Are Paul's Thanksgivings 'Epistolary' ?

Abstract

This study responds to a recent article by P. Arzt which in sum argues that Paul's thanksgivings are not of the kind found in epistolary traditions and, thus, should not be interpreted in light of them. In response, examples from the time of Paul as well as others are used to demonstrate that Paul's thanksgivings can be informed by epistolary thanksgiving traditions, both with respect to what Paul changes (perhaps for ideological reasons) and what Paul retains. Arzt has not demonstrated, either in terms of (1) the epistolary evidence or (2) his questionable methodological assump tions regarding epistolary formulas, that epistolary thanksgivings should not be used to shed light on Paul's thanksgivings. Nonetheless, Arzt correctly points out that the term 'introductory', when used to describe Pauline thanksgivings, is sometimes misleading and inaccurate.