliel Martyrdom of Stephen Conversion near Damascus First Mission, with Barnabas Antioch Seleucia Cyprus Salamis Paphos Perge Antioch in Pisidia Konya Derbe Lystra Antalya Council of Jerusalem Split with Barnabas Acts 15:36-41, Galatians 2:11-14 Second Mission, with Silas Antioch Cilicia Derbe, Timothy Lystra Phrygia Galatia, Titus Mysia Samothrace Neapolis Philippi Amphipolis Apollonia Thessalonica Beroea Athens Corinth, Priscilla & Aquila Cenchreae Ephesus Syria Caesarea Jerusalem Third Mission, with Silas Antioch Galatia Phrygia Ephesus, Apollos Macedonia Corinth Cenchreae Macedonia Troas Assos Mytilene Chios Samos Miletus Cos Rhodes Patara Tyre Ptolemais Caesarea Arrest & Trials Jerusalem Caesarea Felix Festus Agrippa II Malta Shipwreck Rome Death Epistles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thess. 2 Thess. 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon This box: view • talk • edit

The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul (Παῦλος) as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents. They provide an insight into the beliefs and controversies of Early Christianity and, as part of the canon of the New Testament, they have also been, and continue to be, foundational to Christian theology and Christian ethics. Usually they are placed between the Book of Acts and the General epistles. In minuscules 175, 325, 336, and 1424 the Pauline epistles are placed at the end of New Testament.

Contents [hide] 1 The order of epistles 2 Religious classification of the epistles 3 Authenticity of the epistles 4 Lost Pauline Epistles 5 Non-canonical Pauline Epistles 6 References 7 Bibliographic Resources 8 External links

[edit] The order of epistles

In the order they appear in the New Testament, the Pauline epistles are:

Name	Greek	Latin	Abbreviations
			Full	Min.
Romans	Προς Ρωμαίους	Epistula ad Romanos	Rom	Ro
First Corinthians	Προς Κορινθίους Α	Epistula I ad Corinthios	1 Cor	1C
Second Corinthians	Προς Κορινθίους Β	Epistula II ad Corinthios	2 Cor	2C
Galatians	Προς Γαλάτας	Epistula ad Galatas	Gal	G
Ephesians	Προς Εφεσίους	Epistula ad Ephesios	Eph	E
Philippians	Προς Φιλιππησίους	Epistula ad Philippenses	Phil	Phi
Colossians	Προς Κολασσαείς	Epistula ad Colossenses	Col	C
First Thessalonians	Προς Θεσσαλονικείς Α	Epistula I ad Thessalonicenses	1 Thess	1Th
Second Thessalonians	Προς Θεσσαλονικείς Β	Epistula II ad Thessalonicenses	2 Thess	2Th
First Timothy	Προς Τιμόθεον Α	Epistula I ad Timotheum	1 Tim	1T
Second Timothy	Προς Τιμόθεον Β	Epistula II ad Timotheum	2 Tim	2T
Titus	Προς Τίτον	Epistula ad Titum	Tit	T
Philemon	Προς Φιλήμονα	Epistula ad Philemonem	Philem	P

All of these epistles present Paul as the author.^[1] Some classifications do include Hebrews, being anonymous, as a Pauline epistle instead of listing it with the general epistles, but authorship of Hebrews (as Paul's) was disputed from the earliest.^[2]

Formerly in many manuscripts of New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews was located between other Pauline epistles:

• between Rom and 1 Cor in mss: Papyrus 46 and in minuscules: 103, 455, 1961, 1964, 1977, 1994.
• between 2 Cor and Gal (minuscules 1930, 1978, and 2248)
• between Gal and Eph,
• between 2 Thessalonians and 1 Timothy. This order used manuscripts: Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209, Codex Ephraemi, H, I, P, 0150, 0151, and about 60 minuscule codices (e.g. 218, 632).

Now Hebrews is placed in the end. This order was used by the manuscripts: Codex Bezae, Uncial 048, E, K, L and majority of minuscules.

[edit] Religious classification of the epistles

The Pauline epistles are also noteworthy for the personal relationships they mention. Paul greets many individuals by name, often giving details about the value of these friendships and the encouragement they gave him.

[edit] Authenticity of the epistles

Main article Authorship of the Pauline epistles.

Several of the letters are thought by most modern scholars to be pseudepigraphic, that is, not actually written by Paul of Tarsus even if attributed to him within the letters themselves, or, arguably, even forgeries intended to justify certain later beliefs. Details of the arguments regarding this issue are addressed more specifically in the articles about each epistle.

These are the 7 letters (with consensus dates)^[3] considered genuine by most scholars (see main article Authorship of the Pauline epistles: section The undisputed epistles):

• Romans (ca. 55-58 AD)
• Philippians (ca. 52-54 AD)
• Galatians (ca. 55 AD)
• Philemon (ca. 52-54 AD)
• First Corinthians (ca. 53-54 AD)
• Second Corinthians (ca. 55-56 AD)
• First Thessalonians (ca. 51 AD)

The letters thought to be pseudepigraphic by the majority of modern scholars include:^[4]

• Pastoral epistles
  • First Timothy
  • Second Timothy
  • Titus
• Ephesians

The letters on which modern scholars are about evenly divided are:^[4]

• Colossians
• Second Thessalonians

An anonymous letter that nearly all modern scholars agree was probably not written by Paul is:

• Hebrews

[edit] Lost Pauline Epistles

• The first Epistle to Corinth^[5] referenced at 1 Corinthians 5:9
• The third Epistle to Corinth called Severe Letter referenced at 2 Corinthians 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:8-9
• The Corinthian letter to Paul referenced at 1 Corinthians 7:1
• The Earlier Epistle to the Ephesians referenced at Ephesians 3:3-4
• The Epistle to the Laodiceans^[6]referenced at Colossians 4:16

[edit] Non-canonical Pauline Epistles

Several non-canonical epistles exist claiming or having been claimed to have been written by Paul. Most, if not all, scholars reject their authenticity. They include

• Third Epistle to the Corinthians (canonical for a time in the Armenian Orthodox)
• Epistle to the Laodiceans (found in Codex Fuldensis)
• Epistle of the Corinthians to Paul (addressed to Paul, not written by him)
• Epistle to the Alexandrians

Texts also exist which, whilst not strictly epistles, nevertheless claim to have been written by (or about) Paul. These include

• Acts of Paul and Thecla
• Acts of Peter and Paul
• Apocalypse of Paul
• Coptic Apocalypse of Paul
• Prayer of the Apostle Paul
• Epistle to Seneca the Younger

Some have also postulated the existence of a third epistle to the Thessalonians (second chronologically) forged in Paul's name, citing 2 Th 2:1-2, 3:17 as evidence; that hypothesis, though, has not gained mainstream acceptance.