Biblical Studies/New Testament Commentaries/1 Corinthians/The Apostle Paul

Basic Facts in Need of Elaboration
Most scholars believe Paul's letters were the first NT documents produced. They are the earliest surviving Christian literature. His earliest letter dates from ca. A.D. 50. It was probably what we call 1 Thessalonians, although some scholar consider Galatians the earliest. The latest letter written by Paul is probably earlier than the earliest other NT writing.

Thirteen of the twenty-seven NT books bear Paul's name: Romans; 1 and 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 and 2 Thessalonians; 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus; and Philemon. The strict Pauline authorship of nine letters traditionally assigned to Paul is challenged in contemporary scholarship:

Authentic: Romans; 1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Philippians; 1 Thessalonians; Philemon Debated:   2 Thessalonians; Colossians; Ephesians Doubted:   1 & 2 Timothy; Titus Denied:    Hebrews

Complications with Authorship: Amanuenses, scribes, or secretaries (see Rom 16:22) Cosenders Quotations Accepted cultural practice of “pseudonymity” Redaction or editing of the collection

Biographical Sketch

Names: Saul: Jewish Paul: Greco-Roman Ancestry: Benjamite Religiously Orthodox: Pharisee Diaspora Jew: Tarsus of Cilicia Roman citizen by birth Education: Greco-Roman rhetorical Jewish-Rabbinic Languages of Paul: Greek (all of his letters) Aramaic (used in Jerusalem) Hebrew (some OT quotations) Latin (implied by ministry in Illyricum and plans to evangelize in Spain) Persecutor of Christians Conversion / Call to Preach Jesus as the Christ on the Road to Damascus (Syria) ca. A.D. 33 Apostolic Career: Missionary Preacher in the northeastern Mediterranean world Planting Churches in Asia Minor and Greece Writing Letters Journey to Rome as a prisoner Death: Tradition: by orders of Nero ca. A.D. 64-67

External Points of Reference to Potentially Datable Persons / Events in the Life of Paul (as derived from Acts and his letters): Gamaliel (Acts 22:3; 5:34) Crucifixion of Jesus High Priest: Annas (Acts 4:6; 9:1) Stoning of Stephen (Acts 6:1—8:1) Nabatean King of Damascus: Aretas (2 Cor 11:32) Roman Emperor: Claudius (Acts 11:28; 18:2) Proconsul of Achaia: Gallio (L. Junius Gallio – Acts 18:12-17) Divine wrath on Judea (1 Thess. 2:14-16) High Priest: Ananias (Acts 23:2; 24:1) Governors (Procurators of Judea): Felix (Acts 23:24—25:14; 24:27) Festus (Acts 24:27—26:32) Jewish King: Herod (Herod Agrippa I – Acts 12:1, 6, 11, 19, 20, 21) Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II – Acts 25:13-26:32) Proconsul of Cyprus: Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7) Publius of Malta (Acts 28:7) Caesar (Nero – Acts 25:8—28:19)