What is an epistle? What are the epistles in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Greek, the word epistole means "letter" or "message," so an epistle is a letter or some type of written correspondence—most likely written on a scroll. Epistles were very common during the era when the New Testament was written. A lot of the books in the New Testament were written as letters to specific churches or people, thus, they are referred to as the epistles. The epistles were addressed to churches or individuals to teach doctrine, encourage faith, and correct error. These letters make up twenty-one of the twenty-seven New Testament books and include Pauline, General, Prison, and Pastoral Epistles. Though written in the first century, the epistles still offer powerful truths about salvation, the Christian life, and how to live faithfully in community. As we study and apply the epistles, they continue to shape us into Christlike disciples who live with purpose and integrity.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The epistles do not appear in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Epistles were generally dictated orally by the author to someone who would physically transcribe it. Then, the author would review it before having it sent to the intended audience. Peter and Paul both used others to transcribe their letters (1 Peter 5:12; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:1).
• Paul signed his letters to verify their authenticity (Galatians 6:11). It has been suspected that Paul may have had vision problems, which would have necessitated him getting Timothy's help to do the actual writing.
• The epistles within the Bible mirror each other in their formatting. They start with an introduction, identifying the author and audience, and then a greeting, which is followed by the body of the letter. Many times, they end with a blessing for the church and notes to a few specific individuals in the church.
• The biblical epistles are located in the New Testament, and they make up the majority of the New Testament—twenty-one of twenty-seven books, from Romans to Jude.
• The apostle Paul wrote thirteen of the epistles, and they are known as the Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
• The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon make up a subgroup called the Prison Epistles, which were written during Paul's house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30–31).
• A few epistles, known as the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus), were directly written to church leaders.
• The General Epistles include Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude. These eight epistles are also referred to as the Catholic Epistles because they were written to a "universal" audience, rather than one specific church. It is unknown who wrote the book of Hebrews, but it is commonly credited to Paul or one of his colleagues.
• James and Jude were both half-brothers of Jesus and wrote the epistles named after them (1 Corinthians 15:7; Jude 1:1).
• The apostle Peter authored 1 and 2 Peter.
• The apostle John authored 1, 2, and 3 John (he also wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation).
• The known authors of the biblical epistles are either family members of Jesus (James, Jude) or apostles (Paul, Peter, John). The Lord called each of them to write letters for the exhortation and instruction of the church. These Holy Spirit-inspired letters, which comprise a significant part of the New Testament, still bring fresh revelation and relevant insight for our Christian walks today.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The epistles serve as a practical guide for who we are in Christ and how we are called to live as followers of Christ. They teach us what it means to be saved by grace, how to walk in the Spirit, and how to live in community with one another. When we read letters like Romans, Ephesians, or James, we are reminded that our faith should be visible in our actions—through humility, love, integrity, and perseverance. These letters challenge us to leave behind our old ways and embrace the new life God offers, marked by holiness and purpose. As we apply the wisdom of the epistles, we grow not just in knowledge, but in Christlikeness, becoming more faithful witnesses in a broken world.

UNDERSTAND

• Epistles are letters written by apostles and early church leaders to churches or individuals.
• The epistles make up 21 of the 27 books in the New Testament.
• The epistles were written to teach doctrine, encourage believers, correct errors, and guide Christian living.

REFLECT

• What can you learn about Christian community from the epistles?
• In what ways are you allowing the truths in the epistles to shape your character and actions?
• What is one specific teaching from the epistles that you struggle to apply, and how can you grow in that area?

ENGAGE

• How can the structure and purpose of the biblical epistles help believers understand God’s expectations for the Church today?
• What can we learn and apply from the purposes of the epistles?
• How might studying the context and original audience of each epistle deepen our understanding of its timeless application?