Bible Dictionary
Epistles
The Epistles are the apostolic letters that form a substantial part of the New Testament. They include Paul’s letters and the General Epistles, giving instruction in Christian doctrine, church life, godly conduct, and perseverance in faith.
Definition
The Epistles are the apostolic letters contained in the New Testament. There are twenty-one: fourteen traditionally associated with Paul, including Hebrews, and seven Catholic or General Epistles associated with John, Peter, James, and Jude.
Biblical Usage
The Epistles communicate Christian teaching through letters rather than through one formal treatise. They address churches, individuals, or Christians generally, and include pastoral instruction, doctrine, exhortation, and guidance for scattered Christian communities.
Historical Background
Paul’s letters were commonly dictated to an amanuensis and authenticated by additions in his own hand. The General Epistles are so called because they are not addressed exclusively to one church, city, or individual.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The apostolic letters. The New Testament contains twenty-one in all. They are divided into two classes. (1.) Paul’s Epistles, fourteen in number, including Hebrews. These are not arranged in the New Testament in the order of time as to their composition, but rather according to the rank of the cities or places to which they were sent. Who arranged them after this manner is unknown. Paul’s letters were, as a rule, dictated to an amanuensis, a fact which accounts for some of their peculiarities. He authenticated them, however, by adding a few words in his own hand at the close. (See GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO.) The epistles to Timothy and Titus are styled the Pastoral Epistles. (2.) The Catholic or General Epistles, so called because they are not addressed to any particular church or city or individual, but to Christians in general, or to Christians in several countries. Of these, three are written by John, two by Peter, and one each by James and Jude. It is an interesting and instructive fact that a large portion of the New Testament is taken up with epistles. The doctrines of Christianity are thus not set forth in any formal treatise, but mainly in a collection of letters. “Christianity was the first great missionary religion. It was the first to break the bonds of race and aim at embracing all mankind. But this necessarily involved a change in the mode in which it was presented. The prophet of the Old Testament, if he had anything to communicate, either appeared in person or sent messengers to speak for him by word of mouth. The narrow limits of Palestine made direct personal communication easy. But the case was different when the Christian Church came to consist of a number of scattered parts, stretching from Mesopotamia in the east to Rome or even Spain in the far west. It was only natural that the apostle by whom the greater number of these communities had been founded should seek to communicate with them by letter.”