Pauline epistles Sources for the historicity of Jesus

1 pauline epistles

1.1 overview
1.2 specific references
1.3 pre-pauline creeds

pauline epistles

overview

a page 2 corinthians in papyrus 46, c. ce 200

in context of christian sources, if other texts ignored, pauline epistles can provide information regarding jesus. information not include narrative of life of jesus, , refers existence person, adds few specific items apart death crucifixion. information comes letters of paul authenticity not disputed. paul not companion of jesus , claims information comes holy spirit acquired after jesus death.

of thirteen letters bear paul s name, 7 considered authentic scholars, , others considered pseudepigraphic. 7 undisputed letters (and approximate dates) are: 1 thessalonians (c. 51 ce), philippians (c. 52-54 ce), philemon (c. 52-54 ce), 1 corinthians (c. 53-54 ce), galatians (c. 55 ce), 2 corinthians (c. 55-56 ce) , romans (c. 55-58 ce). authenticity of these letters accepted scholars, , have been referenced , interpreted authors such origen , eusebius.

given pauline epistles dated ce 50 ce 60, earliest surviving christian texts include information jesus. these letters written approximately twenty thirty years after accepted time period death of jesus, around ce 30-36. letters written during time when paul recorded encounters disciples of jesus, e.g. galatians 1:18 states several years after conversion paul went jerusalem , stayed apostle peter fifteen days. during time, paul disputed nature of jesus message jesus s brother james, concerning importance of adhering kosher food restrictions , circumcision, important features of determining jewish identity.

the pauline letters not intended provide narrative of life of jesus, written expositions of christian teachings. in paul s view, earthly life of jesus of lower importance theology of death , resurrection,a theme permeates pauline writings. however, pauline letters indicate paul jesus real person (born of woman in gal 4.4) had disciples (1 corinthians 15.5), crucified (as in 1 corinthians 2.2 , galatians 3.1) , resurrected dead (1 corinthians 15.20, romans 1.4 , 6.5, philippians 3:10-11). , letters reflect general concept within gentillic christian church jesus existed, crucified , raised dead.

the references paul jesus not in prove existence of jesus, establish existence of jesus accepted norm within christians (including christian community in jerusalem, given references collections there) twenty thirty years after death of jesus, @ time when have been acquainted him still alive.

specific references

the 7 pauline epistles regarded authentic include following information along other historical elements used study historicity of jesus:

early 3rd century copy of epistle romans papyrus 27



existence of jesus: in paul s view jesus existed , jew based on galatians 4:4 states born of woman , romans 1:3 born under law . scholars such paul barnett hold indicates paul had familiarity circumstances of birth of jesus, not shared among scholars in general. however, statement indicate paul had knowledge of , interest in jesus life before crucifixion.
disciples , brothers: 1 corinthians 15:5 states paul knew jesus had 12 disciples, , considers peter 1 of them. 1 corinthians 1:12 further indicates peter known in corinth before writing of 1 corinthians, assumes familiar cephas/peter. statement in 1 corinthians 15:5 indicates twelve reference twelve apostles known notion within christian church in corinth , required no further explanation paul. galatians 1:18 further states paul knew peter , stayed him in jerusalem fifteen days, 3 years after conversion. implies peter known galatians , required no introduction. 1 corinthians 9:5 , galatians 1:19 state jesus had brothers, 1 being called james, whom paul met or saw. james claimed christian writers origen , eusebius have been leader of followers of jesus, after brother s death, , have been first bishop, or bishop of bishops in jerusalem.


betrayal , rituals: jesus betrayed , established traditions such eucharist derived 1 corinthians 11:23-25 states: lord jesus in night in betrayed took bread; , when had given thanks, brake it, , said, body, you: in remembrance of me. .
crucifixion: pauline letters include several references crucifixion of jesus e.g. 1 corinthians 11:23, 1 corinthians 2:2 , galatians 3:1 among others. death of jesus forms central element of pauline letters. 1 thessalonians 2:15 places responsibility death of jesus on jews. moeover statement in 1 thessalonians 2:14-16 jews both killed lord jesus , drove out indicates death of jesus within same time frame persecution of paul.


burial: 1 corinthians 15:4 , romans 6:4 state following death jesus buried (but not mention tomb). reference used paul build on theology of resurrection, reflects common belief @ time jesus buried after death.

the existence of these references jesus in pauline epistles has given rise criticism of them g. a. wells, accepted leader of movement deny historicity of jesus. when wells still denying existence of jesus, criticized pauline epistles not mentioning items such john baptist or judas or trial of jesus , used argument conclude jesus not historical figure.

james d. g. dunn addressed wells statement , stated knew of no other scholar shared view, , other scholars had other , more plausible explanations fact paul did not include narrative of life of jesus in letters, written religious documents rather historical chronicles @ time when life story of jesus have been known within church. dunn states despite wells arguments, theories of non-existence of jesus thoroughly dead thesis .

while wells no longer denies existence of jesus, has responded dunn, stating arguments silence not apply paul christian authors, , still has low opinion of christian texts, maintaining paul jesus may have existed number of decades before.

pre-pauline creeds

the pauline letters refer creeds, or confessions of faith, predate writings. instance 1 corinthians 15:3-4 reads: received passed on of first importance: christ died our sins according scriptures, buried, raised on third day according scriptures. romans 1:3-4 refers romans 1:2 before mentions existing gospel, , in effect may treating earlier creed.

one of keys identifying pre-pauline tradition given in 1 corinthians 15:11

whether [it be] or they, preach, , ye believed.

here paul refers others before him preached creed. james dunn states 1 corinthians 15:3 indicates in 30s paul taught death of jesus few years earlier.

the pauline letters contain christian creed elements of pre-pauline origin. antiquity of creed has been located many biblical scholars less decade after jesus death, originating jerusalem apostolic community. concerning creed, campenhausen wrote, account meets demands of historical reliability possibly made of such text, whilst a. m. hunter said, passage therefore preserves uniquely , verifiable testimony. meets every reasonable demand of historical reliability.

these creeds date within few years of jesus death, , developed within christian community in jerusalem. although embedded within texts of new testament, these creeds distinct source christianity. indicates existence , death of jesus part of christian belief few years after death , on decade before writing of pauline epistles.