Eduardo Folster-Eli
@efolstereli.bsky.social
PhD cand. in Religion (Early Judaism, Early Christianity), McMaster University.
19) Although NL laid out some important details about Pauline scholarship, I am not convinced by her main ideas and have several questions about BW's book. In my view, GF offers a more helpful and fruitful approach. Obviously, scholars still need to unpack many aspects of these recent studies.
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 AM
19) Although NL laid out some important details about Pauline scholarship, I am not convinced by her main ideas and have several questions about BW's book. In my view, GF offers a more helpful and fruitful approach. Obviously, scholars still need to unpack many aspects of these recent studies.
NL's answer: Pauline letters are not as simple as other ancient (real?) letters, and they have an agenda that assumes (and wants to spread) Christ faith (that's why she also thinks they are later than Acts).
November 24, 2025 at 5:32 AM
NL's answer: Pauline letters are not as simple as other ancient (real?) letters, and they have an agenda that assumes (and wants to spread) Christ faith (that's why she also thinks they are later than Acts).
18) Someone from the audience asked NL to identify one ancient literary work (a letter) that she thought could reasonably be "authenticated" (from a real, historical person?), then note its characteristics and which of these characteristics were lacking in relation to Pauline letters.
November 24, 2025 at 5:32 AM
18) Someone from the audience asked NL to identify one ancient literary work (a letter) that she thought could reasonably be "authenticated" (from a real, historical person?), then note its characteristics and which of these characteristics were lacking in relation to Pauline letters.
17) BW points to different tensions between NL and GF: while NL argues that the practice of authenticity (i.e., “authenticating Paul’s letters”) begins in the Enlightenment, GF argues for a longer history of this practice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM
17) BW points to different tensions between NL and GF: while NL argues that the practice of authenticity (i.e., “authenticating Paul’s letters”) begins in the Enlightenment, GF argues for a longer history of this practice.
NL leaves BW’s question regarding Marcion aside but asks: “Why treat Paul so uniquely from other biblical characters?”
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
NL leaves BW’s question regarding Marcion aside but asks: “Why treat Paul so uniquely from other biblical characters?”
16) NL argues that Seneca is a different case because he was a political figure known from various sources. In contrast, Paul is a biblical figure (known not from simple letters, but from complex, theologically driven letters).
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 AM
16) NL argues that Seneca is a different case because he was a political figure known from various sources. In contrast, Paul is a biblical figure (known not from simple letters, but from complex, theologically driven letters).
15) NL thinks there is no authentic Pauline book, only a Marcionite book about Paul. BW argues that NL has a “more rigorous epistemological model for Paul than for Marcion.”
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
15) NL thinks there is no authentic Pauline book, only a Marcionite book about Paul. BW argues that NL has a “more rigorous epistemological model for Paul than for Marcion.”
14) Margaret Mitchell (from the audience/Q&A) emphasizes that there is no “real Paul.” This language is not useful. Instead, there are different constructions of Paul: historical Paul, historical epistolary Paul, canonical Paul, pseudepigraphic Paul, etc. Panellists agree and adjust the language.
November 24, 2025 at 5:03 AM
14) Margaret Mitchell (from the audience/Q&A) emphasizes that there is no “real Paul.” This language is not useful. Instead, there are different constructions of Paul: historical Paul, historical epistolary Paul, canonical Paul, pseudepigraphic Paul, etc. Panellists agree and adjust the language.
13) BW questions GF’s view that some “real Paul” wrote letters: “Which of the letters do you think originated from Paul? How?”
November 24, 2025 at 5:01 AM
13) BW questions GF’s view that some “real Paul” wrote letters: “Which of the letters do you think originated from Paul? How?”
12) BW argues that “the hegemony of seven Pauline letters ought to be thrown off.” He adds that we need “more descriptive and less prescriptive approaches.”
November 24, 2025 at 5:01 AM
12) BW argues that “the hegemony of seven Pauline letters ought to be thrown off.” He adds that we need “more descriptive and less prescriptive approaches.”
NL asks BW: “Is it necessary to have a historical Paul?” Yet, she agrees with the criticism against the practice of authenticating Paul (i.e., “the politics of authenticity”).
November 24, 2025 at 4:59 AM
NL asks BW: “Is it necessary to have a historical Paul?” Yet, she agrees with the criticism against the practice of authenticating Paul (i.e., “the politics of authenticity”).
11) NL questions BW’s view that the second-century reception of Paul is closer to the historical Paul: aren’t they more removed from a (supposed) historical Paul? She argues that it is hard to conceive Paul without resorting to literature we consider fictive.
November 24, 2025 at 4:59 AM
11) NL questions BW’s view that the second-century reception of Paul is closer to the historical Paul: aren’t they more removed from a (supposed) historical Paul? She argues that it is hard to conceive Paul without resorting to literature we consider fictive.
10) GF is surprised by Livesey’s confidence regarding a Marcion school.
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 AM
10) GF is surprised by Livesey’s confidence regarding a Marcion school.
9) GF asks NL about chronological order while also adding: “Seneca, a forgery too?” BW also asks Livesey: “What about Seneca’s Moral Epistles?”
November 24, 2025 at 4:57 AM
9) GF asks NL about chronological order while also adding: “Seneca, a forgery too?” BW also asks Livesey: “What about Seneca’s Moral Epistles?”
8) N. Livesey (NL) thinks that Paul is fully a construction—not a historical figure, only a biblical character.
November 24, 2025 at 4:55 AM
8) N. Livesey (NL) thinks that Paul is fully a construction—not a historical figure, only a biblical character.
He imagines: “Where do we get all this information about Paul in the 2nd century? I imagine people talking about Paul (e.g., collective memory, oral tradition // historical Jesus studies).”
November 24, 2025 at 4:54 AM
He imagines: “Where do we get all this information about Paul in the 2nd century? I imagine people talking about Paul (e.g., collective memory, oral tradition // historical Jesus studies).”
BW thinks that the 2nd c. is a better place to start rather than with Luther or FC Baur. He further argues that Pauline studies should become more confident in exploring the 2nd century.
November 24, 2025 at 4:54 AM
BW thinks that the 2nd c. is a better place to start rather than with Luther or FC Baur. He further argues that Pauline studies should become more confident in exploring the 2nd century.
7) BW thinks that the evidence for a historical Paul is strong, even if he doesn’t believe that a historical Paul is necessary. He argues that the search for a historical Paul should focus on the 2nd century (on that early tradition).
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 AM
7) BW thinks that the evidence for a historical Paul is strong, even if he doesn’t believe that a historical Paul is necessary. He argues that the search for a historical Paul should focus on the 2nd century (on that early tradition).
6) G. Fewster (GF) thinks there was some [historical] Paul who wrote letters.
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 AM
6) G. Fewster (GF) thinks there was some [historical] Paul who wrote letters.
5) Ben White (BW) recommends reading these related books in the following order: GF – BW – NL
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 AM
5) Ben White (BW) recommends reading these related books in the following order: GF – BW – NL
4) Benjamin L. White’s Counting Paul: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
4) Benjamin L. White’s Counting Paul: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
3) Nina E. Livesey’s The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context
Cambridge Core - Classical Literature - The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context
www.cambridge.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 AM
3) Nina E. Livesey’s The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
2) Gregory Fewster’s The Authentic Paul: www.mqup.ca/Books/T/The-...
The Authentic Paul
Written in the first century and compiled in the New Testament, the letters of the Apostle Paul have served as a reservoir of divine authority for Christians. Yet from the time of their writing, exper...
www.mqup.ca
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 AM
2) Gregory Fewster’s The Authentic Paul: www.mqup.ca/Books/T/The-...
1) Panellists summarise their respective books in the following order:
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 AM
1) Panellists summarise their respective books in the following order: