The Authentication of Paul’s Letters

KEVOS -

In 2 Thess. 2:2 Paul warns against letters that claim to come from him but do not. Thus in 11 places in his letters Paul either identifies himself or gives his signature. These features support the conclusion that all the NT letters attributed to Paul are in fact authentic (rather than having been written by someone else “pseudonymously” in Paul’s name).

1 Cor. 16:21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand
2 Cor. 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you
Gal. 5:2 Look: I, Paul, say to you
Gal. 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand
Eph. 3:1 I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus
Col. 1:23 of which I, Paul, became a minister
Col. 4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand
1 Thess. 2:18 we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again
2 Thess. 2:2 not to be … alarmed … by … a letter seeming to be from us
2 Thess. 3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write
Philem. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand