Pauline Epistles

The Pauline Epistles are the letters said to have been written by Paul the Apostle. They are generally recognised as the earliest surviving Christian documents.

Names and authenticity

The ones whose authenticity has not been seriously questioned are

the first epistle to the Thessalonians (usually referred to as 1 Thessalonians)

the second epistle to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians)

the first epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians)

the second epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians), though this is often considered to be a compilation of fragments from different documents

the epistle to the Philippians

the epistle to the Romans

the epistle to Philemon.

Those whose authenticity has been questioned by some are

the epistle to the Colossians

the epistle to the Ephesians, concerning which there is a further question as to whether it is an epistle to the church named in the title or a more general tract.

Those whose authenticity is considered most doubtful are

the epistle to Titus

the first epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy)

the second epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy)

Character of the epistles

With the exception of Ephesians and, to a lesser extent, Romans, the epistles are not systematic statements of doctrine, but were written for particular purposes to people in particular circumstances. They were intended to encourage, to strengthen faith, to foster community, to correct deviant tendencies, to resolve disputes, and to tackle new problems that had arisen, including the problem of the non-happening of the Second Coming.