Epistole is a written communication, including correspondence, official documents, and a figurative description of people as a letter.

The term most often denotes a written communication sent, received, read, or discussed among communities and individuals. It also occurs for official documents connected with authorization or delivery, and twice figuratively describes people as a letter written and read.

1. Written correspondence for instruction or exchange · dominant

   In 1 Corinthians 5:9 the dative singular occurs in the clause about having written instructions not to associate with certain people, while 1 Thessalonians 5:27 concerns a letter being read to all the brothers. In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, teaching is received either by word or by a letter, and in Colossians 4:16 the APB renders the clause about a letter being read in more than one church.

   1 Corinthians 5:91 Thessalonians 5:272 Thessalonians 2:152 Thessalonians 3:14Colossians 4:162 Peter 3:16
2. Official or authorizing written document · common

   The plural accusative forms in Acts 9:2 and Acts 22:5 are documents received for travel to Damascus and the intended seizure of people there. In Acts 23:25 and Acts 23:33, a singular document is written, delivered to the governor, and accompanies Paul.

   Acts 9:2Acts 22:5Acts 23:25Acts 23:33Acts 15:30
3. Figurative letter written on hearts · occasional

   In 2 Corinthians 3:2 the nominative singular identifies the recipients themselves as a letter known and read by all people. In 2 Corinthians 3:3 the APB renders them as a letter of Christ, described as written not with ink but on human hearts.

   2 Corinthians 3:22 Corinthians 3:3

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term as “letter” or “letters,” while Romans 16:22 and 2 Peter 3:1 use “epistle.” In 2 Corinthians 3:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:3 it retains “letter” for the figurative comparison; these renderings reflect whole-verse translation rather than word-by-word alignment.