Class Text - Letters of the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul is my favorite author of the New Testament. I feel like I can relate to his enormous mistakes and strive to accomplish as much as he was ultimately able to carry out during his lifetime. With his words he was articulate, kind, straightforward, and honest – all of the characteristics I look for in a good friend. The letters of the apostle Paul, the earliest surviving Christian writings, were in many respects unlikely candidates for scriptural regard, chiefly because they are real letters and, as such, documents of the moment tailored to the specific concerns of the individual Christian congregations to whom Paul wrote (Denny, 39-40). In fact, it is thought that Paul’s letters were almost thrown out – to be a piece of forgotten history. In spite of this, many of Paul’s letters were not only preserved but by the end of the first century had been gathered up into a sacred collection. It’s unknown how Paul’s teachings were preserved so well over all that time – I like to think that he had some big time supporters who saw the wisdom and love of Christ in those letters.

Denny, Frederick M. and Rodney L. Taylor, eds. The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective. Colombia: University of South Carolina Press, 1985.


Drew Harrell