text: The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians are usually referred to as epistles . Those traditionally attributed to Paul are known as Pauline epistles and the others as catholic ( i.e. , `` general '' ) epistles .
simplified: The letters in the New Testament from the Apostles to Christians are usually called epistles ; those from Paul are known as Pauline Epistles and the others as Catholic or General Epistles .