epistles

In the NEW TESTAMENT, letters attributed to one of the APOSTLES of JESUS, and included in the sacred scriptures of CHRISTIANITY. Of the 21 epistles in the New Testament, 13 are said to be by the apostle PAUL, one by JAMES, two by PETER, three by John, and one by Jude. The Epistle to the Hebrews was attributed to Paul by tradition but does not actually bear his name and is now believed to be by another hand. Many scholars believe that some of the epistles were not written by the attributed apostolic author but by admirers or followers of the apostle writing in his name, a common practice in ancient times. However, the earliest of the epistles, probably including those generally recognized as having been written by Paul himself—those to the Thessalonians, the Corinthians, the Romans, the Galatians, the Philippians, and Philemon—represent the earliest Christian literature, that written closest to the time of Jesus. Only a little later are several other epistles, including Ephesians and those attributed to Peter, James, and John. However, neither those nor any other of the epistles contain much about the actual life of Jesus, apart from his death on the CROSS and his RESURRECTION. Their emphasis is basically the meaning of those events and the way to lead a Christian life. Later epistles, such as I and II Timothy, Titus, II Peter, and Jude, deal more and more with sound doctrine and good order in the young churches. Other early Christian epistles, such as those of Barnabas, Clement of Rome, and Ignatius of Antioch, were and still are read for inspiration but are not included in the New Testament.