Paul’s Letters

[Nevo]

I would say that the jury is still out on the authorship of Ephesians. Back in 1997, Raymond Brown estimated that "at the present moment about 80 percent of critical scholarship holds that Paul did not write Ephesians" (An Introduction to the New Testament, 620). However, Harold Hoehner contested that figure in his 2002 commentary on Ephesians, estimating the number of scholars opposing Pauline authorship in 1971– 2001 as 51%.

In any case, the commentaries that I've looked at don't consider the issue settled—so I think it's premature at this point to assert that "Paul didn't write Ephesians."

E.g.,

• "Many of the conservative scholars who maintain that Ephesians is authentically Pauline are by no means less critical and solid in their approach to the Bible than their more radical opponents. While even most traditionalist commentators frankly admit that there are linguistic, historical, and doctrinal problems, they point out the ambiguity of the criteria so far applied to the question of authenticity, and the inconclusiveness of arguments . . . . If the maxim “innocent until proven guilty,” in dubio pro reo, is applied here, then the tradition which accepts Paul as the author of Ephesians is more recommendable than the suggestion of an unknown author. The burden of proof lies with those questioning the tradition. The evidence produced by them is neither strong nor harmonious enough to invalidate the judgment of tradition. Although it cannot be definitely proven that Ephesians is genuinely Pauline, nevertheless it is still possible to uphold its authenticity" (Markus Barth, Ephesians: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary on Chapters 1–3 [Anchor Bible 34; New York: Doubleday, 1974], 41).

• "The vocabulary and style vary slightly from Paul’s in such a way as to suggest, but not compel, rejection of Pauline authorship. . . . Many of the objections to Pauline authorship are not individually capable of disproving it but it is their cumulative effect which suggests another author" (Ernest Best, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians [International Critical Commentary; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998], 35–36).
   
• "I genuinely do not know whether Paul wrote Ephesians. As a matter of historical interest, I find the arguments so finely balanced that my decisions about this could vary from day to day" (Stephen E. Fowl, Ephesians: A Commentary [The New Testament Library; Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012], 27–28).
   
• "The issue of authorship is by no means easily solved. One cannot claim the letter clearly to have been written by Paul or by a pseudonymous author without doing injustice to a century of careful scholarly work. In light particularly of the factors that complicate discerning a 'signature' Pauline style and determining the edges of Paul’s theological creativity and consistency, I am less persuaded by the arguments in favor of pseudonymous authorship and more inclined to accept the letter’s claim to represent Paul’s mind and voice, all the more as explanations for the tenor of that voice as we hear it in Ephesians vis-à-vis other Pauline letters lie ready at hand" (David A. deSilva, Ephesians [New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Cambridge University Press, 2022], 31). 

Edited August 16, 2023 by Nevo

[SeekingUnderstanding]

For the curious, here is an informal survey from the 2011 British New Testament Society Conference:

http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2019/04/pauline-authorship-according-to-british.html?m=1
 

It would be nice to see a break down based on an authors statement of personal faith. 

[InCognitus]

I listened to this Data over Dogma episode a couple of weeks ago, and it is directly relevant to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 on the resurrection.  I watched it again today just to refresh my memory on some of the sources:

David Burnett's research on Paul's allusions to Deuteronomy in that chapter is fascinating.

[Kenngo1969]

On 8/15/2023 at 12:09 PM, Saint Bonaventure said:

... I'm on the run today ...

What are you running from? [Cue rimshot!]  Sorry!   I had to do it!

All in fun, Saint Bonaventure!  All in fun!