Which Sources Tell Us About Paul — and Which Can We Trust?

Описание: Many familiar 'facts' about the Apostle Paul — his name Saul, his Roman citizenship, his training under Gamaliel — come exclusively from the Book of Acts, not from Paul himself. This video examines the source hierarchy scholars use to reconstruct the historical Paul, showing how Paul's seven undisputed letters often conflict with later accounts and why historians prioritize firsthand testimony.

Key concepts covered:
• The three-tier classification of Pauline letters: undisputed (7), disputed (3), and Pastoral Epistles (3)
• Why Acts of the Apostles functions as a secondary source with its own theological agenda
• The methodological principle of prioritizing primary over secondary sources
• Specific contradictions between Galatians 1-2 and Acts regarding Paul's post-conversion movements
• Paul's autobiographical statement in Philippians 3:5-6 and what it reveals about his self-understanding
• Why Paul's claim of being "blameless" under the law challenges the Lutheran reading of a guilt-tormented Paul
• Five major claims about Paul that appear only in Acts and cannot be confirmed from Paul's own letters
• A practical three-question framework for evaluating any historical claim about Paul
• The concept of pseudepigraphy — writing under a false name — as an accepted ancient literary practice

ORIGINAL SOURCE
This video is based on content from the following source:
   • 14. Paul as Missionary