The Exegetical Significance of the First Person Plural in the Canonical Writings Attributed to Paul

Abstract

"We" language typically links the speaker or writer to one or more additional persons, conveying the sense of collectivity and shared experience. The inclusive use of "we" draws the audience into the communicant's sphere of reference ("we" = "you and I"), while the exclusive usage makes a distinction between the recipients and the author's immediate circle ("we" = "he/they and I"). A survey of the past 182 years of discussions on the first person plural in Paul reveals little consensus among scholars on its exegetical significance. Examining the Pauline writings in light of ancient epistolography lends credence to the proposal that amanuenses, co-senders, collaborators, letter carriers, public readers, and joint-authors had various influences on the text. Applied to the epistolary plural debate, along with semantic and exegetical considerations, the presence in these letters of the stylistic plural ("we" = "I") proves to be far less certain than is often claimed. Reading the Paulines from the perspective of an inclusive-exclusive pronominal system helps to resolve a number of exegetical complexities. The ratio of exclusive first person plurals in relation to first person singulars reveals the frequency with which immediate colleagues are brought into the authorial reference, implying aggregation and perhaps collaboration as compared to individual argumentation. Accordingly, compositional cooperation is most evident in the Thessalonian letters, somewhat apparent in Hebrews, 2 Corinthians, and Colossians, with perceptible traces in 1 Corinthians and Galatians. The plausibility of authorial partnership raises serious questions about a reduced Pauline canon based on the presumption of unaided, individual style and vocabulary. This study concludes that "Paul the individualist" is a myth and "collective responsibility" is the norm in the NT writings attributed to the apostle. Far from being portrayed as a lone maverick or inaccessible authority figure, the mission of Paul was understood, executed, and communicated in the context of a community, with the indispensable collaboration of trusted companions never discounted.