T he NT epistles (correspondence/letters) comprise twenty-one of the twenty-seven NT books. Thirteen were penned by Paul (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus; and Philemon), while eight came from the pens of (1) James (James); (2) Peter (1 and 2 Peter); (3) John (1, 2, and 3 John); (4) Jude (Jude); and (5) an unknown author (Hebrews). They were written to both Jews (James, Hebrews) and Gentiles (Romans, Ephesians) over a period of forty to fifty years from James (c. A.D. 44–49) to 3 John (c. A.D. 90–95).
Paul’s letters were written to specific churches in Rome, Corinth, the region of Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica. He also corresponded with three particular individuals—Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. These epistles ranged from highly doctrinal treatises such as Romans to an intensely personal communication with Philemon. He wrote as he traveled (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, Titus) and while imprisoned (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 2 Timothy).
The non-Pauline letters were addressed to non-specified individuals (2 John); a particular person (Gaius—3 John); and general audiences (Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, Jude). All but Hebrews (directed by title to an ethnically identifiable audience) are referred to by the name of the author (James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude).
The dominant themes of the NT epistles include:
1. Romans: The righteousness that comes from God
2. 1 Corinthians: Right living results from right believing
3. 2 Corinthians: Weathering the storms of ministry
4. Galatians: Justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ
5. Ephesians: The mystery of Christ’s bride, the church
6. Philippians: The Pursuit of Christlikeness
7. Colossians: The supremacy of Christ
8. 1 Thessalonians: A healthy church and a caring pastor
9. 2 Thessalonians: How to maintain a strong, vibrant church
10. 1 Timothy: From one pastor to another
11. 2 Timothy: Passing the responsibility from one generation to another
12. Titus: Wisdom for a young pastor
13. Philemon: Christian forgiveness
14. Hebrews: The superiority of Christ
15. James: Faith without works is dead
16. 1 Peter: Suffering like Christ
17. 2 Peter: Exposing false teachers
18. 1 John: That you may believe in the Son of God
19. 2 John: Back to the basics
20. 3 John: Commending proper Christian hospitality
21. Jude: Contending for the faith
As an additional note, Revelation 2 and 3 contain seven letters written by Jesus Christ to seven specific churches. He commended two (Smyrna and Philadelphia); commended and condemned three (Ephesus, Pergamos, and Thyatira); and condemned two (Sardis and Laodicea). These are the concluding epistles in the NT.