Topic 6 Paul as a Letter-Writer

1. Topic 6 Paul as a Letter-Writer • Characteristics of Paul’s letters • “Occasional” writings • Writing to deal with particular issues in particular churches. • Not intended for broad publication, for posterity, or to become Scripture. • Substitutes for personal presence or pastoral visits. • One side of on-going conversation with a church. • Implications for: • Exegesis – Reconstruct “occasion” of letter; read in context. • Hermeneutics – Realize that much of Paul’s advice is situation-specific; may not apply directly to other situations. • Theology – Realize that a given letter covers only what is relevant to its occasion; much is left unstated. • Issue of “contigency” vs. “coherence.”

2. A. Characteristics of Paul’s letters – cont. • Literary genre • Adolf Deissmann (early 20th cent.) distinguished between: • Literary epistles – intended for publication; letter form is literary device; popular way to publish a treatise in classical Greece. • Genuine letters – genuine correspondence to address momentary needs; thousands of everyday papyrus letters were discovered at Oxyrhynchus in 1897 (cf. Horrell, p. 50; Roetzel, p. 53. • Deissmann insisted Paul’s letters are “genuine letters.” • Called them “informal private notes.” • Correct to emphasize they are real letters; occasional nature. • Recent scholars have moderated Deissmann: • More than “informal private notes.” • Intended to be read aloud in worship; carry apostolic authority (cf. 1 Thess. 5:27; Col. 4:16).

3. A. Characteristics of Paul’s letters – cont. • Oral style • Intended to be read aloud in worship. • Paul often dictated letters to an “amanuensis” (prof. scribe). • Tertius as amanuensis of Romans (Rom. 16:22). • Sometimes writes closing in own hand (Gal. 6:11-18). • Dictation affects style – not polished but oral language. • Many examples of digressions, broken sentences, interruptions, etc. (cf. 1 Cor. 1:14-16; Gal. 2:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:6-8). • Use of “pre-Pauline” traditional material • Sometimes explicitly cites use of a tradition: • 1 Cor. 11:23ff. – Lord’s Supper tradition. • 1 Cor. 15:3ff. – Resurrection tradition. • Often uses traditional material without identifying it (cf. Phil. 2:6-11; Rom. 1:3-4; etc.). • Types of traditional material used: • Apostolic kerygma (see Roetzel, p. 69). • Words of Jesus (1 Cor. 7:10-11; 9:14; 11:23-25). • Christian liturgy: confessions (Rom. 1:3-4; 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:3-7); hymns (Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20); baptismal (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-29) and Eucharistic formulas (1 Cor. 11:23-25); prayers (1 Cor. 16:22; Rom. 8:5). • Paraenesis (ethical instruction in stock language; Gal. 5:19-23; Rom. 1:29-30).

4. Form of Paul’s letters Follows and develops customary form of Greek letters (cf. Roetzel, pp. 53-54; Horrell, p. 50). Five main parts of typical Pauline letter(Roetzel, 55-66) • Salutation (1 Thess. 1:1) • Standard: “Sender to Recipient: Greeting.” • Paul: “Paul to Church X: Grace and Peace.” • Thanksgiving (1 Thess. 1:2-10) • Developed out of standard prayer for recipient. • Paul gives thanks and mentions prayers for recipients – in every letter except one. • Often “telegraphs” key themes in letter. • Body (1 Thess. 2:1-5:11) • Quite varied; long or short; a few regular landmarks. • Opening formulas: “I appeal to you…;” “I want you to know…” • Autobiographical section: near beginning; defense of apostleship; news about himself. • Travelogue: near end shares travel plans; wish/intention to visit; sending emissary and letter as substitute.

5. Form of Paul’s letters – cont. Five main parts of typical Pauline letter: • Paraenesis (ethical instruction) (1 Thess. 5:12-22) • Near end is usually a section of very general ethical exhortations – string of maxims; lists of vices and virtues; etc. • Debated how much of this is: • General instruction based on stock teaching (Dibelius). • Subtly shaped to fit particular situation (Furnish). • Closing (1 Thess. 5:23-28) • Peace wish – sometimes • Greetings – often greets individuals by name; sometimes writes in own hand (1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; Phlm. 19; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17). • Kiss – “Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.” • Grace benediction • “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” • “Peace and grace” in closing balances “grace and peace” in greeting (inclusio).

6. Rhetorical criticism • “Rhetoric” = “art of persuasion through public speaking.” • Central element in Greek education. • Handbooks prescribed techniques for constructing a persuasive speech. • Rhetorical criticism analyzes Paul’s letters according to conventional rhetorical techniques. • H. D. Betz classified Galatians as an “apologetic letter” employing “forensic rhetoric” to defend the truth of his gospel against a rival version. • Others have developed and modified Betz’ approach. • Some have questioned whether Paul was educated in rhetoric or had only a superficial acquaintance. Betz' Outline

7. Betz’ Outline of Galatians Based on Classical Rhetoric • 1:1-5 Epistolary Prescript • 1:6-11 Exordium– Introduction: defines character of speaker and central issue. • 1:12-2:14 Narratio – Narrates events related to central issue. • 2:15-21 Propositio – Summarizes central thesis to be proved. • 3:1-4:31 Probatio – Proof: sets forth logical arguments. • 5:1-6:10 Exhortatio – Instructions/warning: no parallel in classical handbooks. • 6:11-18 Epistolary Postscript/Peroratio – Recaps basic points; evokes sympathetic response.