Corpus-Paul

[Richard Fellows <rfellows AT shaw.ca>]

Listers may like to know that this question was explored by William Walker
(JSNT 24 (1985) 3-23)).

There are at least three separate questions here:
1. Did Luke know that Paul wrote letters?
2. How well did Luke know Paul's letters?
3. Did Luke make use of Paul's letters when writing Acts?

My own view is that Luke made little or no use of Paul's letters. This may
well indicate that Acts was composed before the letters had gained the
status of authoritative document, but it tells us nothing about how well
Luke knew the letters. If, as seems likely, Luke was writing long before the
letters became 'scripture', he would have no reason to use them, or even
mention them. No doubt Luke had more important sources of information.
Letters do NOT generally provide a full picture of their author.

Antti, you mentioned a dissertation on this subject. Would you summarize the
arguments for us?

Richard Fellows.