Is Paul the Original Author of the 13 Epistles?

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bobinfaith

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Hello brothers and sisters;

I felt led to research this long debate whether Paul wrote all 13 letters or only attributed to some, or most of them?

What are your thoughts and findings regarding Paul's writing through your studies of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon?

How does the Paulines impact our daily application as a Christian and what text does he teach regarding preparedness for Christ's Return?

Please remember to include your personal views beside quoting Scriptures or an author.

I'd like to get your thoughts and will post mine as well.

God bless you all.

Bob
 
At various ties, the aurhotship of some of the epistles are discussed/questioned.

Often, this is because of stylistic issues. For example, the book of Hebrews does notcontain an explicit claim concerning Paul being the author, which does appear in many of his epistles.

For myself, I do not feel competent to argue for or against any given example but do consider such discussions in general. Where I take issue is when somewone strts saying that one part of the Bible is the straight Word of God or whether there is a 'Pauline' view separate from the rest of the scriptures. For example, some have used this kind of issue to say, for example, that Paul was chauvinist, etc.

The message of the Bible is a unified (but varied) whole.

There is not a theology of Paul distinct from a theology of Jesus, though each can present a diferent view of the same truths.
 
bobinfaith said:
Hello brothers and sisters;

I felt led to research this long debate whether Paul wrote all 13 letters or only attributed to some, or most of them?

What are your thoughts and findings regarding Paul's writing through your studies of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon?

How does the Paulines impact our daily application as a Christian and what text does he teach regarding preparedness for Christ's Return?

Please remember to include your personal views beside quoting Scriptures or an author.

I'd like to get your thoughts and will post mine as well.

God bless you all.

Bob
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Good question and I have heard it asked many times. That comes from "modern" (liberal) critical scholarship that has taken great pains to try to dispute certain letters as inauthentic because they contain teachings that do not fit their preconceived notions of what Paul would have said or because of slight differences in style or vocabulary within certain letters.

I for one am of the belief that Paul also wrote the book of Hebrews.

My first response is that Paul clearly identifies himself as the author of each “book” that he wrote.

My second thought is that on the letters of Paul, "modern liberal critics" skeptics make their reputation and their money by taking controversial stands. No one gets his or her PhD by making boring claims like Paul wrote Ephesians. Scholars in general, but skeptical scholars in particular are highly biased toward not accepting the traditional authorship of the biblical books. No one gets famous for saying John wrote John.

I tend to believe the people who would know, which is the people who knew Paul and the people who knew the people who knew Paul. It was the 100% unanimous opinion of all the churches in the second century that Paul wrote all these books. And they should have known.

Whether Paul personally penned his letters or dictated them to someone else is actually not a concern. The fact is that Paul was a highly educated man who is said to have spoken in at least 5 languages and some say up to 12. Is he dictate to Timothy, it does not alter what he said to him IF that was the case which IMHO there is NO bible vatification.
 
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