Proceedings of The 6th World Conference on Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI:
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On Some Issues of Creation of the Pauline Epistles
Marika Chachibaia
ABSTRACT:
Orthodox and Catholic orthodox theologians consider that the books of the New Testament are created in the middle of the first century and are arranged in the canon according to the chronological principle. Bruno Bauer confirmed convincingly that the Epistles are written earlier than the Gospels, however, the Pauline Epistles proper are not of the same period. According to the recent scholarly research, in the Epistles of Paul chronologically three groups should be distinguished: early, middle and late period, in which the process of formation and development of the Christian ideology is more or less observable.
The following Epistles are assigned to the early period (first quarter of the second century): Rom., 1 Cor., 2 Cor., Gal. In these Epistles, manifest discord is obvious between Christianity and Judaism. To the middle, later period (second quarter of the second century) belong the Epistles: Eph., Phil., Col., 1 Thess., 2 Thess. At the period of their writing Christianity appears more widespread in the pagan circles, it is fully separated from Judaism.
The so-called Pastoral Epistles: 1 Tim., 2 Tim., Philem. are attributed to the late period (middle of the second century). The Epistles to the Hebrews is considered as the latest.
In the works devoted to the Pauline Epistles diametrically opposite views are expressed. Hence, it is not easy to find a correct reference point. I think, in such a situation it is appropriate to rely on the works of scholars of authority, which to a certain extent take into consideration the early stages of research of the New Testament text as well as some general issues related to the history of the Pauline Epistles, which give a rough idea as to how valuable writings the Pauline Epistles represent historically.
keywords: Orthodox, Epistles, Christian ideology, Judaism, Gospel