Arguments Against Pauline Authorship

There are many arguments for and against Pauline Authorship of Ephesians. While there is evidence for both sides, there is one that many lean towards. The argument against Pauline authorship state that it is because of the vocabulary, style, dependence, personal references, and theological discrepancies. Though an array of texts states similar arguments for Pauline authorship, and those can all be under the subpoenas of internal evidence, external attestation, literary affinities, and theological consistency. Although both sides have their observations, one trumps the other, which is Pauline authorship. The vocabulary, alleged dependence, personal references, and theological discrepancies could all be easily explained unlike the arguments for Pauline authorship. While there are many arguments for and against Pauline authorship, there are also many dates that have been thrown around based off of who wrote Ephesians, and where Ephesians was written. Basing the date off of Pauline authorship, who wrote it in his first imprisonment in Rome, it would be around A.D 60 to A.D 62. Knowing the date helps subdue the common misunderstanding of the location that the letter was meant to go, even though it says “To the Ephesians” in the beginning of the book of Ephesians. This …show more content…
He stood aside from the conflict and contemplated God’s overall design for his church and for His world. He sought to relate God’s vision to practical demands of Christian living in a hostile society. Though Paul truly wanted to send this letter to the large network of local churches in Ephesus and the surrounding cities to affirm them in their new identity in Christ as a means of strengthening them in their ongoing struggle with the powers of darkness, to promote unity between Jews and Gentiles, and to stimulate the transformation of their lifestyles to a pure and holy life that God called them