What Does The Word Epistle Mean?

The word epistle usually refers to a type of letter, a formal or didactic one. An epistle basically is a text which is directed or sent to an individual, generally a letter and a very official often educational and stylish one.    

The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians are typically addressed as epistles, those customarily from Paul are known as Pauline epistles and the others are known catholic or general epistles. Epistles were put down in stern agreement to formalized, Hellenistic custom, mainly the Pauline epistles.

This replicates the amount of Hellenistic influence upon the epistle writers. Any kind of deviancy is not the out come of accident but normally specifies an extraordinary motive of the writer. To English reader, the epistles may emerge in a more formalized manner than when originally read, because of the method of translation.

1. formal or a letter, esp. a long one on a serious subject.
2. (Epistle) a any of the letters of the apostles in the New Testament.
3. an extract from an Epistle read in a church service.
4. a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters.