Do Paul’s letters refer to Jesus's biographical details?
Clarifying the question
Do Paul’s epistles comment on, use, and/or in other ways allude to biographical details of the historical Jesus? Do his letters report on and betray a familiarity with Jesus’s background, teachings and the narrative of his life?
New Testament historians
• James Dunn: “[there are] allusions to Jesus which could be appreciated by the recipients of Paul's letters only if they could fill out the allusions from their earlier instruction.” [Beginning from Jerusalem (Eerdmans, 2008), 103]
• Richard Bauckham: “Allusions to Jesus traditions in Paul's writings are in fact much more numerous than an older stereotype of Paul allowed.” [Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (), .]
See examples
- • …“[Abraham’s] seed... Christ” (Gal 3:16)
• …“born of a descendant of David” (Rom 1:3)
• …“descended from David” (2 Tim 2:3)
• …“born of a woman, born under the Law” (Gal 4:4)
• …“James, the Lord’s brother” (Gal 1:19)
• …“the [biological] brothers of the Lord” (1 Cor 9:5)
• …“poor,” (2 Cor 8:9) - David Wenham defends far more than this in his book, Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? (Eerdmans 1995)]
He argues that Paul alludes at various times to Jesus's…
• …birth (Matt 1:18-25); Luke 2:1-20)
• …baptism by John the Baptist (Mt 3:13-17 and parallels)
• …temptation (Matt 4:1-11 and parallels)
• …comissioning Peter (John 21:15-19)
• …transfiguration (Matt 17:1-13 and paralells)
• …statements, like his… > • …use of the “Son of Man” title (e.g., John 1:51)
• …parable of the sower (Mat 13:1-9; 18-23 and parallels)
• …parable of the prodical song (Luke 15:11-32)
• …comments on paying taxes (Matt 22:15-22)
• …sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
• …teaching about peacemaking (e.g., Matt 5:9)
• …teaching to cut off sin-causing body-parts (Matt 5:29-30).
• …ransom saying (Matt 20:28//Mark 10:45)
• …taking up the cross (Matt 16:24-26 and parallels)
• …drinking his cup and sharing his baptism (Mark 10:38)
Examples abound where Paul refers to Jesus's biographical details. Right?
•…geneology/family/status.1
•…ethical behavior.
•…sayings (including teachings).
•…death.
•…[and more]. [Forthcoming]2
• [Wenham also sees Paul acknowledging the account of James and John competing (Matt 20:20-24)]