How many letters did Paul actually write?

• A. 5
• B. 7
• C. 9
• D. 12

Answer: (B)

The question tests your ability to identify which writings are authentically Paul's and which are accepted as written by others in his name. The letters widely regarded as genuinely Paul’s are Romans, both Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, first Thessalonians, and Philemon. These seven were written during his moves among the churches he founded, and they carry his distinctive voice and teachings. Other letters in the New Testament that bear Paul’s name—Ephesians, Colossians, and the Pastoral letters (first and second Timothy, Titus)—are generally viewed by scholars as written by later authors or in a Pauline milieu, not by Paul himself. Because the undisputed Paulan letters total seven, that is the number most scholars give for how many he actually wrote.