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Encyclopedia > Epistles

The word "epistle" is from the Greek word epistolos which means a written "letter" addressed to a recipient or recipients, perhaps part of exchanged correspondence. Today in common usage this somewhat elevated term usually connotes a specific group of books in the New Testament that either were letters or were written in that literary form, although "epistle" can refer to other written missives as well, such as a bishop's open letter to the congregants of his see. Calling a letter an "epistle" does not by itself imply that the letter is part of the New Testament, inspired, or even that it is necessarily religious in nature. For instance, an epistolary novel is told in the form of a series of letters. Image File history File links Merge-arrows. ... An epistle (Greek επιστολη, epistolē, letter) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons, usually a letter and a very formal, often didactic and elegant one. ... An epistle (Greek επιστολη, epistolē, letter) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons, usually a letter and a very formal, often didactic and elegant one. ... For other uses, see Letter (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... A genre [], (French: kind or sort from Greek: γένος (genos)) is a loose set of criteria for a category of literary composition; the term is also used for any other form of art or utterance. ... An open letter is a letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience, or a letter intended for an individual, but that is nonetheless widely distributed intentionally. ... Titlepage of Aphra Behns Love-Letters (1684) An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. ...

Contents

New Testament epistles

There are epistles that are written to particular areas, and general epistles that are written to groups. Taking at face value the traditional ascription of epistles to their superscribed authors, Paul wrote more epistles to particular churches, as well as personal letters to Timothy, Philemon, and Titus. Peter, John, James, Jude, and is believed to be the writer of Hebrews. Paul also wrote general letters to the church in general. Sometimes these epistles are divided into subgroups. For instance, the "prison epistles" are the ones written by Paul while he was in prison, while the "pastoral epistles" are the letters to Timothy and Titus, since they contain advice about providing pastoral care to their churches. For other uses of Timothy, see Timothy (disambiguation). ... The Epistle to Philemon is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. ... In the Christian New Testament, Titus, (a common Roman name, meaning honourable) was a companion of Paul of Tarsus, mentioned in several of Pauls epistles, including the Epistle to Titus. ... “St Peter” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Names of John. ... Saint James the Just (יעקב Holder of the heel; supplanter; Standard Hebrew Yaʿaqov, Tiberian Hebrew Yaʿăqōḇ, Greek Iάκωβος), also called James Adelphotheos, James, 1st Bishop of Jerusalem, or James, the Brother of the Lord[1] and sometimes identified with James the Less, (died AD 62) was an important figure... For other uses, see Saint Jude (disambiguation). ... The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr. ...


Questions of historical authorship or of date and authenticity are addressed in the entries to individual Epistles. Usually the Epistles of the New Testament Canon are divided as follows: This article is about the Christian scriptures. ...


Pauline Epistles as written by Paul: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

"Catholic" (i.e. "general") epistles The Epistle to the Romans is one of the letters of the New Testament canon of the Christian Bible. ... The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. ... The Second Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible New Testament. ... The Epistle to the Galatians is a book of the New Testament. ... Described by William Barclay as the Queen of the Epistles, the Epistle to the Ephesians is one of the books of the Bible in the New Testament. ... Philippians redirects here. ... The Epistle to the Colossians is a book of the Bible New Testament. ... The First Epistle to the Thessalonians, also known as the First Letter to the Thessalonians, is a book from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. ... The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, also known as the Second Letter to the Thessalonians, is a book from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. ... The First Epistle to Timothy is one of the three Pastoral Epistles, traditionally attributed to Saint Paul and part of the New Testament of the Bible. ... The Second Epistle to Timothy is one of the three Pastoral Epistles, normally attributed to Saint Paul, and is part of the canonical New Testament. ... The Pastoral Epistles are often considered together, as each throws light upon the others. ... The Epistle to Philemon is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. ... The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr. ...

The authorship of many of these epistles is contested by the majority of modern scholars and historians. In particular, with respect to the authorship of the Pauline epistles, the pastoral epistles are rejected by two thirds of modern academics[citation needed], and only seven of the Pauline epistles are regarded as uncontested. The epistles of John are also questioned; even in the early church, the second and third were often regarded as belonging to a different author, who identifies himself as John the Presbyter, to the author of the first epistle, who is generally identified as John the Evangelist, an individual that critical scholarship considers to be different from both John the Apostle and John the Divine. The Epistle of James is a book in the Christian New Testament. ... In Christianity, the First Epistle of Peter is a book of the New Testament. ... The Second Epistle of Peter is a book of the New Testament of the Bible. ... The First Epistle of John is a book of the Bible New Testament, the fourth of the catholic or general epistles. ... The Second Epistle of John (normally just called 2nd John or 2 John) is a book of the Bible New Testament. ... The New Testament Third Epistle of John (often referred to as 3 John) is the 64th book of the Bible. ... The brief Epistle of Jude is a book in the Christian New Testament canon. ... A nineteenth century picture of Paul of Tarsus The Pauline epistles are the fourteen books in the New Testament traditionally attributed to Paul of Tarsus, thirteen of which are explicitly ascribed to Paul, and one, Hebrews, is anonymous. ... The three pastoral epistles are books of the canonical New Testament: the First Epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy) the Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy), and the Epistle to Titus. ... El Grecos rendition of John the Apostle shows the traditional author of the Johannine works as a young man. ... For the mythical king, see Presbyter John John the Presbyter is an obscure figure in early Christian tradition, who is either distinguished from, or identified with, the Apostle John. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Names of John. ... John the Apostle (Greek Ιωάννης, see names of John) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. ... Categories: Saints | Ancient Roman Christianity | Christianity-related stubs ...


Epistles of Apostolic Fathers

These are letters written by some very early Christian leaders, in the first or second century, which are not part of the New Testament. They are generally considered to form part of the basis of Christian tradition. The ennobling word "epistle" is used partly because these were all written in Greek, in a time period close to when the epistles of the New Testament were written, and thus "epistle" lends additional weight of authority. The Apostolic Fathers were a small collection of Christian authors who lived and wrote in the late 1st century and early 2nd century who are acknowledged as leaders in the early church, but whose writings were not included in the collection of Christian scripture, the New Testament Biblical canon, at...

The Epistles of Clement often referred to as 1 Clement and 2 Clement were not accepted in the canonic New Testament but they are part of the Apostolic Fathers collection. ... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... The Letter to the Trallians was one of the epistles written by Saint Ignatius of Antioch. ... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... The Letter to the Smyrnaeans was written by Saint Ignatius of Antioch around AD 110. ... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... For other uses, see Polycarp (disambiguation). ... Polycarps Letter to the Philippians is described by Irenaeus as follows: There is also a forceful epistle written by Polycarp to the Philippians, from which those who wish to do so, and are anxious about their salvation, can learn the character of his faith, and the preaching of the... The Epistle of Barnabas is a Greek treatise with some features of an epistle containing twenty-one chapters, preserved complete in the 4th century Codex Sinaiticus where it appears at the end of the New Testament. ... The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus is probably the earliest example of Christian apologetics, writings defending Christianity from its accusers. ...

External links

  • Catholic Encyclopedia: Epistles
  • David Trobisch, "How to read an ancient letter collection", 1999 : the possibility of a narrative critical study of the Letters of Paul

See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Bible Study - Epistles (363 words)
Epistles are the apostolic letters of The Bible.
The New Testament has twenty-one epistles which have been divided into two classes: Paul's epistles, totaling fourteen (if he was the author of Hebrews), and the general epistles, three by John, two by Peter, and one each by James and Jude.
Paul's epistles are arranged in the Bible according to the location of their recipients (see Bible Places) rather than the order in which they were written.
Bible Dictionary: Pauline Epistles (3002 words)
Epistle to the Colossians was the result of a visit from Epaphras, the evangelist of the Church in Colossae (Col.
Epistle to the Hebrews was written to Jewish members of the Church to persuade them that significant aspects of the law of Moses, as a forerunner, had been fulfilled in Christ, and that the higher gospel law of Christ had replaced it.
The pastoral epistles, being addressed to men engaged in the ministry of the Church, are occupied mainly with questions relating to the internal discipline and organization of the Christian body and with the ideal of the pastoral office.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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