Video Introduction

Summary

The New Testament contains twenty-one letters that have been arranged in a recognizable pattern. Scholars and church leaders also sometimes employ various labels for discussing particular groups or types of letters (Pastoral Letters, Captivity Epistles, Catholic Epistles, etc.).

In the ancient world, letters were typically written on papyrus. Many authors would employ an amanuensis or scribe for assistance in letter writing, and the extent of that person’s contribution to the process could vary. Most letters in the ancient world exhibit a clear format consisting of four parts: salutation, thanksgiving, main body, and closing.

Many scholars believe that some of the letters in the New Testament are pseudepigraphical, that is, ascribed to an author who did not literally write that letter (indeed, who may even have been dead). A spectrum of possibilities may be discerned, with several intermediate “levels of authenticity” in between literal authorship and outright forgery. Scholars disagree on the level of authenticity that ought to be accorded many of the New Testament letters.

Study Questions

1. List the thirteen New Testament letters that are attributed to Paul, then indicate whether each of these letters would be placed in any of the following categories: (1) undisputed letters of Paul; (2) deutero-Pauline letters; (3) Pastoral Letters; (4) Captivity Epistles; (5) Catholic Epistles. Which letters fit into more than one category?

2. What is an amanuensis, and what role might such a person have played in the composition of New Testament letters? Why does such a role become significant in discussions of pseudepigraphy?

3. List the four main components of an ancient letter and provide a one-sentence description for each component.

4. List seven levels of authenticity that might be applied when questions of authorship are raised for New Testament letters and indicate what is meant by each of these.

5. What factors might influence a scholar in deciding that a letter is or is not pseudepigraphical? Cite three factors that might incline a scholar to favor authenticity and three that might incline a scholar to favor pseudepigraphy.

Explore Readings

These readings provide a chance for you to explore the New Testament in more depth. The boxes from the text are included here, as well as bibliographies and outlines for the books of the New Testament.

All the Explore readings can also be downloaded as PDFs here.

• 11.0. Types of Letters and Their Different Functions (Box 11.1)

• 11.1. Bibliography: New Testament Letters

• 11.2. Hymns in New Testament Letters (Box 18.2)

• 11.3. What’s the Difference between a "Letter" and an "Epistle"?

• 11.4. Authorship and Pseudepigraphy: Levels of Authenticity (Box 11.2)

• 11.5. Pseudepigraphy and the Problem of Personal Reference

• 11.6. Pseudepigraphy as an Affront to Religious Faith

• 11.7. New Testament Epistles as a Source for Historical Jesus Studies

Video: Letter Writing in the New Testament World

Overview: The New Testament Letters