E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Catholic Epistles (The)
of the New Testament are those Epistles not addressed to any particular church or individual. Conventionally they are seven—viz. 1 James, 2 Peter, 1 Jude, and 3 John; but 2 John is addressed to a “lady,” and 3 John to Gaius, and, of course, are not Catholic Epistles either in matter or otherwise.
