When Paul Quoted Jesus: Book 4 in the “Contending with Paul” Series

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Author(s): William Joseph Cobble
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What if the words of Jesus could be found scattered throughout Paul’s letters, but we have just not thought to look for them?

These would seldom be word-for-word quotes preceded by a convenient, “Jesus said,” but allusions, paraphrases, references, and interpretations. What we will call “echoes”.

In each of the examples below, Paul appears to be echoing sayings of Jesus that can be found paralleled in the Gospel of Matthew:

JESUS: “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt. 17:20)
PAUL: “… and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1Cor. 13:2)

JESUS: Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” … But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt. 6:31-33)
PAUL: For the kingdom of God is not food and drinkbut righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17)

Since Paul’s letters predate the Gospels, such echoes would not only be independent of their influence, but the earliest known citations of Jesus’ words and teachings in existence. This makes them of the highest significance.

Though Paul had not become a follower of Jesus until years after the crucifixion, there are multiple routes by which such teachings could have found their way to him: the Apostles, those the Apostles taught, oral traditions, Christian liturgies and hymns, and perhaps even written documents.

When Paul Quoted Jesus presents the 25 examples where it appears most probable that we are hearing the echoes of Jesus’s words and teachings coming through Paul’s pen. These are found in multiple letters: Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and First Thessalonians, demonstrating that Paul not only knew many of Jesus’ traditions, but revealing how he incorporated them into his own theological worldview.