Catholic epistles facts for kids
The Catholic Epistles are seven special letters in the New Testament part of the Bible. They are also known as the General Epistles. These letters are called "general" because they were usually written for a wide group of Christians, rather than just one church or person.
The Catholic Epistles are:
| Traditional epistle name | Author according to the text (NRSV) | Traditional attribution | Modern consensus | Addressee(s) according to the text (NRSV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epistle of James | "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" | James, brother of Jesus | An unknown James | "To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" |
| First Epistle of Peter | "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ" | Simon Peter | Maybe Simon Peter | "To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" |
| Second Epistle of Peter | "Sim(e)on Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" | Simon Peter | Not Simon Peter | To all Christians |
| First Epistle of John | anonymous | John, son of Zebedee | Unknown | To fellow Christians |
| Second Epistle of John | anonymous | John, son of Zebedee | Unknown | "To the elect lady and her children" |
| Third Epistle of John | anonymous | John, son of Zebedee | Unknown | "To the beloved Gaius" |
| Epistle of Jude | "Jude" (or "Judas"), "a servant," (Gk. slave), "of Jesus Christ and brother of James" | Jude, brother of Jesus | An unknown Jude | To all Christians |
Contents
What Does "Catholic" Mean Here?
The word catholic in "Catholic Epistles" has been used since the 300s. Back then, it simply meant "general" or "universal." It didn't refer to a specific Christian group like the Catholic Church we know today.
People sometimes use "General Epistles" instead of "Catholic Epistles." This helps avoid confusion and makes it clear these letters are important for all Christians. The idea was that these letters were for the whole Christian community, not just one specific church or person. However, some letters, like 2 John and 3 John, seem to be written to specific people or small groups.
Who Wrote These Letters?
Figuring out who wrote these letters can be a bit like solving a mystery!
The Letters of John
Three of these letters (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John) don't say who wrote them. For a long time, people believed John the Apostle, one of Jesus's closest followers, wrote them. That's why they are often called the Johannine epistles. However, many experts today think someone else wrote them, even though we don't know exactly who.
The Letters of Peter
Two letters, 1 Peter and 2 Peter, say they were written by Simon Peter, another one of Jesus's main followers. These are known as the Petrine epistles.
Most experts agree that Peter probably didn't write 2 Peter. It seems to have been written much later, after Peter had passed away. For 1 Peter, opinions are mixed. Some think Peter wrote it, but others wonder because it's written in very good Greek, which might be surprising for a fisherman.
The Letters of James and Jude
The letter of James is signed by someone named James. There were several important people named James in early Christian history. It's not clear which one wrote this letter.
The letter of Jude says it was written by "Jude, a brother of James." This also makes us wonder which James is meant. Some traditions suggest this James was a brother of Jesus, which would make Jude a brother of Jesus too. However, the letters themselves don't actually say they are related to Jesus.
Why Are They in the Bible?
These seven letters became part of the New Testament because early Christian leaders believed they were written by important figures. Even if a letter was anonymous, or written by someone with the same name as an important person, it was often linked to that important person.
See also
In Spanish: Epístolas católicas para niños
