The name collectively given to the seven letters of James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, and Jude. The name was coined because, in contrast to Paul's letters which were generally addressed to specific churches, these letters addressed the broader circle of readers of the 'catholic,' i.e., universal, church.
The expression is an ancient one. Eusebius of Caesarea, in the 4th Cent, was the first to refer to these seven letters as such explicitly, though he was clearly relying on tradtions already established in his days. The designation, however, should not be taken too seriously. 2 & 3 John, e.g., were actually addressed to individuals ("To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth," and "To my dear friend Gaius, whome I love in the truth," respectively). They can hardly be said to be 'catholic' in a way that any of the other letters cannot so also claim to be. On the other hand, Hebrews, which is clearly catholic in its tenor, is usually associated with the Pauline letters (and was once thought by many to have been written by Paul) rather than listed within the Catholic Epistles.
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