An epistle is a letter, especially one of the New Testament letters. The word comes from the Greek epistole, meaning a letter. The New Testament contains 21 epistles. Paul wrote 13 of them. Peter wrote 2. John wrote 3. James wrote 1. Jude wrote 1. Hebrews is anonymous. The epistles are letters to churches and individuals. They address specific situations. They teach doctrine. They correct error. They encourage believers. They are the earliest Christian documents.

The epistles are not systematic theology. They are occasional documents. They were written to address specific issues. Romans is Paul's most systematic letter. It explains the gospel. 1 Corinthians addresses problems in the church. Divisions. Sexual immorality. Lawsuits. The Lord's Supper. Spiritual gifts. The resurrection. Galatians defends justification by faith. Ephesians celebrates the church. Philippians rejoices in suffering. Colossians defends Christ's supremacy. The pastoral epistles give instructions for church leaders. The general epistles address suffering, holiness, and false teaching.

New Testament epistles

• Pauline: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
• Petrine: 1-2 Peter.
• Johannine: 1-3 John.
• Jacobean: James.
• Jude: Jude.
• Hebrews: anonymous.

The epistles are letters. They are personal. They are pastoral. They are practical. They are also profound. They contain the highest theology. They contain the deepest comfort. They contain the clearest ethics. They are the word of God. They are the church's inheritance. They are the church's guide. They are the church's treasure. They are the epistles. Read them. Study them. Live them. They are for you. They are for the church. They are for the world. They are the letters of love. They are the letters of truth. They are the letters of life. They are the epistles.