Scholarly Reading
6/4/26
Robinson, John A.T. (1976). "Chapter 3: The Pauline Epistles." (pp. 31-85). In Redating the New Testament. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. (Personal Library)
The dates of Paul are rather clearly established, according to Robinson (Robinson 1976, p. 31). Robinson does observe that an inscription at Delphi, published in 1905, gives clarity to the time of Gallio's consulship, which influenced interpretation of the timeline of Paul's activities, adjusting some estimates by about two years (Robinson 1976, p. 30). However, Robinson provides a number of reasons that cause us to consider dating of his letters to be provisional. In particular, the calendar systems used were not standard, and reckoning was normally made in relation to officials' reigns. Further, the reckoning of intervals of time was sometimes inclusive and sometimes exclusive (Robinson 1976, pp. 32-33). The coordination of time elements in Acts with Paul's letters is also of great importance, though they normally are found in agreement (Robinson 1976, p. 33).
Though it is tangential to the cause of dating Paul's letters, it is interesting to note that the date of Paul's encounter with the proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:12-17) could not have been before early summer of 51, based on the inscription in Corinth. The events of Acts 15, which have often been held to be in 51, must be earlier, perhaps in 48. Robinson lays the details out clearly (Robinson 1976, p. 35).
Robinson considers the chronological statements of Galatians 1-2 as very important, but easily misconstrued (Robinson 1976, pp. 36-37). The intervals of time cited by Paul may be inclusive or not. They also may have reference either to time from Paul's conversion or to time from the last event mentioned. Robinson further observes that the visits of Paul to Jerusalem recorded in Galatians 1:18-24 and Acts 9:26-30 would appear to be the same, but that the two accounts mention very different activities at the time (Robinson 1976, p. 38). Robinson continues by discussing the various accounts of Paul in Jerusalem at some length.
The visits of Paul to Jerusalem described in Acts 11:30-12:25 and in Acts 15 present a significant challenge to chronological analysis, in Robinson's mind (Robinson 1976, pp. 40ff). The visit from chapter 11 may not be mentioned in any letters because of the lack of need to transmit a particular message. However, it is clear that, in Acts 15, a decree was made which was to be circulated. Particularly in the setting of Galatians, this decree would have been relevant (Robinson 1976, p. 41). The gist of the message, however, was central to Paul's work in Galatia. It may have been unnecessary to comment further. Robinson further considers that the cultural context in Rome and Corinth may have been so different that the decree from Acts 15 would have been impracticable.
Having established Paul's presence in Corinth before Gallio in AD 51, Robinson looks for a date of Porcius Festus replacing Felix in Judea (Acts 24:27) (Robinson 1976, p. 43). As of Robinson's writing, no inscription has been found to clarify this date. Josephus and Tacitus give contradictory information. The emperor Nero had recalled Felix, which places the event after Nero's accession in 54. Felix had been subject to complaints made to Nero, and had been under the protection of his brother Pallas. This places the recall no earlier than late in 55 (Robinson 1976, p. 43). However, Eusebius assigns Nero's accession as 55 and Felix' recall in 56. The reference in Acts to "two years" throws further confusion into the matter, as it may be inclusive or exclusive and as it may indicate an ongoing imprisonment during which Paul's various hearings occurred (Robinson 1976, p. 44). Robinson details the information of Eusebius, along with other scholars, who tend to place Paul's arrival in Jerusalem in 57, with his imprisonment there lasting into 59 (Robinson 1976, p. 46).
Armed with these beginning and ending date ranges, Robinson moves to consider the events of Paul's third missionary journey. After leaving for Asia Minor probably in spring of 52, Paul arrived shortly in Ephesus, where he was teaching until late in 54 (Robinson 1976, p. 46). This is covered in Acts 18:23-19:20. Robinson then sees some lack of clarity in the dating, while Paul remained in the area but Timothy and Erastus went to Macedonia, probably bringing us to summer of 55 (Robinson 1976, p. 47). From Ephesus, Paul went through Macedonia to Greece, then back to Macedonia (Acts 20:1-4). His goal was to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost, which Robinson identifies as the festival in the year 56 (Robinson 1976, p. 47).
Robinson now pulls in information from Paul's letters, which confirm time in Corinth with Silas and Timothy (Acts 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19) (Robinson 1976, p. 47). The sequence of travels found in Acts is also alluded to by using the letters to the Thessalonians and Philippians (Robinson 1976, p. 48). The planned travels match well with the summary after the fact in Acts. Robinson further considers that 1 Corinthians was likely "written in the spring of Paul's last year in Ephesus, round about Easter-time," referencing 1 Corinthians 5:7 (Robinson 1976, p. 48). Paul's travel plans were interrupted, provoking his changes of plans from 2 Corinthians 1:15; 12:14; and 13:1ff (Robinson 1976, p. 49). 2 Corinthians provides numerous details about the interruptions to Paul's plans and the eventual decision to write the second letter to Corinth, probably late in 55 or early in 56 (Robinson 1976, p. 50). Yet Robinson is troubled by the sheer number of things on Paul's schedule and by the fact that he needs three months in Achaia before going to Jerusalem. Therefore, Robinson posits the sketchy time surrounding Acts 20;2 to have moved us to an arrival in Jerusalem for Pentecost in 57 (Robinson 1976, p. 51).
Once Paul had arrived in Jerusalem, the timeline of events becomes more specific and clear. The details from Acts 24:11 and following have a rather clear chronology, bringing us through Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea until near the time (Acts 27:1) that Paul was put aboard a ship for transfer to Rome (Robinson 1976, p. 51). Paul's arrival at Rome thus was in the spring of 60, followed in Acts by two years of house arrest, leaving the narrative in 62 (Robinson 1976, p. 52). Robinson sums up the work of Paul with a brief timeline.
Based on the chronology of Paul's work and travels, as well as the people and events mentioned in the letters of Paul, Robinson constructs a chronology of the letters (Robinson 1976, pp. 53-84), giving a brief explanation of the specifics of each:
1 Thessalonians from Corinth, summer 50
2 Thessalonians from Corinth, late 50 or early 51
1 Corinthians from Ephesus, spring 55
2 Corinthians from Macedonia in 56
Romans from Corinth early in 57
Galatians - difficult to place and date, probably between 2 Corinthians and Romans in 56
Philippians - probably from Caesarea or Rome
Pastoral Epistles - possibly by Paul, if so, similar to Philippians
(Robinson leans toward Caesarea during Paul's imprisonment there, probably in 58, in the order: Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 2 Timothy)
Robinson finally places 1 Timothy in late 55 and Titus in spring 57. See a concise chart on p. 84.
6/4/26
Robinson, John A.T. (1976). "Chapter 3: The Pauline Epistles." (pp. 31-85). In Redating the New Testament. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. (Personal Library)
The dates of Paul are rather clearly established, according to Robinson (Robinson 1976, p. 31). Robinson does observe that an inscription at Delphi, published in 1905, gives clarity to the time of Gallio's consulship, which influenced interpretation of the timeline of Paul's activities, adjusting some estimates by about two years (Robinson 1976, p. 30). However, Robinson provides a number of reasons that cause us to consider dating of his letters to be provisional. In particular, the calendar systems used were not standard, and reckoning was normally made in relation to officials' reigns. Further, the reckoning of intervals of time was sometimes inclusive and sometimes exclusive (Robinson 1976, pp. 32-33). The coordination of time elements in Acts with Paul's letters is also of great importance, though they normally are found in agreement (Robinson 1976, p. 33).
Though it is tangential to the cause of dating Paul's letters, it is interesting to note that the date of Paul's encounter with the proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:12-17) could not have been before early summer of 51, based on the inscription in Corinth. The events of Acts 15, which have often been held to be in 51, must be earlier, perhaps in 48. Robinson lays the details out clearly (Robinson 1976, p. 35).
Robinson considers the chronological statements of Galatians 1-2 as very important, but easily misconstrued (Robinson 1976, pp. 36-37). The intervals of time cited by Paul may be inclusive or not. They also may have reference either to time from Paul's conversion or to time from the last event mentioned. Robinson further observes that the visits of Paul to Jerusalem recorded in Galatians 1:18-24 and Acts 9:26-30 would appear to be the same, but that the two accounts mention very different activities at the time (Robinson 1976, p. 38). Robinson continues by discussing the various accounts of Paul in Jerusalem at some length.
The visits of Paul to Jerusalem described in Acts 11:30-12:25 and in Acts 15 present a significant challenge to chronological analysis, in Robinson's mind (Robinson 1976, pp. 40ff). The visit from chapter 11 may not be mentioned in any letters because of the lack of need to transmit a particular message. However, it is clear that, in Acts 15, a decree was made which was to be circulated. Particularly in the setting of Galatians, this decree would have been relevant (Robinson 1976, p. 41). The gist of the message, however, was central to Paul's work in Galatia. It may have been unnecessary to comment further. Robinson further considers that the cultural context in Rome and Corinth may have been so different that the decree from Acts 15 would have been impracticable.
Having established Paul's presence in Corinth before Gallio in AD 51, Robinson looks for a date of Porcius Festus replacing Felix in Judea (Acts 24:27) (Robinson 1976, p. 43). As of Robinson's writing, no inscription has been found to clarify this date. Josephus and Tacitus give contradictory information. The emperor Nero had recalled Felix, which places the event after Nero's accession in 54. Felix had been subject to complaints made to Nero, and had been under the protection of his brother Pallas. This places the recall no earlier than late in 55 (Robinson 1976, p. 43). However, Eusebius assigns Nero's accession as 55 and Felix' recall in 56. The reference in Acts to "two years" throws further confusion into the matter, as it may be inclusive or exclusive and as it may indicate an ongoing imprisonment during which Paul's various hearings occurred (Robinson 1976, p. 44). Robinson details the information of Eusebius, along with other scholars, who tend to place Paul's arrival in Jerusalem in 57, with his imprisonment there lasting into 59 (Robinson 1976, p. 46).
Armed with these beginning and ending date ranges, Robinson moves to consider the events of Paul's third missionary journey. After leaving for Asia Minor probably in spring of 52, Paul arrived shortly in Ephesus, where he was teaching until late in 54 (Robinson 1976, p. 46). This is covered in Acts 18:23-19:20. Robinson then sees some lack of clarity in the dating, while Paul remained in the area but Timothy and Erastus went to Macedonia, probably bringing us to summer of 55 (Robinson 1976, p. 47). From Ephesus, Paul went through Macedonia to Greece, then back to Macedonia (Acts 20:1-4). His goal was to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost, which Robinson identifies as the festival in the year 56 (Robinson 1976, p. 47).
Robinson now pulls in information from Paul's letters, which confirm time in Corinth with Silas and Timothy (Acts 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19) (Robinson 1976, p. 47). The sequence of travels found in Acts is also alluded to by using the letters to the Thessalonians and Philippians (Robinson 1976, p. 48). The planned travels match well with the summary after the fact in Acts. Robinson further considers that 1 Corinthians was likely "written in the spring of Paul's last year in Ephesus, round about Easter-time," referencing 1 Corinthians 5:7 (Robinson 1976, p. 48). Paul's travel plans were interrupted, provoking his changes of plans from 2 Corinthians 1:15; 12:14; and 13:1ff (Robinson 1976, p. 49). 2 Corinthians provides numerous details about the interruptions to Paul's plans and the eventual decision to write the second letter to Corinth, probably late in 55 or early in 56 (Robinson 1976, p. 50). Yet Robinson is troubled by the sheer number of things on Paul's schedule and by the fact that he needs three months in Achaia before going to Jerusalem. Therefore, Robinson posits the sketchy time surrounding Acts 20;2 to have moved us to an arrival in Jerusalem for Pentecost in 57 (Robinson 1976, p. 51).
Once Paul had arrived in Jerusalem, the timeline of events becomes more specific and clear. The details from Acts 24:11 and following have a rather clear chronology, bringing us through Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea until near the time (Acts 27:1) that Paul was put aboard a ship for transfer to Rome (Robinson 1976, p. 51). Paul's arrival at Rome thus was in the spring of 60, followed in Acts by two years of house arrest, leaving the narrative in 62 (Robinson 1976, p. 52). Robinson sums up the work of Paul with a brief timeline.
Based on the chronology of Paul's work and travels, as well as the people and events mentioned in the letters of Paul, Robinson constructs a chronology of the letters (Robinson 1976, pp. 53-84), giving a brief explanation of the specifics of each:
1 Thessalonians from Corinth, summer 50
2 Thessalonians from Corinth, late 50 or early 51
1 Corinthians from Ephesus, spring 55
2 Corinthians from Macedonia in 56
Romans from Corinth early in 57
Galatians - difficult to place and date, probably between 2 Corinthians and Romans in 56
Philippians - probably from Caesarea or Rome
Pastoral Epistles - possibly by Paul, if so, similar to Philippians
(Robinson leans toward Caesarea during Paul's imprisonment there, probably in 58, in the order: Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 2 Timothy)
Robinson finally places 1 Timothy in late 55 and Titus in spring 57. See a concise chart on p. 84.
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