i'm throwing this out as a curveball
what if the epistles are really paraphrases of an earlier set of writings?
i don't mean a marcion/orthodox style edit but a deeper re-write?
it occured to me certain fragments similar to the epistles seem like an older/wiser Paul
for example the nag hammadi prayer of the apostle paul and fragments of a theological treatise bound up in the acts of peter (quoted below)
the epistles are keen to show Paul writing his final letters in chains, no chance of follow-ups.. but maybe there were follow-ups, and these were not so appealing than his older stuff
This sounds like 1 corinthians even following similar order of themes. could Marcion have turned this treatise into 1 Corinthians? or could this be the same author later in life with a gentler more mystic gospel?
this would put a different spin on things
it might imply we're seeing Marcion's personality more than Pauls except maybe bits of Collosians and Ephesians or some other parts.
note in the below there's nothing about the cross humiliating the powers so that's marcion, could this be the real Paul?
Now whereas thou hast made known and revealed these things unto me, O word of life, called now by me wood (or, word called now by me the tree of life), I give thee thanks, not with these lips that are nailed unto the cross, nor with this tongue by which truth and falsehood issue forth, nor with this word which cometh forth by means of art whose nature is material, but with that voice do I give thee thanks, O King, which is perceived (understood) in silence, which is not heard openly, which proceedeth not forth by organs of the body, which goeth not into ears of flesh, which is not heard of corruptible substance, which existeth not in the world, neither is sent forth upon earth, nor written in books, which is owned by one and not by another: but with this, O Jesu Christ, do I give thee thanks, with the silence of a voice, wherewith the spirit that is in me loveth thee, speaketh unto thee, seeth thee, and beseecheth thee. Thou art perceived of the spirit only, thou art unto me father, thou my mother, thou my brother, thou my friend, thou my bondsman, thou my steward: thou art the All and the All is in thee: and thou Art, and there is nought else that is save thee only.
Unto him therefore do ye also, brethren, flee, and if ye learn that in him alone ye exist, ye shall obtain those things whereof he saith unto you: 'which neither eye hath seen nor ear heard, neither have they entered into the heart of man.' We ask, therefore, for that which thou hast promised to give unto us, O thou undefiled Jesu. We praise thee, we give thee thanks, and confess to thee, glorifying thee, even we men that are yet without strength, for thou art God alone, and none other: to whom be glory now and unto all ages
