Talk:Pauline epistles
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[edit] Theological harmony?
Any basic study of supposedly parallel texts from disputed and undisputed letters yield theological differences - hence why the authorship is disputed. I think the article is innaccurate in that respect. Can we have some discussion on this? --Shanneranner 04:50, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC)
[edit] "Forged" Letters?
I am concerned about the use of the word "forgery" in this article. I think it is an inaccurate word to use. The letters whose authorship is unclear are referred to in scholarly circles as the disputed letters. In the ancient world it was common practice to write under another name in order to have credibility for the writing. Calling them "forgeries" is projecting back our current cultural values and understandings onto a time when the same values weren't held. Discussion? --Shanneranner 04:50, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Infallibility of the Epistles
I am not a Christian, but I am attempting to approach a better understanding of the beliefs of my Christian family and friends and Christianity in general. Please take this comment in that context. It's not meant as an attack, merely a request for clarification.
Should the Pauline Epistles be considered Biblically infallible? If they are--why? They were written by an apostle of Jesus, and the apostles were neither divine nor infallible. As far as I understand, they are not considered to be "revealed" writings in any way, merely Paul's own interpretation of early Christianity. If this perception is incorrect, can anyone correct it?
If they are not considered Biblically infallible--why are they so often cited in Biblically-based arguments, against such things as homosexuality and premarital sex? --131.247.22.116 16:45, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
I'm not sure "infallible" is the right word here. Some Christian groups (Fundamentalists and Evangelicals, particularly) hold that the Bible is "inerrant" and that every word of it is literally true. I would say, though, that this is a majority. Many groups hold that the Bible is infallible only on matters of faith. In terms, of for instance, matters of science or history, the Bible can fall into error, but in terms of how Christianity works, it is infallible. With either of these beliefs, though, the letters of Paul are considered to be authoritative on matters of faith. I do think there are some groups who treat the words of Jesus as primary, and all other Biblical text as secondary (this used to be, at least, the Southern Baptist tradition, iirc). Paul very clearly lays out his position that his writings are based on revelation - his revelation of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, specifically. In any event, I don't think there's any reason to treat the Epistles as any less authoritative than any other part of the Bible, unless you take that "Jesus first/rest of Bible second" position. john k 16:58, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Academic classification of the Epistles
I've read a lot on Paul and I've never seen the epistles classified in the way that section does. It looks like pure WP:OR and I propose deleting the entire section. Rocksong 07:02, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- OK, I've deleted it. (p.s. I'm the same person as User:Rocksong). Peter Ballard 00:49, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
