Who is the author of the majority of the New Testament epistles?

The story behind the answer

Paul is traditionally regarded as the author of the majority of the New Testament epistles.

The Pauline epistles are the 13 New Testament letters traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. They include Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, the Thessalonian letters, the Pastoral Epistles, and Philemon. Paul’s letters address early Christian communities and individuals across the eastern Roman Empire, discussing faith, ethics, worship, church organization, and disagreements among believers.

Modern scholarship considers seven of these letters undisputedly authentic: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. The authorship of several others is debated, but Paul remains associated with more New Testament epistles than any other individual writer.

A common mix-up is Hebrews. It was historically placed among Paul’s letters in some Christian traditions, but it is anonymous and is not generally accepted by modern scholars as written by Paul. The letters of John, James, and Peter are separate general epistles.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: