An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually
an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was
common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The
letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians are usually
referred to as epistles. Those traditionally attributed to Paul are
known as Pauline epistles and the others as catholic epistles.
Ancient Argon epistles The ancient Egyptians wrote epistles,
most often for pedagogical reasons. Egyptologist Edward Wente speculates
that the Fifth-dynasty Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi—in his many letters sent to his
viziers—was a pioneer in the epistolary genre. Its existence is firmly attested
during the Sixth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, and is prominently featured in
the educational guide The Book of Kemit written during the Eleventh Dynasty. A
standardized formulae for epistolary compositions existed by the time of the
Middle Kingdom of Egypt. The epistolary formulae used in the Ramesside Period
found its roots in the letters composed during the Amarna Period of the
Twentieth Dynasty. Wente describes the "Satirical Letter" found on the Papyrus
Anastasi I of the Nineteenth Dynasty as an epistle which was commonly copied as
a writing exercise by Egyptian schoolchildren on ceramic ostraca.
Epistle letters were also written to the dead, and, by the Ramesside Period, to
the gods; the latter became even more widespread during the eras of Persian
and Greek domination. Ancient Greece and Rome
Epistles in prose and verse were a major genre of literature among the Greeks and
particularly the Romans. The letters of Cicero are one of the most important
sources on the history of the late Roman Republic and preserve features of
colloquial Latin not always in evidence in his speeches and treatises. The
letters of Pliny the Younger likewise are studied as both examples of Latin
prose with self-conscious literary qualities and sources for historical
information. Ovid produced three collections of verse epistles, composed
in elegiac couplets: the Heroides, letters written in the person of
legendary women to their absent lovers; and the Tristia and Ex Ponto, written in
first person during the poet's exile. The epistles of Seneca, with their moral
or philosophical ruminations, influenced later patristic writers.
Form of Christian epistles Epistles are written in strict
accordance to formalized, Hellenistic tradition, especially the Pauline
epistles. This reflects the amount of Hellenistic influence upon the epistle
writers. Any deviancy is not the result of accident but indicates an unusual
motive of the writer. = Opening =
In contrast to modern letters, epistles usually named the author at the very
beginning, followed by the recipient. The scribe who wrote down the letter may
be named at the end of the episte. In the absence of a postal system, the
courier may also be named. After the names of the author and
recipient, Pauline epistles often open with the greeting, "Grace and peace to
you." "Grace" was a common Hellenistic greeting, while "peace" was the common
Jewish greeting; this reflected Paul's dual identity in Jewish faith and
Hellenistic culture. There may also be a word of thanks to the audience. In
secular letters, a prayer or wish for health followed.
= Body = The body begins with a brief statement
introducing the main topic of the entire body.
New Testament epistles Usually the epistles of the New
Testament canon are divided as follows: = Pauline Epistles =
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 = Catholic epistles =
Letter to the Hebrews Letter 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
Non canonical epistles Epistle to Seneca the Younger
Third Epistle to the Corinthians Epistle to the Laodiceans
Epistle of the Corinthians to Paul Letter of Peter to Philip
Lost epistles The first Epistle to Corinth referenced
at 1 Corinthians 5:9 The third Epistle to Corinth called
Severe Letter referenced at 2 Corinthians 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:8–9
The Corinthian letter to Paul referenced at 1 Corinthians 7:1
The Earlier Epistle to the Ephesians referenced at Ephesians 3:3–4
The Epistle to the Laodiceans referenced at Colossians 4:16
The Earlier Epistle of Jude referenced at Jude 1:3
The Earlier Epistle of John referenced at 3 John 1:9
Epistles of Apostolic Fathers These are letters written by some very
early Christian leaders, in the 1st or 2nd 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[3] Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians [4]
Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians [5]
Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians[6] Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans [7]
Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians [8]
Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans[9] Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp[10]
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians[11]
Epistle of Barnabas[12] Epistle to Diognetus
Liturgical use In the context of a liturgy, epistle may
refer more specifically to a particular passage from a New Testament
epistle—sometimes also from the Book of Acts or the Revelation of John, but not
the Four Gospels—that is scheduled to be read on a certain day or at a certain
occasion. = Western churches =
In the Roman Catholic Mass and Anglican Eucharist, epistles are read between the
Collect and the Gospel reading. The corresponding Gregorian chants have a
special tone. When the epistle is sung or chanted at Solemn Mass it is done so
by the subdeacon. Epistles are also read by an Elder or Bishop in the Lutheran
Divine Service, between the gradual and the Gospel.
= Eastern churches = In the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern
Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Rite Catholics the Epistle reading is called
the Apostol. The Apostol includes the Acts of the Apostles as well as the
Epistles, but never the Apocalypse. Unlike the Latin Rite there are never
readings from the Old Testament. There are Epistle lessons for every day of the
year, except for weekdays during Great Lent, when the Divine Liturgy is not
celebrated. These daily Epistle readings are a part of the Paschal cycle, being
ultimately dependent upon the date of Pascha. There are also lessons appointed
for the feast days of numerous saints and commemorations. There may be one,
two, or three readings from the Apostol during a single Liturgy. The Epistle is
read between the Prokeimenon and the Alleluia. The Epistle reading is always
linked to a reading from the Gospel, though some services, such as Matins,
will have a Gospel lesson, but no Epistle. A number of services besides
the Divine Liturgy will have an Epistle and Gospel reading. Such services often
include a Prokeimenon and Alleluia as well. The Epistle is chanted by the
reader, though at a Hierarchical Liturgy, it is read by a deacon. The one
who chants the Epistle also reads the verses of the Prokeimenon.
Medieval Epistles During the Middle Ages, the art of
letter writing was taught in numerous manuals, and the ars dictaminis became
an important genre of instructional discourse. The necessity for letter
writing was in large part due to the general deterioration of civil life and
the decay of the Roman road system in the early Middle Ages, factors that
obliged literate people with business to transact to send letters instead of
travel themselves. A vast number of letters and letter-writing manuals were
written in the period's lingua franca Latin.
See also Acts of the Apostles
Agrapha Authorship of the Bible
Epistle Epistolography
Epistolary novel, a novel written as a series of letters or similar writings
Epistolary poem New Testament apocrypha
Pseudepigraphy Textual criticism
Shikshapatri Notes
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