State the four categories of Paul's letters and give the books found in each category?

Answer 1

There are various ways of sub-dividing Paul's letters. Normally there are two major categories which are the letters he wrote to the churches he visited and/or founded and what is known as the pastoral epistles, because written to the young pastors Timothy and Titus. In the first category there are: Romans, 1and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1and 2 Thessalonians and in the latter category 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon (although this latter can also be placed either in a category by itself or with the first group.).

A categorization which would achieve a four-fold grouping would be to relate them to the four missionary journeys of Paul and it would end up thus:

1. Galatians (early date).

2. 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

3. 1 and 2 Corinthians (Galatians -if written later) Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians.

4. 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.

There is some discussion around the genuineness of some of Paul's epistles. The skeptical views espoused in the 19th century are now largely being replaced, even among more liberal scholars with a tendency to regard all 13 letters which bear Paul's name as most likely genuine, due to the great weight of evidence both internal and external. Scholars have also come to understand that differences in language and style can be accounted for in ways different to a denial of authorship. People can write differently according to the occasion and the subject addressed. Paul also used secretaries to write for him and this may account on some occasions for differences.