The source of some of "Paul's" statements in Romans

-->
-->

It would seem that certain aspects of the Pauline letters are not only not Paul, but were copied from other texts in Greek which referenced Jews.  I say “texts in Greek” rather than “Greek texts” because in at least one case, Aristeas, we do not know who the author was, why the text was written or for which audience it was intended. It is presumed to date from the 2nd century BCE.

It would seem that Romans 1:20-27 borrowed much of its language and argument from Aristeas.

Romans 1:20-27:  

* Because what can be known about God is manifest in them, because God revealed it to them.

Τα γαρ αορατα αυτου απο κρισεως κοσμου τοις ποιημασιν νοουμενα καθοραται η τε αιδιος αυτου δυναμις καιειοτης εις το ειναι αυτουσ αναπολογητους

* For his invisible things from the creation of the world, being understood are understood by the things made, his eternal power and divinity, to be them without excuse.

Διοτι γνοντες τον θεον ουχ ως θεον εδοξασαν η ηυχαριστησαν αλλ εματαιωθησαν εν τοις διαλογισμοις αυτων και εσκοτισθη η ασυνετος αυτων καρδια

* Because having known God, they did not glorify or thank him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

φασκοντες ειναι σοφοι εμωρανθησαν

 * Professing to be wise, they became fools,

και ηλλαξαν την δοξαν του αφθαρτου θεου εν ονοιωματι εικονος φθαρτου ανθρωπου και πετεινων και τετραποδων και ερπετων

* And changed the glory of the immortal God into the likeness of an image of a mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Διο παριδωκεν αυτους ο θεος εν ταις εποθυμιαις των καρδιων αυτων εις ακαθαρσιαν του ατιμαξεσθαι τα σωματα  αυτων εν αυτοις

* Therefore God gave them up in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, their bodies to be dishonored in themselves,

οιτινες μεηλλαξαν την αληθειαν του θεου εν τω ψευδει και εσεβασθησαν και ελατρευσαν τη κτισει παρα τον κρισαντα ος εστιν ευλογητος εις τους αιωνασ αμην

* Because they changed the truth about God into a lie and reverenced and served the created thing rather than the Creator, who is blessed into the ages! Amen.

Διο τουτο παρεδωκεν αυτους ο θεος εις παθη ατιμιας αι τε γαρ θηλειαι αυτων μετηλλαξαν την φυσικην χρησιν εις την παρα φυσιν

* Because of this reason God gave them up to passions of dishonor. For their women exchanged natural relations for those contrary to nature;

The appropriation of text is not follow the same sequence, but the ideas and, in some cases, the language, are the same.

Aristeas 134-138:

After He set down theses premises He showed that all other men except ourselves [Judeans] believe that there are many gods, though they are themselves much more powerful than the gods they revere.  They make idols out of stone and wood and declare that these are images of persons who made discoveries useful in life, and these they worship, though their senselessness is obvious.  Tha anyone should be made a god because of some invention he has contrived is altogether foolish;  for such persons only took things already created and put them together and showed that they possessed further usefulness, but they did not themselves create the objects.  

Even at this day, there are many who are more inventive and more learned than the men of old, and yet they would never hasten to worship them.  And yet those who devise and fashion such fables consider that they are the wisest of the Greeks.  What need even to speak of other infatuated people, Egyptians and their like, who have put their reliance in wild beasts and most creeping creatures and animals and worship these, and to these offer sacrifice whether alive or dead?

Ariteas 152:

For most of the rest of mankind defile themselves by their promiscuous unions, working great unrighteousness, and whole countries and cities pride themselves on these vices.  Not only do they προαγουσι with males, but they even defile mothers and daughters. But we have kept apart from such things.

Aristeas 44:

Whatever is to your advantage, even if it be παρα φυσιν contrary to nature, we will listen to.

I left προαγουσι untranslated for a reason:  the translation for it is “have intercourse,” however the implication of it is “procreate.”  In other words, the issue is not the sexual act itself, but the intent to create progeny.  This is also the issue with mothers/daughters.  (The translator of Aristeas notes that the Priest who [fictionally] expressed this disapproval with intercourse with mothers and/or daughters also says he offered sacrifice for Ptolemy and his “sister-wife.”  That further supports the contention that the issue is NOT intercourse itself, but that the result of intercourse which might complicate or alter the line of inheritance.) 

The fact that Aristeas was written in Greek (rather than being translated from Hebrew into Greek), was purportedly written by a Jewish author, and that these passages were attributed to a Chief Priest all suggest that they were revised and redacted into a Pauline letter by a Greco-Roman, who wished to create the impression that the directives came from Paul, the Judean Pharisee.