The Earlier Epistles of St. Paul

by Kirsopp Lake

Publisher:

Rivingtons

, 1914

Overview

Kirsopp Lake was a well-known New Testament scholar in his day, teaching at both University of Leyden and Harvard. Dr. Peter Toon writing in Who's Who in Christian History says of Lake, "In the study of Christianity's origins and in New Testament textual criticism, Lake was a pioneer." Today, Lake's work is frequently cited in Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, and theological journal articles dealing with Pauline studies.

The Earlier Epistles of St. Paul fills in the background details surrounding Paul's letters to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans. Lake engages the "literary and critical questions introductory to these letters, concerning their integrity, destination, and history." He also explores the "intricate question of the world of religious thought to which the earliest Gentile Christians belonged—the world of the Hellenistic Mystery Religions."

Contents

• The Outline given in Acts of Events in St. Paul’s Life
• The Judaistic Controversy, the Gentile Converts, and the Background of Gentile Christianity.
• The Epistles to the Thessalonians
• Corinth
• The Epistle to the Galatians
• The Epistle to the Romans
• Conclusion

Top Highlights

“The usual explanation is that he went away to meditate in the desert, perhaps on Mount Sinai.” (Page 320)

“the existence of this type is of enormous importance in considering the origin of Gnosticism” (Page 45)

“Does St. Paul mean that all the events described took place before the conversion of the Galatians, or before the sending of the Epistle? In other words, does the plan of this section involve his giving a sketch of his relations with the Apostles at Jerusalem up to the time of his converting the Galatians, or up to the time when he wrote to them? (ii.) With what narratives in the Acts can we identify the events mentioned in the Epistle? and, if we cannot identify them at all, when are they likely to have happened?” (Page 267)

“Hellenistic Jews belonging to this who were attracted” (Page 17)

Product Details

• Title: The Earlier Epistles of St. Paul: Their Motive and Origin
• Author: Kirsopp Lake
• Publisher: Rivingtons
• Publication Date: 1911
• Pages: 466

About Kirsopp Lake

Kirsopp Lake (1872–1946) was born in England. He was a New Testament scholar, curate, and archaeologist with an interest in New Testament textual criticism, theology, archaeology, and Greek palaeography. Lake was professor of New Testament exegesis and early Christian literature at the University of Leiden from 1904 to 1914 and the Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard Divinity School.