Corpus-Paul

[zeba.crook AT utoronto.ca]

Quoting David ATTBI <davidinglis2 AT attbi.com>:

> I believe that many people use Pauline forgery (or pseudepigraphy if you
> insist) as an easy 'out' when they come across something that doesn't seem
> to fit, and aren't prepared to go back to square one and basically say "Can
> I make everything 'fit' on the basis that Paul was involved with writing
> all the Paulines?" (Note that I'm here allowing for, say, Luke actually 
> penning the Pastorals under Paul's direction).  My contention is that it is
> possible to make everything fit on this basis, and so although Pauline
> pseudepigraphy is possible (I don't see how anyone could ever *prove* that 
> it 
> didn't take place), it isn't necessary, and indeed isn't probable.

It's funny isn't it, that originally scholars had to argue for the 
possibility, 
due to the wide spread practice of pseudepigraphy and important differences 
among the letters, that Paul might not have penned all the letters in his 
name, 
which led to a fairly broad consensus that some letters we can't be certain 
of 
and so should treat as pseudonymous, and now some scholars are arguing that 
pseudonymity cannot be proven (and that alternative explanations for the 
differences abound) so we should treat those letters as authentic.  
Originally 
scholars were challenging the easy "out" of assumed (and it was most 
certainly 
assumed) authenticity, and how some are challenging the easy "out" of argued 
pseudonymity. I guess what I'm finding most interesting is that the same 
rhetoric gets used by both "sides."  I see this elsewhere as well in other 
debates that are being re-opened (and victory re-claimed) by conservative 
voices 
on issues which liberal voices have long been dominant (historical Jesus for 
one).

Just an observation,

Cheers,

Zeb
> 
> Dave Inglis
> davidinglis2 AT attbi.com
> 3538 O'Connor Drive
> Lafayette, CA, 94549
> 
> 
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