Dating Paul's Writings

[Jehanne]

I know that the earliest datings to some of Paul's letters are set to about 50 AD. But that is very conservative dating. Nevertheless this is the first place I have heard insist that none of the letters could have been composed in the first century. I am wondering, why not? What is the smoking gun?

Most scholars, whether theologians or atheists seem to all agree (from what I can ascertain) that most of the Pauline epistles (the ones which scholarly consensus points to being by one authentic author, not counting the ones widely in question) predate the gospels.

I know there is some theory about Marcion involving the Pauline epistles, but I don't know much about it in detail.

Here's a great resource for you:

Early Chrisitan Writings