The scholarly consensus is that Paul wrote some of the letters attributed to him, while others are considered pseudepigraphal (written in his name by someone else).
Here's a breakdown:
Generally accepted as genuinely Pauline:
* Romans
* 1 Corinthians
* 2 Corinthians
* Galatians
* Philippians
* 1 Thessalonians
* Philemon
Disputed (Authorship is debated):
* 2 Thessalonians
* Colossians
* Ephesians
Generally considered pseudepigraphal (Not written by Paul):
* 1 Timothy
* 2 Timothy
* Titus
Reasons for questioning authorship include:
* Differences in writing style and vocabulary: The vocabulary and sentence structure in the disputed and pseudepigraphal letters sometimes differ significantly from the undisputed letters.
* Theological differences: Some scholars argue that the theology presented in the disputed/pseudepigraphal letters differs from Paul's known theology in the undisputed letters. For example, the portrayal of church leadership and the emphasis on good works vary.
* Historical discrepancies: Some argue that the historical context implied in some letters doesn't fit well with what we know of Paul's life.
Important considerations:
* Amanuenses (scribes): Even for letters Paul genuinely authored, he likely used an amanuensis (scribe) to write them down. This was common practice in the ancient world. Romans 16:22 explicitly mentions Tertius as the scribe of that letter. Paul likely dictated the content, but the scribe could have influenced the final wording.
* Paul's own statement about authorship: Paul sometimes states that he is writing with his own hand (e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:21, Galatians 6:11, Colossians 4:18, 2 Thessalonians 3:17). This could have been to authenticate the letter and emphasize its importance. However, even with an amanuensis, the thoughts and ideas are still Paul's.
* Pseudepigraphy in the ancient world: Writing in the name of a respected figure was a somewhat common literary practice in the ancient world, particularly to honor that figure or to lend authority to the writing. It wasn't necessarily considered forgery in the modern sense. It's important to understand that the criteria for authorship then are different than now.
In summary:
Paul likely authored the core set of seven letters mentioned above, even if he used a scribe. The authorship of the other letters attributed to him is a subject of ongoing scholarly debate. Regardless of the authorship questions, these letters have been enormously influential in shaping Christian theology and practice.