The Epistles of the Bible: What They Are

The epistles of the Bible are the twenty-one letters in the New Testament. They run from Romans through Jude. Most were written by the apostle Paul; the rest come from James, Peter, John, and Jude. An epistle is simply a letter, and these letters were sent to real churches and real people facing real problems. They were not written as general essays. They were written to teach doctrine, correct error, answer questions, and shepherd believers. That is why they still speak so directly today. When you read an epistle, you are reading someone else’s mail, but mail the Holy Spirit intended for the whole church. The word “epistle” itself means a written message sent to someone. In the New Testament, these letters make up most of the books after Acts.

Which books of the Bible are the epistles?

The twenty-one New Testament epistles fall into two groups.

The first group is Paul’s letters. There are thirteen that name Paul as the writer: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Hebrews is often grouped with Paul’s letters, though it does not name its author. That makes fourteen if you count Hebrews.

The second group is the General Epistles, also called the Catholic Epistles. “Catholic” here means universal or general, not the Roman Catholic Church. These are James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude. They are called general because they were not addressed to one specific church or person. They were written to Christians scattered across many places.

So the full list is:

• Paul: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
• Hebrews (author unnamed)
• General: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude

One more letter often gets mentioned: Revelation. It contains seven short letters to seven churches in Asia, but the book as a whole is a prophecy, not an epistle. It is usually placed in its own category.

Who wrote the epistles, and why does it matter?

The New Testament epistles were written by apostles and close associates of the apostles. Paul wrote the largest share. He was once a persecutor of the church, then met the risen Christ and became the apostle to the Gentiles. He wrote to churches he had planted and to men he had trained.

The Pastoral Epistles are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. They are called pastoral because Paul wrote them to pastors, not to congregations. He gave instructions about church leadership, sound teaching, and guarding the gospel.

Who wrote 1 Timothy? Paul did. The opening line says so: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1, BSB). He wrote it to Timothy, a younger coworker leading the church at Ephesus.

Who wrote Titus? Paul again. Titus was a Greek believer Paul had left on the island of Crete to organize the churches there.

Who wrote Philemon? Paul as well. This is his shortest letter, a personal note to a Christian slave owner about a runaway slave named Onesimus. It is a masterclass in Christian appeal and forgiveness.

James and Jude were brothers of Jesus who came to faith after the resurrection. Peter was one of the twelve. John was the beloved disciple. Their letters carry apostolic authority because these men were eyewitnesses of Christ and chosen messengers of the gospel.

Why does authorship matter? Because the church has always received these books as Scripture, not merely as good advice. Peter placed Paul’s letters in the same category as the other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16). The early church recognized them as God’s Word.

What kinds of letters are in the New Testament?

The epistles are not all the same kind of writing. They serve different purposes.

Some are doctrinal. Romans and Galatians lay out the gospel in deep detail. Ephesians soars into the believer’s position in Christ. These letters teach us what to believe.

Some are corrective. 1 Corinthians addresses division, immorality, and misuse of spiritual gifts. Galatians confronts a false gospel. These letters show how the apostles handled error in real churches.

Some are personal. Philemon is a private note. 2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter, written from prison to a son in the faith. 3 John is a short note about hospitality and church conflict.

Some are general. James is practical wisdom about living out faith. 1 Peter encourages suffering believers. 1 John gives tests of genuine faith. Jude warns against false teachers.

This variety is one reason the epistles are so useful. Whatever season you are in, there is likely a letter that speaks to it.

How should you read an epistle?

Epistles are letters, so read them like letters. Start at the beginning and read straight through. Do not jump to your favorite verse and ignore the argument around it.

First, notice who is writing and to whom. The opening verses usually tell you. Paul often introduces himself and his readers, then gives thanks and prays for them.

Second, look for the flow of thought. Paul often uses words like “therefore,” “for,” and “so that.” These connect his ideas. If you skip them, you may misread the point.

Third, ask what problem the letter addresses. Galatians deals with legalism. Colossians deals with false philosophy. Philippians deals with joy in hardship. Knowing the issue clarifies the whole letter.

Fourth, remember the difference between description and command. Not everything in an epistle is a command for today. Some passages describe what happened; others command what we should do. Read carefully.

Fifth, read with prayer. The same Spirit who inspired these letters illumines them now. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17, BSB).

A simple plan: read one epistle a week. Start with Philippians, then Colossians, then 1 John. You will finish the shorter ones quickly and build confidence.

Where do the epistles fit in the whole Bible?

The Bible is one book with one main subject: God’s redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prepares for Him. The Gospels tell His life, death, and resurrection. Acts records the church’s beginning. The epistles explain what that means for how we believe and live. Revelation shows how it all ends.

So the epistles are not a random collection. They are the apostolic teaching that grounds the church in every age. They tell us what the gospel is, how the church should run, how believers should treat one another, and how to stand firm when false teaching comes.

Because they are God’s Word, they carry authority. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, BSB). That verse was written about the Old Testament, but the church has always applied it to the New Testament letters as well.

If you want to know the epistles, start reading them. Pick one. Read it slowly. Pray before you open it. Then talk about it with your pastor or a trusted believer. The letters were written to be read aloud in churches, and they still are.

Common questions

How many epistles are in the New Testament?

There are twenty-one epistles in the New Testament. Thirteen name Paul as the writer, Hebrews does not name its author, and seven are General Epistles written by James, Peter, John, and Jude.

Who wrote the book of 1 Timothy?

The apostle Paul wrote 1 Timothy. The letter opens with his name and identifies him as an apostle of Christ Jesus. He wrote it to Timothy, a younger leader serving the church at Ephesus.

Who wrote the book of Titus?

Paul wrote Titus. Titus was a Greek believer and coworker whom Paul left on Crete to appoint elders and set the churches in order.

Who wrote the book of Philemon?

Paul wrote Philemon. It is his shortest letter, a personal appeal to a Christian slave owner about receiving back his runaway slave Onesimus as a brother in Christ.