Paul and Pseudepigraphy (Pauline Studies, Book 8)

316 philip l. tite

whom later generations can situate their social identity. Pseudo-Pauline

texts, along with narrative appropriations of Paul, not only demonstrate

that he was a fascinating figure for early Christian imaginations, but

also was a focal point for identity construction, as well as contesting the

identity of others who were competing for normative status in nascent

Christian circles.

With laodiceans, the portrait of Paul as culture hero is perhaps most

clearly articulated at the expense (or subordination) of other agendas,

such as doctrinal controversy. laodiceans demonstrates a lack of inter-

est in describing false teaching or heresy, promoting specific ethical,

ecclesiastical or doctrinal beliefs, or in correcting conflicting historical

understandings of Paul that may have been embarrassing or problematic.

Instead, laodiceans places a strong stress on unity in the community,

especially grounded in a universal concept of the church, a concern that

is set within a letter of moral exhortation (the genre of laodiceans is best

understood as a paraenetic letter). yet even with this primary concern,

as set against the trope of the charlatan, the real emphasis is centred on

Paul as moral exemplar for Christians to follow for the promotion and

preservation of the true gospel. throughout the letter, the stress continu-

ally falls on this point; i.e., Paul’s positive relations with his community

as he serves as moral example with soteriological benefits for those who

recognize him as such. thus, laodiceans is an artistic presentation of the

culture hero Paul as a ground of secure Christian identity for second-

century Christians, largely building on the apostle’s moral character in

contrast to other possible teachers. Whether such an articulation of Paul

by the writer of laodiceans was connected to a specific historical occasion

(e.g., doctrinal controversy, ecclesiastical power struggle, etc.) or was

merely a literary articulation of Paul that emerged from an appreciative

memory of and fascination with the apostle, cannot be determined. What

can be determined, however, is that, as a pseudo-Pauline letter, laodi-

ceans offers a well constructed and unique portrait of the famed apostle

to the gentiles.

My hope in offering this essay is that the dust will finally be blown off of

laodiceans, allowing future scholarship to recognize the internal rhetor-

ical qualities of the letter (in conjunction with its epistolary arrangement),

and thus situate this little letter within discussions of the impact of the

Pauline tradition upon second-century Christianity.