Paul's Letters as Artifacts: The Value of the Written Text among Non-Literate People

Abstract

Paul's letters were composed in an era when the vast majority of the population could not read the correspondence delivered by Paul's couriers. This article explores why Paul might have written instead of merely sending messengers to present his greetings to his churches and how Paul's non-literate communities may have reacted to his written documents. An examination of the use of written texts by non-literate cultures in a variety of cultures reveals that written texts hold a place of honor and are recognized, in some instances, as sacred, mystical objects that are imbued with power because of their indecipherability. In light of the human tendency to revere writing, the long-held position in biblical scholarship that Paul operated under a marked disadvantage and diminished authority due to his necessary reliance upon letters rather than a personal visit is called into question. This article argues that Paul's written messages to largely non-literate churches functioned as sacred artifacts that contributed to Paul's successes with his churches, that the potent legacy of his written words bolstered Paul's apostolic authority even in absentia.