14-6-3-1 Paul's Quotations From The Gospels: Analysis
And Implications
Letters
(listed chronologically) (1) |
Number of verses |
Number of allusions to
the Gospels |
Average number of verses
/ allusion |
| Paul's recorded speech in Acts
(from conversion in AD 37 to first imprisonment) (2) |
164 |
37 |
4.4 |
| Galatians (AD 57) |
149 |
19 |
7.8 |
| 1 Corinthians (Spring AD 57) |
448 |
71 |
6.3 |
| 2 Corinthians (Winter AD 57) |
255 |
32 |
7.9 |
| Romans (AD 58) |
433 |
61 |
7.0 |
| 1 Thessalonians (AD 59) |
89 |
22 |
4.0 |
| 2 Thessalonians (AD 59) |
47 |
11 |
4.3 |
| Colossians (AD 62) |
95 |
21 |
4.5 |
| Ephesians (AD 62) |
155 |
27 |
5.7 |
| Philemon (AD 62) |
25 |
2 |
12.5 |
| Philippians (AD 63) |
104 |
17 |
6.1 |
| Titus (AD 66) |
46 |
7 |
6.6 |
| 1 Timothy (AD 67) |
113 |
25 |
4.5 |
| 2 Timothy (AD 68) |
83 |
21 |
3.9 |
| Hebrews (impossible to date) |
303 |
54 |
5.6 |
The above research was done completely independently. Only subsequently
did I come across a similar study by Arnold Resch, which detected
a total of 1158 allusions by Paul to the Gospels. He detected 64
allusions to the Gospels in Paul's speeches in Acts, compared to
my 37. The point is, Paul almost certainly made more allusions to
the Gospels than I have catalogued; his mind was even more saturated
with the record of the Lord's life and work than I have shown. For
those who wish to really develop this research, Resch's paper is
'Der Paulinismus und die Logia Jesu', in Texte
und Untersuchungen, No. 27 (Leipzig, 1904). The whole issue
is also usefully discussed in D.L. Dungan, The Sayings Of Jesus
In The Churches Of Paul (Oxford: O.U.P., 1971). It must be
remembered that this list is only of verbal similarity. A profitable
study could be made of how Paul's actions, not only his
words, reflected his saturation with the Gospels. The way he shook
off the dust of his feet against Antioch was a clear reference to
Mt. 10:14; and the way he fled from city to city, still preaching
the Gospel under persecution, was surely in obedience to Mt. 10:23.
Notes
(1) These dates are quite standard.
Justification for them is well presented in W. Johnson, The
People's New Testament (London: Bagster, 1892).
(2) The following are the verses
which contain Paul's direct recorded speech: Acts 9:5,6; 13:10,11,17-41,46,47;
14:15-17; 16:31,37; 17:22-31; 10:1,4; 20:10, 18-35; 21:13,39; 22:1-21;
23:1,3,5,6,17; 24:10-21; 25:10; 26:2-29; 27:10,21-26,33,34; 28:17-20,
25-28. |
