What books of the Bible did Paul actually write?

Answer 1

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Whilst no actual proof exists that Paul wrote the letters attributed to him in The Bible, neither is there any proof that Shakespeare wrote his plays. One must look at the books, and through textual analysis come to conclusions as to what is most likely. It is accepted that Paul wrote Romans, 1&2 Corinthians and Galatians, however, most of the other letters are regarded to have been written by Paul also by some Bible scholars. Ephesians has caused some concern as its style is not quite the same as the other Pauline letters. However, the letter begins and ends with greetings from Paul to known Christian leaders in Ephesus, and, whilst there may be doubts over the bulk of the letter's authorship, it is almost certain that Paul wrote the beginning and the end. Philppians, Colossians and the two letters to Thessaloniki are almost certainly written by Paul. They contain material that refers to Paul's missionary journeys and the problems that beset the Christian churches there. They contain personal greetings to known Christian leaders and are written in a Greek that is almost identical in style with the authenticated letters of Romans, Corinthians and Galatians. The personal letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon again are in a similar style and refer to events and to people (e.g. Paul leaving Titus in Crete) which were specific to Paul. Therefore, the evidence points to these letters also being written by him. In Philemon, as an example, Paul even adds a remark in his own hand rather than use a scribe as he would have done for his previous letters. The exception to the letters in the New Testament is the letter to the Hebrews. Some attribute this to Paul also, as it contains great teaching especially in Chapter 11 teaching on faith that is totally in accord with Paul's other writings. However, many scholars feel that the style of the Greek used is simply not that of Paul. If Paul did not write this letter, then the author is unknown - which is, on the balance of the evidence, the most likely conclusion.

As far as we know, Paul did not write thirteen books, although it appears as if Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians was originally at least three separate letters that were subsequently amalgamated.

Paul wrote 13 books: Corinthians 1and 2 , Romans, Hebrews, Timothy 1and2, Titus, Philemon, Galatians, Colossians, Thessalonians 1and2, Ephesians and Philippians

Answer 2

Thirteen epistles have been attributed to Paul, but most scholars agree that no more than seven are genuine: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Galatians, Philippians and 1 Thessalonians.

A computer analysis finds that two of these do not match the style of Galatians and must still be subject to some doubt: Philippians and 1 Thessalonians. However, most scholars continue to accept them as having been written by Paul.

The epistles considered by nearly all scholars to have been entirely unknown to Paul are Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.