Jesus, the Apostles, and the New Testament — Circulation and Collection

Paul's Letters Are Recognized as Scripture

By the late first century
A Visit With Jesus

Second Peter refers to a known collection of Paul's letters and places them alongside the other Scriptures.

Full Account

Second Peter speaks of all Paul's letters, acknowledges that some passages are difficult, and warns that unstable people distort them as they do the other Scriptures. The wording indicates both circulation of multiple Pauline letters and recognition of their scriptural character.

Under traditional Petrine authorship, this is especially early evidence from within the apostolic period. Even scholars assigning a later date must acknowledge that Paul's letters had been collected and accorded high authority by the time the passage was written.

Historical Significance

The passage shows that recognition of New Testament writings as Scripture began before fourth-century councils.

People, Places and Sources