Overview of disputed vs. undisputed letters.

Overview of Disputed vs. Undisputed Letters of Paul

Introduction: Why authorship debates matter

Paul’s letters are the bedrock of early Christian theology, ethics, and church practice. Yet not all thirteen canonical “Pauline” letters carry equal scholarly consensus about authorship. Since the nineteenth century, critical scholarship has distinguished between “undisputed” letters—widely agreed to have been written by Paul himself—and “disputed” or “deutero-Pauline” letters, where questions of vocabulary, style, theology, and historical setting complicate the picture (Ehrman, 2016; Dunn, 1998).

For students of Pauline literature, this distinction is not merely academic. It shapes how we interpret development in Paul’s thought, how we understand the formation of the Pauline tradition, and how we read Scripture as both human composition and Spirit-inspired witness.

1) The Undisputed Letters

Most scholars agree on seven “undisputed” letters as authentically Pauline:

1. Romans

2. 1 Corinthians

3. 2 Corinthians

4. Galatians

5. Philippians

6. 1 Thessalonians

7. Philemon

Why undisputed?

• Style and vocabulary match across these letters.

• Theology is consistent: justification by faith, centrality of the cross, new creation in Christ, and the role of the Spirit.

• Historical coherence: References in these letters align with data from Acts and external sources (e.g., the Gallio inscription for Corinth).

• Personal tone: They contain autobiographical details that ring authentic (e.g., Philemon’s appeal on behalf of Onesimus).

These seven letters serve as the baseline for reconstructing Paul’s thought (Dunn, 1998; Wright, 2013).

2) The Disputed (Deutero-Pauline) Letters

Other letters are more contested. These fall into two subcategories:

2.1 Deutero-Pauline (possibly Pauline, but debated)

• 2 Thessalonians: Disputed due to different eschatological nuance (“man of lawlessness,” delayed Parousia). Yet many argue it could be a sequel written soon after 1 Thessalonians.

• Colossians: Language of cosmic Christology (“Christ as head over all powers,” Col 1:15–20) and style differ from undisputed letters. Still, many see continuity with Paul’s theology expanded by a secretary.

• Ephesians: Long sentences, realized eschatology, and ecclesiology (the universal church as body of Christ) differ in tone from Paul’s earlier focus on local congregations. Many suspect it was written by a disciple of Paul in his name, possibly as a circular letter.

2.2 Pastoral Epistles (often considered pseudonymous by critical scholars)

• 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus: Debated due to:

  • Vocabulary with many words unused elsewhere in Paul.

  • Concern for structured church offices (bishops, elders, deacons).

  • Tone emphasizing “sound teaching” against heresy.

  • Less apocalyptic urgency than undisputed letters.
    Some conservative scholars maintain Pauline authorship (arguing for use of a secretary and development in Paul’s later years), but critical consensus leans toward composition by a later follower in the Pauline tradition (Ehrman, 2016).

3) Criteria for authorship debates

Scholars evaluate authenticity with several tools:

• Linguistic style: sentence length, vocabulary frequency, hapax legomena (words used only once).

• Theological themes: Does the Christology, eschatology, or ecclesiology match undisputed Paul?

• Historical situation: Do the issues addressed (church structure, false teaching) fit Paul’s lifetime or a later generation?

• Manuscript testimony: All thirteen letters appear together early (by the mid-2nd century), showing the church’s acceptance regardless of critical distinctions.

4) Implications for theology and faith

4.1 Continuity and development

Even if some letters were written by disciples, they still stand in continuity with Paul’s teaching. The early church canonized them because they carried apostolic authority and shaped Christian identity.

4.2 Reading them together

• Romans–Galatians stress justification.

• Philippians–Philemon stress partnership and friendship in the gospel.

• Ephesians–Colossians expand Christology to cosmic scale.

• Pastorals focus on church order and leadership.
  Together, they offer a multi-dimensional Paul—apostle, theologian, pastor, and mentor.

4.3 Hermeneutical approach

For Christian readers, the question is not only “Did Paul write this?” but also “How did the Spirit guide the early church to preserve and receive this?” The canon affirms that both undisputed and disputed letters contribute to the rule of faith.

5) Classroom summary: Three Tiers

1. Undisputed (7 letters): Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon.

2. Disputed but plausible (3 letters): 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians.

3. Pastoral Epistles, heavily disputed (3 letters): 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus.

This taxonomy is a scholarly tool for critical study, not a canon within the canon. For interpretation, all are Scripture, but students should understand why debates exist.

Suggested Assignments (Week 2, Bullet 3)

1. Comparative Essay (1,800–2,200 words):
   Compare Romans (undisputed) and Ephesians (disputed). Identify stylistic and theological differences. Evaluate how authorship questions affect interpretation of themes such as justification, the church, and cosmic Christology.

2. Vocabulary Study (1,500 words):
   Using concordance tools, analyze hapax legomena in Pastoral Epistles versus undisputed Paul. What might account for the differences? Secretary? Later author? Different pastoral situation?

3. Position Paper (1,200–1,600 words):
   Defend or critique the authenticity of 2 Thessalonians. Engage at least two major scholars (e.g., Malherbe, Fee, Dunn).

4. Research Project (2,000–2,500 words):
   Trace the reception of the Pauline corpus in early church history (Marcion, Muratorian Fragment, Irenaeus, Tertullian). How did the early church treat the letters as a set, regardless of modern scholarly categories?

5. Debate Assignment:
   Resolved: “The Pastoral Epistles are authentically Pauline.” Assign teams to argue for and against, using linguistic, historical, and theological evidence.

References

Bruce, F. F. (1982). Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Eerdmans.
Dunn, J. D. G. (1998). The theology of Paul the Apostle. Eerdmans.
Ehrman, B. D. (2016). The New Testament: A historical introduction to the early Christian writings (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Malherbe, A. J. (2000). The Letters to the Thessalonians (AYB). Yale University Press.
Meeks, W. A. (1983). The first urban Christians: The social world of the Apostle Paul. Yale University Press.
Wright, N. T. (2013). Paul and the faithfulness of God. Fortress Press.