Epistle: Difference between revisions

An '''epistle''' ({{IPAc-en|ᵻ|ˈ|p|ɪ|s|əl}}; {{etymology|grc|''{{wiktgrcWikt-lang|grc|ἐπιστολή}}'' ({{grc-transl|ἐπιστολή}})|letter}}) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal [[Didacticism|didactic]] [[Letter (message)|letter]]. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in [[ancient Egypt]] as part of the [[Scribe|scribal-school]] writing curriculum. The letters in the [[New Testament]] from [[Twelve apostles|Apostles]] to [[Early Christianity|Christians]] are usually referred to as epistles. Those traditionally attributed to [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] are known as [[Pauline epistles]] and the others as [[General epistles|catholic (i.e., "general") epistles]].

* The first Epistle to Corinth<ref>Also called "A Prior Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians"{{cite web |title=Lost Books of the Bible? |url=http://www.icwseminary.org/lostbooks.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623175757/http://icwseminary.org/lostbooks.htm |archive-date=2006-06-23 |access-date=2006-06-29}} or "Paul’s previous Corinthian letter".[http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/42], possibly [[Third Epistle to the Corinthians]]</ref> referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|1 Corinthians|5:9}}

* The third Epistle to Corinth called [[Severe Letter]] referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|2 Corinthians|2:4}} and {{bibleref2bibleverse|2 Corinthians|7:8–9}}

* The Corinthian letter to Paul referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|1 Corinthians|7:1}}

* The Earlier Epistle to the Ephesians referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|Ephesians|3:3–4}}

* The [[Epistle to the Laodiceans]] referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|Colossians|4:16}}

* The Earlier Epistle of Jude<ref>Also called 2 Jude.</ref> referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|Jude|1:3}}

* The Earlier Epistle of John<ref>[http://www.icwseminary.org/lostbooks.htm Also called "The Epistle of John to the Church Ruled by Diotrephes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623175757/http://icwseminary.org/lostbooks.htm |date=2006-06-23 }}</ref> referenced at {{bibleref2bibleverse|3 John|1:9}}