Paul's Letter Collection: Tracing the Origins

Rating:
Summary: This book really impressed me
Review: In this absolutely fascinating book, Professor David Trobisch of the University of Heidelberg looks at the Pauline letters of the New Testament. He begins by examining ancient Bible manuscripts, drawing conclusions about how the New Testament was organized (which is not quite the same way that it is organized in modern Bibles). Then he examines the Pauline letters, and their organization, coming to the conclusion that (like many ancient authors) the Apostle Paul actually created the first letter collection (Romans, I & II Corinthians and Galatians). He examines how this collection would have been organized, what its purpose was, and what it has to say about the rest of the New Testament.

I must say that this book really impressed me. The author uses sound reasoning to draw the conclusions he makes, and succeeds in presenting them in a very convincing manner. Also, his writing succeeded in making me care about where he was going, keeping me from putting the book down!

I must say that if you are looking for any earth-shattering new revelations (secret codes, new theology, etc.), you won't find it here. What is here, though, is a fascinating look at the New Testament, and what it means. I loved this book, finding it totally engrossing, and I highly recommend it to you.

[By coincidence, lately I was reading the Apocryphal book, The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca's to Paul. Near the beginning, Seneca is quoted as saying, "We were much delighted with your book of many Epistles, which you have wrote to some cities and chief towns of provinces..." Professor Trobisch's book suggests that Paul may indeed have had a "book of many Epistles."]