Apocryphal epistles are letters that are not part of the official list of books recognized as Scripture. Even though they are not included in the Bible, many of them were valued for their religious or historical importance.
Many apocryphal writings are categorized as letters. These works, often written under false names (pseudonyms), come from different time periods.
Examples include:
The Legend of Abgar
Letters of Paul and Seneca
The Epistle of Pseudo-Titus
Paul’s Letter to the Laodiceans
Third Corinthians
The last two examples (Paul's Letter to the Laodiceans and Third Corinthians) are based on allusions found in the New Testament, much like some Old Testament Apocrypha are also based on allusions found in the Old Testament. For example, First and Second Corinthians mention other letters that have since been lost. Third Corinthians presents itself as another letter that Paul and the church in Corinth would have exchanged. Paul also mentions a letter to the Laodiceans in Colossians 4:16, and the apocryphal Letter to the Laodiceans presents itself as that letter. However, these writings are not genuine letters written by the apostle Paul.