One common objection to the New Testament is the claim that some letters attributed to Paul or Peter couldn’t really have come from them, because the vocabulary or style differs from their other writings. At first this sounds reasonable. But when we look closely at ancient writing practices and the contexts of these letters, the objection becomes far less certain.
1. Writers Grow, and Their Style Changes
Any writer’s style changes over time. Vocabulary grows, tone shifts, and writing adapts to purpose and audience. Paul’s letters span different decades, different communities, and very different circumstances—some are personal, some theological, some corrective, some written from prison. It would actually be unusual if they all sounded identical.
Variation in style is normal and expected, not evidence of forgery.
2. Ancient Authors Commonly Used Scribes
In the ancient world, dictation and secretarial assistance were completely normal. Scripture itself records this pattern:
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Jeremiah dictated while Baruch wrote (Jeremiah 36:4).
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Tertius physically penned the letter to the Romans (Romans 16:22).
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Paul authenticated letters with his own signature (2 Thessalonians 3:17).
These examples show that apostles often dictated their letters, while trained scribes shaped the written form. This alone can account for many stylistic differences that modern readers notice.
3. Different Audiences Require Different Vocabulary
Variation in vocabulary also reflects variation in audience. Paul writes differently to Gentiles than to Jews, differently to close friends than to church congregations. A theological correction to Galatia will not sound like a personal letter to Philemon.
Likewise, 1 Peter addresses Greek-speaking believers scattered across Asia Minor. Peter mentions Silvanus in connection with the letter (1 Peter 5:12), which many understand as indicating secretarial or courier assistance. This would naturally influence the final Greek style without changing Peter’s message.
4. Stylistic Differences Do Not Equal Different Authors
When we consider all these factors—growth over time, different audiences, and the standard use of scribes—the stylistic differences among New Testament letters are exactly what we would expect from genuine first-century correspondence. Claims that “Paul (or Peter) couldn’t have written this” based solely on vocabulary overlook how ancient writing actually worked.
5. Inspiration Through Real People
The Bible was written through real people in real circumstances, not through mechanical dictation. God used ordinary processes—dictation, scribes, personal growth, and collaboration—to communicate His Word. The message remains consistent and authoritative even when the human style varies.
Far from undermining Scripture, these human fingerprints remind us that God chose to speak through real people so His Word could reach real audiences—clearly, faithfully, and powerfully.
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