J. C. Ryle

Necessity is laid upon us. We must fight. There are no promises in the Lord Jesus Christ's epistles to the seven churches, except to those who 'overcome.' Where there is grace, there will be conflict. The believer is a soldier. There is no holiness without a warfare. Saved souls will always be found to have fought a fight.

English Clergyman

Margaret Fuller

Essays, entitled critical, are epistles addressed to the public, through which the mind of the recluse relieves itself of its impressions.

American Critic

Philip Schaff

To the first class belong the Gospels and Acts; to the second, the Epistles; to the third, the Revelation.

Swiss Theologian

Traditionally used for formal letters, often with philosophical or moral content, not casual communication.

Historical Usage

Using 'epistle' adds a literary or sophisticated tone to a piece of writing.

Literary Flair

It's uncommon in everyday language, may sound outdated or pretentious in spoken conversation.

Rare in Speech

In a religious context, it refers to formal letters written by apostles or church leaders in the New Testament.

Biblical Reference

When referring to a book in the Bible, 'Epistle' is capitalized as it's a proper noun.

Capitalization Norms

Understanding the historical and cultural background of biblical epistles enhances comprehension.