epistle
/ɪˈpɪsl/noun
1- formal or humorous a letter〈正式, 幽默〉书信。
1.1
- a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters书信体诗文。
1.2
Epistle
a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle使徒书信（《圣经·新约》中使徒以书信形式写的一卷）：St Paul's Epistle to the Romans.
圣·保罗写给罗马人的使徒书。
1.3
- an extract from an Epistle (or another New Testament book not a Gospel) that is read in a church service（做礼拜时诵读的）使徒书信摘录。
词源
Old English, via Latin from Greek epistolē, from epistellein 'send news', from epi 'upon, in addition' + stellein 'send'. The word was reintroduced in Middle English from Old French.