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1. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Epistles
   the apostolic letters. The New Testament contains twenty-one in
   all. They are divided into two classes. (1.) Paul's Epistles,
   fourteen in number, including Hebrews. These are not arranged in
   the New Testament in the order of time as to their composition,
   but rather according to the rank of the cities or places to
   which they were sent. Who arranged them after this manner is
   unknown. Paul's letters were, as a rule, dictated to an
   amanuensis, a fact which accounts for some of their
   peculiarities. He authenticated them, however, by adding a few
   words in his own hand at the close. (See GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO.)
   
     The epistles to Timothy and Titus are styled the Pastoral
   Epistles.
   
     (2.) The Catholic or General Epistles, so called because they
   are not addressed to any particular church or city or
   individual, but to Christians in general, or to Christians in
   several countries. Of these, three are written by John, two by
   Peter, and one each by James and Jude.
   
     It is an interesting and instructive fact that a large portion
   of the New Testament is taken up with epistles. The doctrines of
   Christianity are thus not set forth in any formal treatise, but
   mainly in a collection of letters. "Christianity was the first
   great missionary religion. It was the first to break the bonds
   of race and aim at embracing all mankind. But this necessarily
   involved a change in the mode in which it was presented. The
   prophet of the Old Testament, if he had anything to communicate,
   either appeared in person or sent messengers to speak for him by
   word of mouth. The narrow limits of Palestine made direct
   personal communication easy. But the case was different when the
   Christian Church came to consist of a number of scattered parts,
   stretching from Mesopotamia in the east to Rome or even Spain in
   the far west. It was only natural that the apostle by whom the
   greater number of these communities had been founded should seek
   to communicate with them by letter."
   

2. Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
EPISTLES, civil law. The name given to a species of rescript. Epistles were 
the answers given by the prince, when magistrates submitted to him a 
question of law. Vicle Rescripts. 



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