Epistle to the, one of the canonical books of the New Testament. It was written by the apostle Paul during the earlier part of his imprisonment at Rome, at the same time with the Epistle to the Colossians. Its genuineness, which was at one time opposed, seems now universally admitted; but its original destination is a point on which much learned controversy has been waged. In opposition to the common opinion that it was addressed to the church of Ephesus, Grotius (reviving the opinion of Marcion) regards it as originally sent to the church at Laodicea; while Usher seeks to escape from the difficulties of either supposition, by regarding it as a circular letter without any designation to any particular church. The common opinion is now generally preferred.