The Bible For Normal People
[Bible] April Bonus Episode: Jared Byas & the New Testament Nerds - Ask a Scholar Anything (About the New Testament)
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The debate over the authorship of Colossians and Ephesians highlights significant scholarly divisions regarding their classification as pseudepigrapha rather than authentic Pauline letters.
- Understanding ancient practices of pseudonymous writing redefines authorship positively, framing it as respect for the original author rather than deception or forgery.
Deep dives
Understanding Pseudo-Pauline Letters
The discussion revolves around the classification of certain letters attributed to Paul, specifically Colossians and Ephesians, which are often categorized as pseudepigrapha. The majority of scholars lean toward the idea that these letters were not written by Paul himself, with a 60-40 split in scholarly opinion, highlighting the theological differences between these letters and those widely accepted as authentically Pauline. It is noted that Colossians and Ephesians share unique vocabulary not found in more accepted Pauline letters, further supporting the argument for their pseudonymous authorship. However, some scholars argue for their authenticity based on connections with Pauline letters like Philemon, suggesting that variations could arise from different scribes or writing contexts rather than outright forgery.
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