Pauline Epistles

Authority level: Dogma
Theological status: Theological synthesis
Evidence type: Historical account
GuideThe inspiration and canonical status of these books belong to Catholic dogma; literary organization, human authorship, chronology, and historical setting are governed by sound exegesis and evidence.
Contents

Pauline Epistles is the New Testament letters associated with Saint Paul and the apostolic mission among Jews and Gentiles.[1]

The collection

The Catholic canon places Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews in its Pauline sequence. Hebrews is anonymous and does not identify Paul as its author.

The letters address real communities and coworkers facing questions of faith, worship, ethics, leadership, conflict, suffering, and mission. Their occasional character means that readers often hear one side of a conversation and must reconstruct context cautiously.

Authorship and theology

Seven letters are widely treated by scholars as directly Pauline, while authorship of several others is debated. Catholic faith in inspiration and canonicity does not depend on resolving every historical question in favor of one modern theory.[2]

Paul's writings center on God's saving action in the crucified and risen Christ, justification and life in the Spirit, the Church as Christ's body, the transformation of moral life, and hope for resurrection. No single slogan captures the whole Pauline witness.

References

  1. 1.Catechism: The Canon of Scripture — Catholic canonical list of the New Testament letters
  2. 2.USCCB: Letter to the Romans — Official introduction to a principal Pauline letter and its theology