Paul and Pseudepigraphy (Pauline Studies, Book 8)

8 stanley e. porter and gregory p. fewster

epistle as a composite of Pauline phrases filling in a perceived gap in col

4:16 and, thus, as unworthy of much scholarly attention in its own right,

tite argues that Laodiceans has a purposeful structure and articulates a

clear rhetorical situation, even if a fictional one. Laodiceans deserves to

be situated in the stream of Pauline tradition, as a work that has had an

impact upon second-century christianity.

ilaria ramelli, a noted expert on the pseudepigraphical correspondence

between Paul and seneca, reassesses the common judgment that the latin

text is a result of a “medieval barbarian.” ramelli suggests that the original

form of the correspondence may be the product of a second-century latin

writer who was well acquainted with greek. this is demonstrated through

numerous lexical and syntactic graecisms and familiarity with the earliest

of Paul’s letters.

Finally, Michael Kaler investigates the ways in which a figure of Paul

was constructed by the authors of two of the “gnostic” nag hammadi texts,

who wrote in his name; namely, the author of the Prayer of the Apostle

Paul (nhc i,1) and the author of the Apocalypse of Paul (nhc V,2). these

compositions are read within their broader codicological context and in

contrast to “gnostic” reception of other important christian figures such

as Peter, thomas, and James. the Paul of these texts diverges greatly from

the Paul of the Pastorals, maintaining continuity with the esoteric and

mystical Paul of the corinthian correspondence.

as a result, this volume clearly does not solve all of the issues sur-

rounding Pauline pseudepigraphy. nor does it intend to. however, even

in its repetition and reformulation of old questions, new approaches are

introduced, traditional evidence is reassessed, and some new suggestions

are offered. even though this is a volume specifically devoted to Paul and

pseudepigraphy, and this topic is more than adequately addressed in a

number of essays contained within it, this collection also gladly extends

its reach beyond simply the Pauline letter corpus. the issue of Pauline

pseudepigraphy clearly has important implications both for his own body

of letters and for the more general topic of pseudepigraphy within the

new testament.