This course will explore the latter canonical letters in the New Testament. Such a corpus comprises of the letter to the Hebrews (anonymous text previously attributed to Paul), as well as a collection of wider audience correspondence, traditionally called ‘Catholic Epistles’: James, 1-2 Peter, Jude and 1-3 John. Introductory issues such as the letter/epistle genre, structure, authorship, date, intended audience will be covered, as well as proposed reconstructions of the social and religious setting of the different churches of the first century reflected in these writings. Attention will be paid to Canonical criticism, which posits that this collection of very diverse letters grew as a counterpart and in conversation with the Pauline corpus. Students will also be introduced to Patristic readings of these letters, thereby providing insight into the theological reception of the New Testament and the emergence of Catholicism.