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How do we know the apostle Paul's letters are authoritative?

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Paul's letters are considered authoritative because he signed them personally, affirming their authenticity as scripture.

The apostle Paul took care to authenticate his letters, often closing them with a personal salutation that affirmed their source. In 2 Thessalonians 3:17, Paul states, 'the salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle.' This practice established credibility and helped combat counterfeit letters that misrepresented his teachings. The early church recognized Paul's writings as scripture, as evidenced in 2 Peter 3:15-16, where Peter confirms the wisdom given to Paul and acknowledges his letters among the Scriptures. This longstanding recognition by the church underlines the divine authority of Paul's epistles.
Scripture References: 2 Thessalonians 3:17, 2 Peter 3:15-16

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