Editing New Testament (section)

====Pauline letters to churches====
{{Main|Pauline epistles}}
The Pauline letters are the thirteen New Testament books that present [[Paul the Apostle]] as their author.{{Efn|[[Joseph Barber Lightfoot]] in his ''Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians'' writes: "At this point<ref>{{Bibleref2|Gal|6:11}}</ref> the apostle takes the pen from his [[amanuensis]], and the concluding paragraph is written with his own hand. From the time when letters began to be forged in his name<ref>{{bibleref2|2 Thess|2:2||2 Thess. 3:17}}; {{bibleref2|2 Thess|3:17||2 Thess. 3:17}}</ref> it seems to have been his practice to close with a few words in his own handwriting, as a precaution against such forgeries.... In the present case he writes a whole paragraph, summing up the main lessons of the epistle in terse, eager, disjointed sentences. He writes it, too, in large, bold characters (Gr. ''pelikois grammasin''), that his handwriting may reflect the energy and determination of his soul."<ref>{{cite book |last=Lightfoot |first=Joseph Barber |year=1866 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N8ECAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA217 |title=St Paul's Epistle to the Galatians |edition=2nd |publisher=MacMillan & Co |page=217}}</ref>}} Paul's authorship of six of the letters is disputed. Four are thought by most modern scholars to be [[Pseudepigraphy|pseudepigraphic]], i.e., not actually written by Paul even if attributed to him within the letters themselves. Opinion is more divided on the other two disputed letters (2 Thessalonians and Colossians).<ref>[[Jouette Bassler|Bassler, Jouette M.]] (2010). "Paul and his Letters". In Aune, David E. ''The Blackwell Companion to the New Testament''. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 388. {{ISBN|978-1-4443-1894-4}}.</ref> These letters were written to Christian communities in specific cities or geographical regions, often to address issues faced by that particular community. Prominent themes include the relationship both to broader "[[Gentile|pagan]]" society, to Judaism, and to other Christians.<ref>Roetzel, Calvin J. (2009). ''[[iarchive:lettersofpaulcon00roet 0|The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context]]'' (5th ed.). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox. p. ix–x {{ISBN|978-0-664-23392-1}}</ref>
*[[Epistle to the Romans]]
*[[First Epistle to the Corinthians]]
*[[Second Epistle to the Corinthians]]
*[[Epistle to the Galatians]]
*[[Epistle to the Ephesians]]<sup>*</sup>
*[[Epistle to the Philippians]]
*[[Epistle to the Colossians]]<sup>*</sup>
*[[First Epistle to the Thessalonians]]
*[[Second Epistle to the Thessalonians]]<sup>*</sup>
[Disputed letters are marked with an asterisk (*).]