catholic epistles: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Theological
Quick answer
What does “catholic epistles” mean?
A group of seven books in the New Testament: James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of seven books in the New Testament: James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude.
The term refers to epistles or letters in the New Testament addressed to the universal Church rather than to specific congregations or individuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Strongly associated with Biblical studies and Christian theology in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and highly specialised in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “catholic epistles” in a Sentence
The Catholic Epistles comprise...Scholars discuss the Catholic Epistles in...A chapter in the Catholic Epistles...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catholic epistles” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Theologians often group these writings together.
American English
- Scholars categorize these letters separately from Paul's.
adverb
British English
- The letters were written generally for a wide audience.
American English
- These texts were universally addressed to the church.
adjective
British English
- The catholic epistolary tradition is distinct.
American English
- The general epistolary corpus includes James and Jude.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in Biblical studies, theology, and religious history courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in New Testament scholarship and Christian dogmatics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “catholic epistles”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “catholic epistles”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catholic epistles”
- Capitalising 'catholic' when not at the start of a sentence (it is not a proper noun in this phrase).
- Misunderstanding 'catholic' as referring solely to the Roman Catholic Church.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Catholic' here means 'universal.' They are part of the New Testament canon for all major Christian denominations.
Because they are addressed to the general, universal church rather than to a specific congregation or individual.
There are seven: James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
Pauline Epistles are written by Paul to specific churches or people. Catholic Epistles are written by other apostles to the broader Christian community.
A group of seven books in the New Testament: James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude.
Catholic epistles is usually academic / theological in register.
Catholic epistles: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæθəlɪk ɪˈpɪslz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæθəlɪk ɪˈpɪsəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CATHOLIC EPISTLES: Seven Letters For All – James, Peter(s), John(s), Jude.
Conceptual Metaphor
Letters to the world (universal address).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'catholic' mean in the term 'Catholic Epistles'?