Letters That Paul Did Not Write

Despite its title, the subject of this book is really not the denial of the Pauline authorship of seven books in the New Testament. The subject of this book is the significance of these books in themselves. The second chapter briefly reviews the religious and cultural conditions within which these books were written, thereby elucidating their origins somewhat. The non-Pauline origin of these seven books raises a host of issues for believers, the churches, and exegetes themselves. The final chapter of this book addresses itself to some of these issues. . . . My real hope is that these reflections help the reader to better understand the sacred page. To the extent that my hope is realized, the true significance of Paul the apostle for the life of the church will be appreciated all the more. --from the Foreword Raymond F. Collins is Warren-Blanding Professor of Religious Studies and Professor of New Testament at The Catholic University of America. His other books include 'The Many Faces of the Church: A Study in New Testament Ecclesiology' (2004) and '1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary' (2002).