There are a few pieces to this, so it may take a minute longer than normal... And, as a general point of clarity, I am using the signifier "Paul" to both accept and deny Pauline questions of authenticity. So all thirteen letters are on the table.Which of "Paul's" letters are you most drawn to and why? (Discuss specific themes, tone, etc.)If forced to get rid of one of "Paul's" letters, which would you eliminate? (Explain why.)Does the question of authenticity really matter, or is it "grasping at straws"? Why or why not?

Christianity is a religion that began over 2,000 years ago. It is based on the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is the most followed religion in the world today. The apostle, Paul, was one of the major apostles who played a role in spreading Christianity around the world. His works are referred to as Paul's letters, and are present in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. 1. The most interesting of Paul's letters in the New Testament of the Holy Bible is his Letter to the Romans, otherwise referred to as the Book of Romans. It is considered to have been written somewhere around 57 AD, whilst Paul was in Corinth. The reason why the letter is something one might be most drawn toward is because it is considered to be the most significant and longest of his letters. The underlying theme of this letter is that it is more of a theological treatise. It reflects upon the religious heritage of the Jews and touches upon Paul's conversion to Christianity from Judaism. It also acknowledges the fact that righteousness is no longer gotten by following the Mosaic Law, but through one's faith in Christ. In terms of its tone, it is like a directive. 2. It must first be acknowledged that Christianity believes that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, which does not require any additions or eliminations. However, if forced to remove any of Paul's letters, it might be his Second Letter to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians). The reason being, along with the Letter to the Colossians, its authorship is widely debated amongst scholars and theologians, many of whom believe it cannot be attributed to Paul given the peculiarities in writing. Furthermore, it mainly reflects the style of the First Letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians) regarding Christ's Second Coming and the world sharing in Christ's resurrection, but was only written at a later date.3. Yes, the question of authenticity of Paul's letters does matter. The reason being, the authority of the texts impact the way in which they are interpreted and followed. For instance, as the Second Letter to Thessalonians remains a little ambiguous regarding the time of Christ's Second Coming, its authorship is contested. This impacts the way in which scholars and theologians may consider the text in terms of its views regarding Christ's Second Coming. Nevertheless, a person of faith may still call it "grasping at straws," as Christianity believes in every part of the Holy Bible being the Word of God, so the matter of authenticity is not as important to a person of faith. So, overall, it can be said that Paul's Letter to the Romans is most interesting as it is a theological treatise more so than a letter, and if forced, 2 Thessalonians can be removed because of the debate over its authorship and its style being very similar to 1 Thessalonians.Whilst a person of faith may call the matter of authenticity of Paul's letters "grasping at straws," it matters to scholars and theologians, as it impacts the way in which the letters are interpreted.

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Which of "Paul's" letters are you most drawn to and why? (Discuss specific themes, tone, etc.) If forced to get rid of one of "Paul's" letters, which would you eliminate? (Explain why.) Does the question of authenticity really matter, or is it "grasping at straws"? Why or why not?

Which of "Paul's" letters are you most drawn to and why? (Discuss specific themes, tone, etc.) If forced to get rid of one of "Paul's" letters, which would you eliminate? (Explain why.) Does the question of authenticity really matter, or is it "grasping at straws"? Why or why not?