Correspondence of Paul and Seneca Overview

THE CORRESPONDENCE OF PAUL AND SENECA

• Date: 300-400

• Claimed Author: Paul (6 letters) & Seneca (8 letters) (14 total letters)

• References: Pseudo-Linus, Jerome? Augustin of Hippo?

• Not all the letters were necessarily written at the same time:

  • 11 has a different style

  • 13 and 14 seem to have been added later

• Different orders have been argued for the letters:

  • …10, 12, 11, 13, 14

  • …10, 14, 11, 13, 12

  • …10, 12, 14, 13, 11

pgs. 549-553 & https://www.pseudepigrapha.com/LostBooks/lettersPaulSeneca.htm

1. Seneca greets Paul, telling him about how he had a conversation about apocrypha with his friend and how some of Paul’s disciples spoke with him. He explains how he read one of his letters (he doesn’t say which one) and says:

“These thoughts, I believe, were expressed not by you, but through you; though sometimes they were expressed both by you and through you; for they are so lofty and so brilliant with noble sentiments that in my opinion generations of men could hardly be enough to become established and perfected in them.”

Seneca naturally agrees and praises Paul’s epistles (that would have certainly been controversial and offensive to the Roman way of life and thought). His appraisal of Paul also demonstrates a human-divine view of the inspiration of the Scriptures that neither downplays God nor the human God writes Scripture through.

2. Paul thanks Seneca for his approval of his letter. He knows he must have told the truth since he is “a critic, a philosopher, the teacher of so great a ruler, nay even of everyone.” Paul accepts Seneca’s appraisal, and Seneca is shown to be great (even though historically, he never demonstrated interest in Christianity).

3. Seneca says he arranged some of his works and plans to read them to Caesar, but wants Paul to be there to examine them.

4. Paul looks forward to Seneca coming.

5. Seneca asks Paul why he had been away for so long. He says that if it is because the empress is displeased at him converting, he will have a chance to explain himself.

6. Paul says he doesn’t want to write to Seneca about what has been written to him because some people around Seneca will understand, and he doesn’t want to offend anyone.

7. Seneca writes to Paul and Theophilus, explaining how he enjoyed reading Paul’s letters to the Galatians, the Corinthians, and Achaeans. He asks him to use refined language and explains how Augustus was first taken aback by his treatise on the power in him. Paul is assumed to have written an extra letter to the Achaeans and even a treatise.

8. Paul says that while Caesar is fond of their wonders, he won’t be rebuked, so he doesn’t want Seneca to continue sharing with him what Paul is teaching him. He also cautions him of showing how much he likes Paul to the empress because she could be angry. “As a queen she will not be insulted; as a woman she will be angry.” Paul might be explaining that some of his instructions about women being silent will make the empress angry, even though other instructions about praying for those in authority might please her.

9. Seneca says he will not continue to share Paul’s teachings with Caesar. He says he is sending “a book on elegance of expression.” 

10. Paul says it has been improper for him to put his own name after Seneca’s because it’s Roman practice to assume last place to a senator, and Paul seeks to be “all things to all people.” The letter dates itself to June 27 [58 AD].

11. Seneca shares how he is saddened over how the Christians have been blamed and punished—along with the Jews—for the fires in Rome. He dates the letter to March 28 [64 AD].

12. Seneca writes to Paul, saying that he considers himself “a second half” of him. Paul is a Roman citizen and is in no way unworthy of putting his own name first. The letter is dated March 23 [59 AD].

13. Seneca says that because of how much of Paul’s writing is “allegorical and enigmatic”, he should understand that writing more clearly doesn’t spoil or lessen his letters. He says he would sound better if he used his “pure Latin style.” He writes July 6 [58 AD]. As in the seventh letter, this letter also reflects how even early Christians struggled to understand Paul’s writings.

14. Paul writes to Seneca, encouraging him to avoid “the outward manifestations of the heathens and the Israelites.” He encourages him to use his rhetoric and wisdom to persuade the king about Jesus. The letter dates to August 1 [58 AD].