as in letter
a message on paper from one person or group to another
the epistles of Saint Paul to various communities of early Christians
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Recent Examples of epistle
One of the earliest witnesses to the spread of Christianity, the codex features the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah.
—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN,
3 Apr. 2024
Yet the novel evolved incrementally from public to private, epistle to narrative as the scope of the vision enlarged.
—
David L. Ulin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2024
The Pauline epistles contain numerous references to women who were instrumental in the leadership of the early church: Phoebe, a deaconess; Chloe; Apphia; Euodia; Nympha; Junia.
—
Cressida Leyshon,
The New Yorker,
31 July 2023
The Rapture has no scriptural basis besides an obviously metaphorical verse in Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.
—
Michael Robbins,
Harper’s Magazine ,
9 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for epistle
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN,
3 Apr. 2024
Yet the novel evolved incrementally from public to private, epistle to narrative as the scope of the vision enlarged.
—
David L. Ulin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2024
The Pauline epistles contain numerous references to women who were instrumental in the leadership of the early church: Phoebe, a deaconess; Chloe; Apphia; Euodia; Nympha; Junia.
—
Cressida Leyshon,
The New Yorker,
31 July 2023
The Rapture has no scriptural basis besides an obviously metaphorical verse in Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.
—
Michael Robbins,
Harper’s Magazine ,
9 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for epistle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epistle
letter
Noun
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Wrapped around one side are 5-foot tall concrete capital letters, an excerpt of Obama’s 2015 speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery march.
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Named after the first-ever postwoman west of the Mississippi, the Westman honors its history with love letters and postcards from decades past scattered throughout the property.
Cite this Entry
“Epistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epistle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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