Spanky

Maybe this is a stupid question, but after reading several of the newest threads it crossed my mind.

I mean really, how did all of these "epistles," written to several churches (scattered 100's of miles apart), written to individuals, written to wandering ministers, find their ways back into the hands of those who created the Canon?

Having been a minister myself (in a cult like denomination), we often wrote letters amongst ourselves. And, sometimes these letters are distributed to many people many times over. However, this is the digital age. And the age of the USPS (and other countries postal services, of course). These letters are also often saved and go through many hands (maybe the way they were back then). But, I really don't see the "church" being that organized in the first century??

I guess I find it pretty remarkable that such "obscure" seeming letters (epistles) would have been salvaged and even brought into one group of peoples hands.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Or is this a stupid question?

Amaleq13

I don't think it is a stupid question but one that addresses a technical detail that isn't often discussed.

It is my understanding that the letters were read aloud in the churches that originally received them and, as a result, were preserved by those individual churches. It wouldn't require much for a central authority to send out the word to all such churches to provide a copy of their letters.

Spanky

But as I mentioned, I really don't see them being that organized back then. There doesn't seem to be a "central authority," they just seem to be "scattered." Paul just seemed to "fly' through the areas, finding a few people who accepted his message and then writing back to them in edifying ways. If there was any "central authority" it would have been Paul himself.

BTW, I do not have my tinfoil hat on. I just find it amazing that these letters were preserved.

Amedeo

HOW? Miraculously, in the same way that all the anecdotes of the Bible were preserved and compiled into one book. (Or did God dictate the Bible to some writer???)

Roger Pearse

Since the letters were directed to groups founded by the authors, who would then come along and check up on them, they were always going to have a special status in those groups.

There are considerable collections of letters from antiquity anyway. Cicero's collected letters filled many volumes, only a few of which have reached us.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Amaleq13

I don't think it really requires much organization to preserve a letter considered important nor for someone to decide it might be a good idea to collect a copy from each.

My reference to a central authority was specific to gathering the scattered letters but "authority" is probably inaccurate. I only had in mind someone known to and respected by the various churches enough to provide a copy to him.

Humans love relics related to famous/beloved/respected figures. I think it is more surprising that so much has been lost.

Toto

Robert Price wrote an article on that very question, in which he surveys the various theories of how Paul's letters were collected, including the idea that Paul collected his own letters.

The Evolution of the Pauline Canon

His own conclusion:

Boro Nut

You say epistles, I say apostles. Lets call the whole thing off.

Boro Nut

hatsoff

This reminds me of a wacky hypothesis I had thought about. You see, I was under the impression that the epistles were initially read in the church of its audience, and then copied and traded to other churches for copies of other letters. Well, what if that's part of how pseudonymous literature became so prominent--churches with nothing to offer in return for genuine epistles and narratives forged their own so that they could trade it away--?

Just a thought...

Scott M 74

I think the fact that the epistles were so widespread has more to do with the fact that there simply weren't very many Christian churches than anything else. I mean, if there's only fifteen churches, and your letter makes it to six of them, and then the powers-that-be ask eight churches for their favorite documents, chances are pretty good that yours will be considered for inclusion.