‘How to Do Things with Letters’. Presence and Action by Letter in Paul and in the Documentary Papyri
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/sacrascripta.2026.1.05Keywords:
Paul’s letters, documentary letters, visit talks, apostolic parousia, pragmatic dimension of lettersAbstract
The relationship between Paul’s letters and ancient documentary letters is a valuable field of study in biblical exegesis that has been addressed in many ways since Deissmann’s pioneering work. The present study takes a closer look at the so-called ‘visit talks’, and traces a series of motifs and themes in both letters on papyrus and in the authentic Pauline letters. In doing so, it highlights not only the similarities but also Paul’s creative approach to some epistolary traditions in order to avoid a kind of ‘parallelomania’ with little exegetical benefit. Letters are not only intended to maintain a friendly relationship but also have distinct pragmatic features – they prescribe actions, make recommendations, requests, promises, etc. Letters are by no means ‘emergency solutions’ or a ‘deficient means of communication’ because of the physical distance between the letter writer and the addressee; instead, they play a key role in Paul’s missionary strategy.
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