How many epistles are there in the New Testament, and who wrote them?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the New Testament of the Holy Bible, there are 21 Epistles. Within Coptic Orthodox liturgical practice and tradition, these are categorized into two groups based on their authorship and the focus of their readings during the Divine Liturgy.

1. The Pauline Epistles (14 Epistles)

These were written by St. Paul the Apostle, the "Apostle to the Gentiles." In the Coptic Church, a selection from these is read during the Liturgy from a book called the Pauline.

The 14 epistles are:

1. Romans
2. 1 Corinthians
3. 2 Corinthians
4. Galatians
5. Ephesians
6. Philippians
7. Colossians
8. 1 Thessalonians
9. 2 Thessalonians
10. 1 Timothy
11. 2 Timothy
12. Titus
13. Philemon
14. Hebrews

2. The Catholic Epistles (7 Epistles)

The word "Catholic" comes from the Greek word Katholikon, which means "universal." As noted by Church historical sources, these are called universal because they were generally addressed to the Church at large rather than to a specific person or city. In the Liturgy, these are read from the book known as the Catholicon.

The 7 epistles and their respective authors are:

1. James: Written by St. James the Just (the Brother of the Lord and first Bishop of Jerusalem).
2. 1 Peter: Written by St. Peter the Apostle.
3. 2 Peter: Written by St. Peter the Apostle.
4. 1 John: Written by St. John the Evangelist and Beloved.
5. 2 John: Written by St. John the Evangelist and Beloved.
6. 3 John: Written by St. John the Evangelist and Beloved.
7. Jude: Written by St. Jude (Thaddaeus), the brother of James.

Summary of Authorship

• St. Paul: 14 Epistles
• St. John: 3 Epistles
• St. Peter: 2 Epistles
• St. James: 1 Epistle
• St. Jude: 1 Epistle

Total: 21 Epistles

While some modern secular scholars have raised disputes regarding the authorship of certain letters (such as the Pastoral Epistles or Hebrews), the Coptic Orthodox Church, following the Holy Tradition and the Canon established by the early Fathers like St. Athanasius the Apostolic, affirms the traditional authorship listed above. Regarding the Epistle to the Hebrews, while some early traditions debated the specific scribe, the Church recognizes the Pauline origin of its theology and message.