--- title: "How early Paul’s letters were read" canonical: "https://paulineletters.com/explore/articles/how-early-pauls-letters-were-read" published: "2026-10-23" updated: "2026-10-23" license: "https://paulineletters.com/explore/license" source: "Pauline Letters" --- # How early Paul’s letters were read > The early reception of the Pauline letters emerges letter by letter, through witnesses whose different kinds of recognition should retain their different evidential weight. **How early were Paul’s letters known, and what do their earliest witnesses actually establish?** First Clement explicitly recalls Paul’s letter about Corinthian factions on its usual late-first-century dating. Other early writers quote or echo particular letters; second-century collections and papyri around AD 200 add different evidence. Together these supply dates for attested use, while uncertain witness dates and possible shared language limit some comparisons. ## A letter taken up again at Corinth In chapter 47 of First Clement, the church at Rome directs the Corinthians back to Paul’s earlier letter about their factions. Paul, Cephas and Apollos make the subject recognizable as 1 Corinthians 1:10–12. Here a writer names Paul and recalls a particular letter’s argument. The evidence is more specific than a general tribute to an apostle: Rome knew the letter and expected Corinth to recognize it. First Clement is usually dated around AD 95–97, although proposals range from about 70 to 140. The early witness therefore carries the uncertainty of its own date. Its force is still substantial: an identifiable Pauline letter was being recalled to address another church dispute. It does not follow that the writer possessed all thirteen letters traditionally attributed to Paul, or that every passage resembling a later letter must come from it. ## Quotation, allusion and echo The reception records distinguish a clear quotation from a probable allusion and a possible echo. Ignatius’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 18, closely reproduces wording from 1 Corinthians 1:20 in a context also resembling its discussion of the cross. The words can be recognizable even without a named source. His letters are conventionally dated around AD 105–117, though some place them later. An echo demands more restraint. Ignatius’s letter to the Smyrnaeans pairs Christ’s descent from David with divine sonship in language resembling Romans 1:3–4. Because Paul may himself be using an earlier confession there, Ignatius could share that confession without borrowing Romans. First Clement’s list of vices probably alludes to Romans, but such lists were also common. Around AD 180, Irenaeus explicitly names Romans: that attribution answers a different question from an earlier verbal resemblance. In his letter to Philippi, usually dated around AD 110–140, Polycarp of Smyrna includes sayings about money that probably draw on 1 Timothy 6:7 and 6:10. Proverbial parallels leave room for shared teaching. His likely familiarity with that wording matters for reception. It cannot decide the disputed question of whether Paul wrote 1 Timothy. ## Keep the writer, recipient and names distinct Titles can conceal an easy confusion. Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians is a witness to Pauline writings, rather than Paul’s own Philippians. Likewise, Ignatius’s To the Romans is a different work from Romans. Naming the author alongside the destination keeps the evidence attached to the right document. Shared personal names need the same care. Ignatius mentions a bishop named Onesimus near wording that may echo Philemon. That combination has prompted a proposed identification with the Onesimus in Paul’s letter. The name was common, however, and the identification remains unproven. A possible literary echo cannot turn two named people into one established biography. ## Collections show what readers received Marcion’s mid-second-century edition gathered ten Pauline letters, including Philemon, while omitting 1–2 Timothy and Titus. The edition is lost; its contents are known through opponents, especially Tertullian writing in the early third century. His hostile report needs to remain visible in any account of what Marcion received or altered. The Muratorian Fragment receives thirteen letters under Paul’s name. Usually dated around AD 170–200, it is placed in the fourth century by some scholars. These are records of accepted collections at their respective, sometimes disputed, dates. Marcion’s omissions alone cannot date the Pastorals: rejection, lack of knowledge and later composition remain proposed explanations. A list’s attribution to Paul likewise records a judgment about authorship rather than settling it. ## The surviving copy is another witness Papyrus 46, usually dated by handwriting to around AD 200, preserves an extensive collection of Pauline letters. It places Hebrews after Romans. That arrangement shows how those writings were grouped by the codex’s users; it cannot establish who wrote Hebrews. Missing final leaves also prevent certainty about whether the book once included Philemon or the Pastoral Letters. Philemon illustrates the difference between literary reception and physical survival. Its earliest firm reception evidence is Marcion’s collection, as reported later by Tertullian. Its oldest known manuscript, Papyrus 87, is dated by handwriting to the third century. The fragment attests copying by then, rather than fixing the letter’s composition date. Keeping those two timelines distinct lets each witness contribute what it actually preserves. ## Bibliography and sources - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 3.2 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 9.1 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 9.2 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 11.2 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 11.3 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 12.1 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Phil. 13.2 - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — AH 3.3.4 (Polycarp's letter) - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — AH 3.3.4 (Polycarp and Marcion) - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 5.6 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 5.7 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 5.1 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot) — 1 Clem. 5.2 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 47.1-3 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 6.1 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 1.1 - Church of Rome (traditionally Clement of Rome), First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. inscription (salutation) - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 2 — Note on 1 Clem. 5 ('the extreme west'), p. 30 - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 2 — Note on 1 Clem. 5 ('the extreme west'), p. 31 - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 2 — Note on 1 Clem. 5 ('seven times'), p. 29 - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 1 — Part I, vol. 1, p. 27 - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 1 — Part I, vol. 1, p. 118 (Alexandrian MS) - J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, Part I: S. Clement of Rome, vol. 1 — Part I, vol. 1, p. 122 (Constantinople MS) - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — AH 3.3.3 - Anonymous, Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — §2 in ANF numbering (on Acts) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Kurzgefasste Liste: GA 02 (Codex Alexandrinus) — docID 20002 (GA 02; London, British Library, Royal 1 D.VIII; 5th century) - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Eph. 12.2 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Rom. 4.3 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Rom. 9.2 (echo of 1 Cor 15:8-9) - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Eph. 18.1 (echo of 1 Cor 1:18-20; 4:13) - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Smyrn. 3.3 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot) — Pol. Phil. 13.2 - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — Haer. 5.28.4 (quoting Ign. Rom. 4.1) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 3, on Philemon, Titus and Timothy (ANF 5:603) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 3, on Laodiceans and Alexandrians (ANF 5:603) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 2, on Acts and Theophilus (ANF 5:603) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 2, on Peter's passion and Paul's journey to Spain (ANF 5:603) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 4 (ANF 5:604) - ANF vol. 5 editors (editorial headnote), Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5, note to 'Canon Muratorianus' — ANF 5:603, headnote (CCEL note 4977) - Tertullian, Against Marcion, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3 (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21 - Tertullian, Against Marcion, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3 (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.17 - Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testaments (INTF NTVMR, page-level record) — Gregory-Aland P46 (INTF docID 10046) - Chester Beatty online exhibition page: New Testament (label for the Pauline Epistles leaf) — CBL BP II f.61 - CSNTM manuscript record: P46 — GA P46 - INTF NTVMR transcription of P46 — P46 folio 20r - INTF NTVMR transcription of P46 — P46 folio 21v - INTF NTVMR transcription of P46 — P46 folio 75r - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21.1 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21.1 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.17.1 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.11.12 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.13.4 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 1.19.2 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 1.15 - Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — Haer. 1.27.2 - Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Muratorian Fragment, sec. 3 (ANF 5 numbering) - Polycarp, Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Phil. 4.1 - INTF NTVMR transcription of P46 — P46 folio 75r - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Kurzgefasste Liste (INTF NTVMR): manuscript record P87 — P87 (docID 10087) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, INTF transcription of P87, folio 1r — P87 f. 1r (Phlm 13-15) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, INTF transcription of P87, folio 1v — P87 f. 1v (Phlm 24-25) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Kurzgefasste Liste (INTF NTVMR): manuscript record P139 — P139 (docID 10139) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Kurzgefasste Liste (INTF NTVMR): manuscript record 01 (Codex Sinaiticus) — 01 (docID 20001) - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Kurzgefasste Liste (INTF NTVMR): manuscript record P46 — P46 (docID 10046) - CSNTM manuscript catalogue: GA P87 — GA P87 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3) (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21 - Clement of Rome (traditional attribution), 1 Clement (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — 1 Clem. 35.6 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Smyrn. 1.1 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Phil. 6.2 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.13 - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — Haer. 3.16.3 - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 3, on Paul's letters to seven churches - CSNTM manuscript record: P46 — GA P46 - Clement of Rome, The Epistle of S. Clement to the Corinthians (Lightfoot, Apostolic Fathers Part I, vol. 2) (J. B. Lightfoot, 1890) — 1 Clem. 47.1-3 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Ign. Eph. 18.1 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Ign. Rom. 9.2 - Polycarp, Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Pol. Phil. 11.2 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3) (P. Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.10 - Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 1) (A. Roberts and W. H. Rambaut, 1885) — Haer. 4.27.3 - Muratorian Fragment (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Muratorian Fragment, section 3 (ANF 5 numbering) - CSNTM manuscript record, Gregory-Aland P46 — GA P46 (Dublin, CBL BP II) - Clement of Rome (traditional attribution), 1 Clement (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — 1 Clem. 61.2 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Polycarp (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Pol. 3.1 - Polycarp of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians (J. B. Lightfoot, 1891) — Phil. 4.1 - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Canon Muratorianus, in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 5 (printed among the Fragments of Caius) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Canon Muratorianus 3, on Philemon, Titus and Timothy (ANF 5:603) - Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, 1885) — AH 1, preface 1 - Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung, Münster, Kurzgefasste Liste (NTVMR), P133 — Gregory-Aland P133 (INTF docID 10133) - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 3) (Peter Holmes, 1885) — 5.21 - Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians (J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 1891) — Ign. Eph. 2.1-2 - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21.1 (Marcion's Apostolicon) - Anonymous (Muratorian Fragment), Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (S. D. F. Salmond, 1886) — Muratorian Fragment, sec. 3 (ANF 5 numbering) - Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, CSNTM manuscript catalogue: GA P87 — GA P87 (3rd century; Köln, Institut für Altertumskunde, Inv. Nr. 12) - Tertullian, Against Marcion (Peter Holmes, 1885) — Adv. Marc. 5.21.1 (Philemon's brevity) --- Canonical: https://paulineletters.com/explore/articles/how-early-pauls-letters-were-read