CATHOLIC EPISTLES

kath'-o-lik (epistolai katholikai): In distinction from the apostolic or Pauline epistles which were addressed to individual churches or persons, the term "catholic," in the sense of universal or general, was applied by Origen and the other church Fathers to the seven epistles written by James, Peter, John and Jude. As early as the 3rd century it came to be used in the sense of "encyclical," "since," as Theodoret says, "they are not addressed to single churches, but generally (katholou) to the faithful, whether to the Jews of the Dispersion, as Peter writes, or even to all who are living as Christians under the same faith." Three other explanations of the term have been given, namely,

(1) that it was intended to indicate a common apostolic authorship (only a few support this view);

(2) that it signifies that the seven epistles were universally received as genuine;

(3) that it refers to the catholicity of their doctrine, i.e. orthodox and authoritative versus heretical epistles whose teachings were in harmony with Christian truth. By some misconception of the word "catholic" the Western Church interpreted it as signifying "canonical" and sometimes called these epistles epistolae canonicae. That it was originally used in the sense of "general" epistles is now commonly received.

This is evident from their form of address. James wrote to all Jews, "of the Dispersion," who had embraced the Christian faith. In his first epistle Peter addressed the same Christians, including also Gentileconverts, resident in five provinces of Asia Minor: "elect who axe sojourners of the Dispersion." His second epistle is to all Christians everywhere. John's first letter was evidently written to a cycle of churches and intended for universal use. Jude also had in mind all Christians when he said "to them that are called beloved in God," etc. The seeming exceptions are 2 and 3 Jn, addressed to individuals, but included with the catholic epistles as properly belonging with John's first epistle and of value to the general reader. The character and contents of these seven epistles are treated under their various heads. The letters of James and Jude belong to the Judaic school of Christianity; those of Peter to a broad and non-partisan type of faith that both includes and mediates between the Judaists and Paulinists. John's letters were written after the internal doctrinal controversies of the church had ceased, and the pressure of opposition and error from without tended to unite his "little children" in a new community of love and spiritual life.

Dwight M. Pratt

The Catholic Epistles
... CHAPTER XIX THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES. ... Ephraim or St. John of Damascus, used the same
Catholic {220} Epistles as the Christians of Alexandria or Jerusalem. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xix the catholic epistles.htm

The Catholic Epistles.
... The Catholic Epistles. ... The Catholic Epistles are distinct from the Pauline by their
more general contents and the absence of personal and local references. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 87 the catholic epistles.htm

The Catholic Epistles.
... THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES. ... all quote it expressly. It is found in the Syriac Peshito
version which contains but three of the catholic epistles. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxi the catholic epistles.htm

Order of the New Testament Books.
... Greek MSS. and writers was; the Gospels, the Acts, the Catholic Epistles,
the Pauline, and the Apocalypse. This sequence appears ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter viii order of the.htm

Character of the New Testament.
... Most of the ancient Manuscripts, Versions, and Catalogues arrange the books in the
following order: Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 76 character of the.htm

Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, and the Epistles which He Wrote.
... his inspired labors not only to his own people, but also to those in foreign lands,
and rendered the greatest service to all in the catholic epistles which he ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiii dionysius bishop of corinth.htm

External Form of the New Testament.
... Paul stand first in order. The seven so-called catholic epistles occupy
the last place. Intermediate between these two subdivisions ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxv external form of.htm

These are all the Books of Old Testament Appointed to be Read...
... And these are the books of the New Testament: Four Gospels, according to Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John; The Acts of the Apostles; Seven Catholic Epistles, to wit ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lx these are all.htm

The New Testament
... The seven letters written by James, Peter, Jude, and John, are called General
or Catholic epistles. The Epistle of James was addressed ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter i the new testament.htm

The New Testament
... The third layer of the canon gained its place more slowly. It consists of what are
called the "Catholic Epistles," viz. those of St. James, St. Peter, St. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter i the new testament.htm