Ancient Letter Writing

A letter was a written message, often from a king or high official. It usually contained commands, public announcements, or reports.

Some surviving letters were written by Arad-Nana, the royal doctor, to his master, King Ashurbanipal. These letters discuss the king’s spondylitis, a painful condition of the spine, and a young prince’s eye problem.

The well-known Amarna letters contain reports and requests from local rulers in Palestine. These rulers were concerned because Pharaoh Akhnaton’s foreign policy in the region had become weak.

Another surviving letter was written by Tutankhamen’s widow to a Hittite king. In it, she discussed a possible marriage arrangement.

Examples of letters in the Old Testament include:

David’s letter to Joab, which ordered Uriah’s death (2 Samuel 11:14–15),

Jezebel’s evil letter to the elders of Jezreel, which she wrote in Ahab’s name and used his seal (1 Kings 21:8–9), and

the Syrian king’s letter to the king of Israel about Naaman’s leprosy, a serious skin disease (2 Kings 5:5–7).

The Old Testament reports these letters without the usual greetings or polite forms of address. Some passages in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah appear to give the full text of letters (Ezra 4:11–23; 5:7–17; 7:11–26; Nehemiah 6:5–7). In other places, the writer gives only a summary, a shortened version, or a report of the letter’s content (Nehemiah 2:8; Esther 9:20–31).

Official letters like those mentioned in the Old Testament also appear in Egyptian papyrus documents. One example is a letter that Emperor Claudius sent to the people of Alexandria in AD 42. The city was troubled by conflict involving its Jewish population.

Another example is a public letter from the governor of Egypt in the early second century AD. It announced an upcoming census and may help readers understand the setting of the birth of Jesus.

The letters of Cicero give valuable information about a violent period in Roman history. During this time, rule by the Roman Senate ended, and the Roman Empire began.

The letters of Pliny describe Roman society near the end of the first century AD. At that time, Pliny was governor of Bithynia. His letters also give important information about early conflict between the Roman government and the church.

Ancient letters give a clear picture of daily life and the ordinary work of people in the Greco-Roman world and the early Christian centuries. In this way, they are similar to documents found in the New Testament. They provide historical background, examples, explanations, and sometimes direct evidence.

One example is a collection of letters written by Bar-Kochba, the leader of the second Jewish revolt against Rome from AD 132 to 135. Archaeologists found his letters and military documents in a cave near the Dead Sea.

In one letter, Bar-Kochba commands, “Whatever Elisha says, do.” In another, he orders the arrest of Tahnun ben Ishmael and the seizure of his wheat. A third letter calls for the punishment of people who repaired their homes against orders to destroy property so that an enemy could not use it.

Paul carefully followed the common letter-writing practices of his time. His letters usually begin with a greeting. This is followed by thanksgiving and a prayer for the person or group receiving the letter.

Paul then addresses the main subject of the letter. Near the end, he may greet friends and close with another prayer.

The following second-century letter briefly shows a style that is very similar to Paul’s:

“Ammonous to her sweetest father, greeting. When I received your letter and recognized that by the will of the gods you were preserved, I rejoiced greatly. And as at the same time an opportunity here presented itself, I am writing you this letter being anxious to pay my respects. Attend as quickly as possible to the matters that are pressing. Whatever the little one asks shall be done. If the bearer of this letter hands over a small basket to you, it is I who sent it. All your friends greet you by name. Celer greets you and all who are with him. I pray for your health..”

Paul writes about many different subjects. At times, he uses gentle irony to address the pride of the Corinthian believers. At other times, he gives a strong warning against false teaching. He also shares news about friends. In one letter, he asks for his books and the warm cloak he left in Troas.

The letters in the New Testament continue and adapt an older form of teaching by letter. This type of writing can be traced back to Greek thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle.

New Testament writers sent letters to different audiences. Some letters were written to groups or churches, including the:

Romans,

Corinthians,

Galatians,

Philippians,

Ephesians,

Colossians,

Thessalonians, and

Hebrews.

Other letters were written to the wider church, such as the letters of:

Peter,

Jude,

James, and

1 John.

Some were written to individuals or to a specific Christian community.

The apostolic letter recorded in Acts 15 may have inspired this practice. Revelation 2 and 3 are genuine letters from John to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia.

See also Lachish Letters; Writing.