New Testament pseudonymity and deception
This study provides afresh an answer to the question: ~If there are pseudonymous letters in the New Testament, what can be said about their intention and reception?~ A survey of scholarship shows the need for the present inquiry. Five primary areas are investigated. First, an examination of various Greco-Roman and Christian texts reveals that sometimes in antiquity pseudonymous documents were written with no intention to deceive (e.g. some of the Pythagorean literature). However, not every writing in antiquity was written in the same spirit. For, it is then shown that many writers in Greco-Roman antiquity, including early Christians, had scruples regarding literary property and pseudonymity. Second, a comparison of some Greco-Roman pseudepigraphal epistles with the disputed Pauline letters reveals that non-deceptive pseudonymity is possible for the latter works, if pseudonymous, in the light of the analogy of many of the former writings. Thus, contrary to the views of some scholars, a historical and analogous precedent exists for non-deceptive pseudo-Pauline letters, if present in the NT. Third, a study of the available documentary evidence indicates that the early Church (second-century onwards) generally
Wilder, Terry L.
Philosophy
New Testament pseudonymity and deception. This study provides afresh an answer to the question: ~If there are pseudonymous letters in the New Testament, what can be said about their intention and reception?~ A survey of scholarship shows the need for the present inquiry. Five primary areas are investigated. First, an examination of various Greco-Roman and Christian texts reveals that sometimes in antiquity pseudonymous documents were written with no intention to deceive (e.g. some of the Pythagorean literature). However, not every writing in antiquity was written in the same spirit. For, it is then shown that many writers in Greco-Roman antiquity, including early Christians, had scruples regarding literary property and pseudonymity. Second, a comparison of some Greco-Roman pseudepigraphal epistles with the disputed Pauline letters reveals that non-deceptive pseudonymity is possible for the latter works, if pseudonymous, in the light of the analogy of many of the former writings. Thus, contrary to the views of some scholars, a historical and analogous precedent exists for non-deceptive pseudo-Pauline letters, if present in the NT. Third, a study of the available documentary evidence indicates that the early Church (second-century onwards) generally
new_testament deception study provide answer_question pseudonymous letter new_testament say intention reception survey scholarship show need present inquiry primary area investigate first examination_various greco_roman christian text_reveals sometimes antiquity pseudonymous document write intention deceive literature however every write antiquity write spirit show many_writer greco_roman antiquity include early christians regard literary property second comparison greco_roman epistle dispute pauline letter reveal non deceptive possible latter work pseudonymous light analogy many former writing thus contrary view scholar historical analogous precedent exist non deceptive pseudo pauline letter present third study available documentary_evidence indicate early_church second_century onwards generally