e
pi
stle
Plural
epistles
1
any of the letters in the New Testament, written by the apostles
An epistle is a letter written by an apostle, who is one of the early leaders and followers of Jesus Christ, to Christian communities or individuals. These letters offer teachings, guidance, and encouragement on matters of faith, conduct, and theology. They address specific issues faced by the recipients and provide insight into Christian beliefs and practices, helping to shape the teachings and organization of the early church.
- Paul's epistle to the Romans is a foundational text in Christian theology.
- The epistle of Peter encourages believers facing persecution.
- The epistle to the Corinthians addresses issues in the early church.
- The epistle to the Ephesians emphasizes unity in the body of Christ.
- In his epistle to Titus, Paul gives guidance on church leadership.
2
a formal letter that conveys a specific message or imparts knowledge or wisdom
- Voltaire was a prolific writer of philosophical epistles on topics like religion, morality and politics during the Enlightenment period.
- Scholars debate whether the apocryphal Epistles of Hippocrates truly contain correspondence from the famous ancient Greek physician.
- The Dead Sea Scrolls include ancient epistles addressing religious disputes among Jewish sects in late Second Temple period Judea.