Epistles in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What are Epistles?
EPIS'TLES
, the word applied to the apostolic letters in the N.T. The existence of letters among the Hebrews and the mode of their composition will be discussed under Letter, Writing. The Epistles of the N.T. arose from the necessity of correspondence as a substitute for the personal instruction of the apostles with the widening of their field of labor. They may be divided into three classes: congregational, those addressed to a particular church and dealing with doctrinal or practical questions; private, those directed to individuals, but still containing exhortation and advice fitted for many; and general, those intended for universal use. Paul contributes thirteen or fourteen; John, three; Peter, two; James and Jude, one each. In their outward form the Epistles are such as would be expected from Jews situated in the midst of a Greek civilization. They begin (the Epistle to the Hebrews and 1 John excepted) with the writer's name and the person or church to whom the letter is addressed; in the case of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude, with a more general address. The usual Greek and Hebrew salutation ("grace" and "peace") follows. In the letter the first person, singular or plural, is used indiscriminately. The individual messages are reserved to the close. Since the Epistles of Paul are the most numerous and important, their form and method demand fuller treatment. His opening salutation combines the Greek "grace" with the Hebrew "peace," and transforms the prevailing ideas of physical health and temporal comfort into the deep meaning of the saving grace of God and peace in Christ. Paul employed an amanuensis. This fact explains many of his peculiarities; his sentences are sometimes involved and have the vehemence of a speaker, and not the calmness and control of a writer. In order, however, to authenticate his letters, Paul added a few words, a salutation, or a sentence in his own hand, probably employing larger letters than those in ordinary use, perhaps because of his defective eyesight. Ye see with how large letters I have written unto you with my own- hand, he writes unto the Galatians 6:11. Every one of his Epistles was written to meet some emergency; hence they bear the imprint of a historical occasion. Each Epistle has a clearly-defined fundamental idea which governs every part of it. They are tracts for his time, and yet tracts for all times and all congregations. The earlier Epistles antedate the Gospels. They arose out of the necessities of the young Church. Questions would constantly be submitted to the apostles for their decision. Then, too, there were Christians to be encouraged and dangers to be pointed out, and so there were multiform occasions for these letters. It is quite manifest that our N.T. contains only a portion of this correspondence. But every letter which was in its nature adapted for the universal Church has been preserved as part of her canon. See Canon.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'epistles' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Schaff's

Copyright Information
© Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home

Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Popular in the New Testament

Popular in the
New Testament