Epistles 10058 218521386 2008-06-11T00:34:41Z Carlaude 4622434 Removed category "Christian history" (using [[WP:HOTCAT|HotCat]]) {{Merge|Epistle|Talk:Epistles#Merger proposal|date=November 2007}} The word '''"[[epistle]]"''' is from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''epistolos'' which means a written "[[Letter (message)|letter]]" addressed to a recipient or recipients, perhaps part of exchanged correspondence. Nowadays this term is usually used in connection with a specific group of books in the [[New Testament]] that either were letters or were written in that [[genre|literary form]]. "Epistle" is also used to refer to other letters, such as a bishop's [[open letter]] to the congregants of his see. Referring to more commonplace letters as epistles is a rather pretentious use of language, but not incorrect. In particular an ''[[epistolary novel]]'' or story is told in the form of a series of letters. ==New Testament epistles== There are epistles that are written to particular areas, and general epistles that are written to groups or communities. 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]], [[Epistle to Philemon|Philemon]], and [[Apostle Titus|Titus]]. [[Saint Peter|Peter]] was the author of his own, [[John the Evangelist|John]] was the author of his own, [[James the Just|James]] was the author of his own, [[Jude the Apostle|Jude]] was the author of his own. Sometimes Paul's 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. 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: '''[[Pauline Epistles]]''' as written by Paul: * [[Epistle to the Romans]] * [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]] * [[Second Epistle to the Corinthians]] * [[Epistle to the Galatians]] * [[Epistle to the Ephesians]] * [[Epistle to the Philippians]] * [[Epistle to the Colossians]] * [[First Epistle to the Thessalonians]] * [[Second Epistle to the Thessalonians]] * [[First Epistle to Timothy]] * [[Second Epistle to Timothy]] * [[Epistle to Titus]] * [[Epistle to Philemon]] '''General''' (or "catholic") epistles * [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] * [[Epistle of James]] * [[First Epistle of Peter]] * [[Second Epistle of Peter]] * [[First Epistle of John]] * [[Second Epistle of John]] * [[Third Epistle of John]] * [[Epistle of Jude]] * [[Revelation of John]] (also an [[Apocalypse]]) 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{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, and only seven of the Pauline epistles are regarded as uncontested. The [[authorship of the Johannine works|epistles of John are also questioned]]. == 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. * Epistle of the Romans to the Corinthians ([[Epistles of Clement|1 Clement]])[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm] * Epistle of [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] to the Ephesians[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0104.htm] * Epistle of [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] to the Magnesians[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0105.htm] * [[Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians]][http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0106.htm] * Epistle of [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] to the Romans[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm] * Epistle of [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] to the Philadelphians[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0108.htm] * [[Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans]][http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm] * Epistle of [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius]] to [[Polycarp]][http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0110.htm] * [[Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians]][http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0136.htm] * [[Epistle of Barnabas]][http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0124.htm] * [[Epistle to Diognetus]] ==External links== *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05509a.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'']: Epistles *[http://www.bts.edu/faculty/Publications/AncientLetterCollections.htm David Trobisch, "How to read an ancient letter collection", 1999] : the possibility of a narrative critical study of the Letters of Paul == See also == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''General topics''' ** [[Pseudepigraphy]] ** [[Textual criticism]] ** [[Agrapha]] ** [[New Testament apocrypha]] {{col-2}} * '''Related literature''' ** [[List of Gospels]] ** [[Acts of the Apostles (genre)]] ** [[Apocalyptic literature]] ** [[List of New Testament papyri]] {{col-end}} {{Books of the Bible}} {{New Testament people|collapsed}} [[Category:Lost apocrypha]] [[Category:Christian texts]] [[Category:Study of religion]] [[Category:Religious objects]] [[Category:Religious controversies]] [[Category:History of religion]] [[Category:Christianity-related lists]] [[Category:Lists of books by genre or type]] [[Category:Canonical Epistles]]