What does ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) mean in the Bible?
Epistolē means a letter or written message sent to communicate across distance. Saul seeks letters authorizing arrests of disciples.
Greek · G1992
ἐπιστολή
A written message
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ἐπιστολή G1992
Pronunciation epistolḗ
What does ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) mean in the Bible?
Epistolē means a letter or written message sent to communicate across distance. Saul seeks letters authorizing arrests of disciples.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐπιστολή (G1992) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1992?
The BSB source-word alignment has 24 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include letter (15), letters (7), [our] letters (1), a letter (1).
Where does ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 9:2. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (8), Acts (5), 2 Thessalonians (4), 1 Corinthians (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Epistolē means a letter or written message sent to communicate across distance. Saul seeks letters authorizing arrests of disciples. Tertius identifies himself as the scribe who wrote Romans. Paul refers to a previous letter correcting sexual immorality, rejects the need for letters of recommendation to authenticate his relationship with Corinth, and orders the Colossian and Laodicean letters exchanged and read.
The noun describes a document, not its truth, inspiration, or moral purpose by itself. Letters may authorize persecution, carry apostolic instruction, identify a secretary's service, commend a worker, or circulate among churches. Readers must ask who sends the letter, under what authority, to whom, and for what purpose.
How the Bible Uses It
Epistolē identifies written correspondence with different authority and aims: hostile warrants, apostolic letters, scribal participation, recommendation documents, and interchurch circulation. The medium preserves communication, but sender, content, and commission determine its weight.
- Acts.9.2
And requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:2 says Saul requested letters to Damascus synagogues so he could arrest followers of the Way. Official documentation serves violent zeal until the risen Jesus confronts him.
- Rom.16.22
I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Romans 16:22 identifies Tertius as the one who wrote the letter in the Lord. His greeting shows the real scribal labor involved without displacing Paul's apostolic authorship.
- 1Cor.5.9
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
First Corinthians 5:9 refers to an earlier letter telling believers not to associate with sexually immoral people. Paul immediately clarifies the scope, distinguishing church discipline from withdrawal from the world.
- 2Cor.3.1
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
Second Corinthians 3:1 asks whether Paul needs letters of recommendation. The Corinthians themselves are his letter, written by the Spirit, though the metaphor does not abolish all prudent references or credentials.
- Col.4.16
After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
Colossians 4:16 commands the letter to be read in Laodicea and another letter to be read in Colossae. Apostolic instruction is shared publicly among neighboring churches.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It letter 15× Acts 15:30, Acts 23:25, Acts 23:33, Romans 16:22
letters 7× Acts 9:2, Acts 22:5, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 2 Corinthians 3:1
[our] letters 1× 2 Corinthians 10:11
a letter 1× 2 Corinthians 3:3
Show sample aligned rows
Acts 9:2 ἐπιστολὰς to letters Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural Acts 15:30 ἐπιστολήν to letter Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Acts 22:5 ἐπιστολὰς to letters Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural Acts 23:25 ἐπιστολὴν to letter Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Acts 23:33 ἐπιστολὴν to letter Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Romans 16:22 ἐπιστολὴν to letter Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 1 Corinthians 5:9 ἐπιστολῇ to letter Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 1 Corinthians 16:3 ἐπιστολῶν to letters Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural 2 Corinthians 3:1 ἐπιστολῶν to letters Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural 2 Corinthians 3:2 ἐπιστολὴ to letter Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Acts 9:2
Aligned rows 24
Books represented 8
Acts 5 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 2 2 Corinthians 8 Colossians 1 1 Thessalonians 1 2 Thessalonians 4 2 Peter 2
Source forms
ἐπιστολὴν 4x epistolēn Acts 23:25, Acts 23:33, Romans 16:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:27
ἐπιστολῶν 4x epistolōn 1 Corinthians 16:3, 2 Corinthians 3:1, 2 Corinthians 10:9, 2 Corinthians 10:11
ἐπιστολὴ 3x epistolē 2 Corinthians 3:2, 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 7:8
ἐπιστολῇ 3x epistolē 1 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 7:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:17
ἐπιστολῆς 3x epistolēs 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:14
ἐπιστολὰς 2x epistolas Acts 9:2, Acts 22:5
ἐπιστολήν 2x epistolēn Acts 15:30, 2 Peter 3:1
ἐπιστολαὶ 1x epistolai 2 Corinthians 10:10
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 6x Acts 15:30, Acts 23:25, Acts 23:33, Romans 16:22
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural 4x 1 Corinthians 16:3, 2 Corinthians 3:1, 2 Corinthians 10:9, 2 Corinthians 10:11
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular 4x 2 Corinthians 3:2, 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 7:8, Colossians 4:16
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 3x 1 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 7:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:17
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 3x 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:14
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural 2x Acts 9:2, Acts 22:5
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural 1x 2 Peter 3:16
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural 1x 2 Corinthians 10:10
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not assume official letterhead, credentials, or documentation makes a command just.
- Do not read an apostolic letter as disconnected sayings without its sender, recipients, occasion, and argument.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not assume official letterhead, credentials, or documentation makes a command just.
- Do not read an apostolic letter as disconnected sayings without its sender, recipients, occasion, and argument.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Written communication, typically formal letters; in NT primarily Paul's epistles addressing churches.
Strong's G1992
Lexical occurrences 24 verses Greek text appearances 24 times 16 shown below Word forms 8 forms 24 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
a written message
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 24 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 9:2 Noun Accusative Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολὰς epistolav
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse Acts 15:30 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολήν. epistolhn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse Acts 22:5 Noun Accusative Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολὰς epistolav
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse Acts 23:25 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολὴν epistolhn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse Acts 23:33 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολὴν epistolhn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse Romans 16:22 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολήν, epistolhn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 1 Corinthians 5:9 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολῇ epistolh
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 1 Corinthians 16:3 Noun Genitive Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολῶν, epistolwn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 3:1 Noun Genitive Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολῶν epistolwn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 3:2 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολὴ epistolh
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 3:3 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολὴ epistolh
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:8 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολῇ, epistolh
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:8 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
ἐπιστολὴ epistolh
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 10:9 Noun Genitive Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολῶν. epistolwn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 10:10 Noun Nominative Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολαί, epistolai
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verse 2 Corinthians 10:11 Noun Genitive Plural Feminine
ἐπιστολῶν epistolwn
a letter, dispatch, epistle
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 8 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 8 Aligned forms 24 Case pattern Accusative (8) Number pattern Singular (16)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 3:2 · 2 Cor 3:3 · 2 Cor 7:8 · Col 4:16 4×
Nominative · Plural · Feminine 2 Cor 10:10 1×
Genitive · Plural · Feminine 1 Cor 16:3 · 2 Cor 3:1 · 2 Cor 10:9 · 2 Cor 10:11 4×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine 2 Thess 2:2 · 2 Thess 2:15 · 2 Thess 3:14 3×
Dative · Singular · Feminine 1 Cor 5:9 · 2 Cor 7:8 · 2 Thess 3:17 3×
Dative · Plural · Feminine 2 Pet 3:16 1×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Acts 15:30 · Acts 23:25 · Acts 23:33 · Rom 16:22 · 1 Thess 5:27 · 2 Pet 3:1 6×
Accusative · Plural · Feminine Acts 9:2 · Acts 22:5 2×
Word Origins
ἐπιστολή is built from this root:
For the Preacher and Teacher
Epistolē places theology inside real correspondence. A letter can extend coercive authority, as Saul's warrants show, or serve the risen Lord's church through apostolic teaching. Romans even lets the scribe greet the readers, reminding us that inspiration did not erase ordinary acts of dictation and writing. Paul's reference to an earlier Corinthian letter shows why context and clarification matter, while his recommendation-letter metaphor insists that Spirit-formed people are living evidence of ministry.
Colossians portrays letters read aloud and exchanged between churches, making written instruction communal rather than private. Faithful readers should honor the human occasion, literary flow, and apostolic authority of New Testament letters. Churches should also write carefully today, knowing documents can protect truth and accountability or institutionalize harm.
Anchor passage
Col.4.16
Doctrinal connections
- Revelation and inspiration: apostolic letters communicate authoritative teaching through ordinary human writing practices.
- Providence: God uses scribes, couriers, recipients, and interchurch exchange to preserve and spread instruction.
- Conversion: Saul's hostile letters contrast sharply with the apostolic ministry that follows Christ's intervention.
- Church discipline: written correction requires careful scope and communal application.
- Holy Spirit: transformed people can function metaphorically as a letter written by the Spirit.
- Catholicity: neighboring churches receive and share apostolic teaching beyond one local setting.
Epistolē denotes a written message or letter, often one sent to recipients. The term itself does not establish genre, canonicity, inspiration, or whether the document is private, official, commendatory, or congregational.
From Old to New Testament
Kings, officials, and prophets use written messages throughout the Old Testament for commands, threats, reports, and covenant instruction. New Testament letters serve the apostolic witness to Christ across dispersed churches.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain