The Problem With Reading New Testament Letters

New Testament scholars have come to realize that it doesn't really make any sense to talk about how first century Jewish Christians could even have left Judaism. In 1 Corinthians, especially, Paul quotes a number of slogans that are being uttered in the Corinthian church used to sort of advance their way of thinking or whatever. So we do have a good idea about what's happening there or at least what Paul's addressing. That's just not the situation with every New Testament letter.