Qs about Paul's letters

By Moderator -
Q: I recently started diving deeper into the Bible and I learned that there are actually a lot of books in the New Testament that most scholars believe to have been forged, many of those which are Paul’s various epistles. According to scholars, it is very likely that 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, 1 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Titus were written by authors only claiming to be Paul because various linguisitc and stylistic elements of these letters do not match Paul’s authentic letters. The issue is a very complicated one, so for the sake of keeping it short, I’ll leave it at that. 

I’m not looking to argue about the veracity of Paul’s letters. I’m just going through a crisis of faith because I can’t understand why an all powerful God would allow forgeries in the Bible, especially if some of the theology we are following comes from these forgeries. Growing up, I was always taught that the Bible is God’s infallible, inerrant Word, but this has been a very sobering realization. 

Can anyone help reconcile my faith a little? All the answers I’ve read online have not been helpful because truthfully, it seems that no one can really provide a good answer for this. Please help 😭


A: No. God didn't allow forgeries, and there are none among the 66 books of Scripture. You probably heard that nonsense from an atheist, false teachers & false preachers, non Christian professor who tries to decieve young believers, or from progressives who claims to be Christian [but are idolators who reject God's authoritative Word by picking & choosing what they will believe]. Or from content or material written by such people. Theyre among the "some scholars" you noted. It's not "most" scholars, nir reputable ones - its just the ones unsaved who may profess Christ or may have in the past but aren't trustworthy [those who are spewing satanic lies to try to dash your faith]. Remember, not everyone who claims to be saved is, and many quasi Christians can get college degrees too, as can cultists, in addition to progressives, and those who leave the faith. We dont listen to those folk, for God is not in nor with them and never was. They publish doctrines of demons and thru deception seek to try to get you to throw God and truth away. 

The Bible IS God’s infallible, inerrant Word, which is authoritative and trustworthy. 

It is understandable to feel concerned when encountering questions about the authenticity of biblical texts, especially when some slink in to try to decieve you, and when you dont know the trustworthiness of those "scholars" making such claims, nor have reputable resources debunking them. They prey on people like that to try to destroy a believers faith. Such concerns can trouble, confused and weigh heavily on one's faith journey, when they dont have answers or knowledge to refute them. 

Remember also that the Bible as a whole is viewed as "God-breathed," or inspired by God. In 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

The process by which the books of the New Testament were recognized and included in the canon of Scripture was a prayerful and deliberate one. Early church leaders sought God's guidance by examining the texts' apostolic authorship, consistency with the teaching of Jesus, and their widespread acceptance and use in worship and teaching. The churches knew the Apostles they interacted with and recieved letters from them, including Paul, all of which we have in the books of the NT. 

This shows Scripture itself said Paul's writings were all from God.

What Peter said about Paul's writings. 

Paul's letters often addressed issues, provided teachings, and offered encouragement to these communities, regardless of whether he was their founder.

Further, think about this to help bring relief and peace on the subject: Paul founded, was physically there with the churches for a time, and traveled back through to visit when possible. Thus they naturally recieved his letters afterward the foundung and his travels to and from, and the church leaders knew him & knew how he spoke and wrote. Paul even noted that he had mentioned things at visits before and things he would address when he got there, too. They aren't just random letters that are stuffed in the Bible. 

Paul often had personal interactions with the churches he wrote to, especially those he founded. He spent time with many of these communities, teaching and establishing them in the faith. His letters often reflect this relationship, as he would reference previous conversations, teachings, or experiences they shared.

For example, in his letters, Paul sometimes mentions things he had previously taught them during his visits or expresses his desire to address certain issues in person when he visits again. This personal connection helped the recipients understand his tone and intent in the letters, as they were familiar with his style of teaching and his character.

In 1 Corinthians 11:2, for instance, Paul commends the Corinthians for remembering him and holding to the teachings he passed on to them. His letters often serve to reinforce, clarify, or correct teachings he had already shared during his time with them. This context adds depth to the understanding of his epistles and the relationships he had with these early Christian communities.

Also to clarify, while Paul established many churches during his missionary journeys, such as those in Corinth, Galatia, and Philippi, he also wrote letters to churches that were founded by others or that he had not visited personally, but had connections to. The Apostles were aware of other churches and did engage with them as well. 

For example:
• The letter to the Romans was addressed to a church in Rome, which Paul had not yet visited at the time of writing.

• The letter to the Colossians was written to a church in Colossae, which was likely founded by Epaphras, a colleague of Paul.

I hope this has helped squash those fears that others instilled in you, with nefarious intent. "May God's peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Your exploration, sincerity, and openness to God’s guidance has led you to a deeper understanding on this topic and hopefully renewed your faith.

As always, you can ask your pastor about such questions (at a sit down meet up). In the mean time, also check these out..  




False teachers are against Paul and try to destroy Christians faith in the canonicity and Authority of Scripture (addressed here).


More on the topic of the reliability of Scripture can be found below:









Hope these have helped, and in the process may "what others meant for evil, be what God uses to bring about a good result instead" (Genesis 50:20) which strengthens your faith and makes it unshakable. 

God bless

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