How long were Paul's letters preserved before the Church Fathers collected them into Scripture?
Paul's letters were kept intact for three hundred and some years before the Church Fathers collected them together and placed them into what we call the Scripture. Despite having no copy machines or instant communication, they did not get lost, which is described as miraculous.
Les explains that Paul's various letters went out to congregations in the ancient world where there were no copy machines and no instant communication. Yet they did not get lost. Someone was providentially aware that these letters were important and protected them. They were kept intact for three hundred and some years before the Church Fathers put them together and put them into what we call the Scripture. Les points out that this preservation is miraculous, especially since these were just simple letters sent to a congregation, likely only one copy, and this letter especially was sent to be circled among all the churches in the area around Ephesus, yet it never got lost. He calls this the supernatural book that it is.
More Questions
How did Paul's letters survive until they were put into the Scripture?
Paul's letters were not lost but were providentially watched over and kept intact for over three hundred years, until the Church Fathers gathered them together and put them into what we call the Scripture.