“Epicureans and Soics,” (Acts 17:18) at Athens, the philosophy of life was practically reduced to
the teaching of these two antagonistic schools. Epistles, letters; personal correspondence by writing.
The twenty-one epistles of the New Testament took the place of tracts among us. In their outward
form they are such as might be expected from men who were brought into contact with Greek and
Roman customs, themselves belonging to a different race, and so reproducing the imported style
with only partial accuracy. They begin (the Epistle to the Hebrews and 1John excepted) with the
names of the writer and of those to whom the epistle is addressed. Then follows the formula of
salutation. Then the letter itself commences in the first person, the singular and plural being used
indiscriminately. When the substance of the letter has been completed, come the individual messages.
The conclusion in this case was probably modified by the fact that the letters were dictated to an
amanuensis. When he had done his work, the apostle took up the pen or reed, and added in his own
large characters, (Galatians 6:11) the authenticating autograph. In one instance, (Romans 16:22)
the amanuensis in his own name adds his salutation. An allusion in (2 Corinthians 3:1) brings before
us another class of letters which must have been in frequent use in the early ages of the Christian
Church, by which travellers or teachers were commended by one church to the good offices of
others.
Er
(watchful).
•First-born of Judah. Er “was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.” (Genesis
38:3-7; Numbers 26:19)
•Descendant of Shelah the son of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:21)
•Son of Jose and father of Elmodam. (Luke 3:28)
Eran
(watchful), the eldest son of Ephraim. (Numbers 26:36)
Eranites, The
(Numbers 26:36)
Erastus
(beloved).
•One of the attendants of St. Paul at Ephesus, who with Timothy was sent forward into Macedonia.
(Acts 19:22) (A.D. 51.) He is probably the same with Erastus who is again mentioned in the
salutations to Timothy. (2 Timothy 4:20)
•Erastus the chamberlain, or rather the public treasurer, of Corinth, who was one of the early
converts to Christianity. (Romans 16:23) According to the traditions of the Greek Church, he was
first treasurer to the church at Jerusalem, and afterwards bishop of Paneas.
Erech
(length), one of the cities of Nimrod’s kingdom in the land of Shinar, (Genesis 10:10) doubtless
the same as Orchoe, 82 miles south and 43 east of Babylon, the modern designations of the
site—Warka, Irka and Irak—bearing a considerable affinity to the original name.
Eri
(watchful), son of Gad, (Genesis 46:16) and ancestor of the Erites. (Numbers 26:16)
Esaias
the Greek form of Isaiah. [Isaiah]
Esarhaddon
frankie
(Frankie)
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