With respect to the ancient world, a distinction must be made between private and public letters.  The former were personal notes, whereas the latter were intended for a larger readership. Most of the letters in the New Testament were intended as public letters. Moreover, some "letters" in the New Testament may appear to be letters, but are actually short theological treatises. It is important to keep in mind the epistolary genre of the Greco-Roman world when analyzing the structure of the letters of the New Testament. A letter written in the Greco-Roman world tended to consist of the following parts. (It must be stressed, however, that there are many possible variations on this type.)
 

1. Introduction

The author would usually introduce his letter.

1.1. Salutation (Sender; receiver; greeting)

An author would begin by identifying himself as the sender and then identify his intended reader(s).  Following this, he would extend a greeting to his intended readers (author [nominative], intended reader [dative:  "to..."], greetings [chairein]). In most of the New Testament letters, rather than "greetings" (chairein) (but see Jas 1:1), one finds the formula "grace and peace" (charis kai eirene).
 

1.2. Health Wish, Prayer and/or Thanksgiving

After the salutation, the author may express a wish that the intended reader be in good health, following which he may offer a prayer and/or a thanksgiving on behalf of his intended readers. (In shorter, private letters, one often finds only a salutation.)  In the New Testament letters, typically, one finds thanksgivings (or praise) to God sometimes followed by a prayer on behalf of the intended reader, but rarely a health wish (but see 3 John 2). The gods/God to whom the author would pray or give thanks (or praise) would depend upon the author's religious and cultural background.
 

2. Main Body of the Letter

Following the introduction, the author would deal with the matter for which he is writing. This could vary from the mundane to the sublime, depending on the author's purpose.
 

3. Conclusion (Greetings; farewell)

Typically, in order to close a letter, the author may send greetings to and greetings from people known to both him and the reader(s), if this was applicable. He may also give a farewell (erroso/errosthai or [di]eutuchei) to his reader(s). In a New Testament letters, instead of a closing farewell, one usually finds a benediction.
 

4. Example of Private Letter from Second or Third Century (Oxyrhynchus Papyri CXVII)
 
 

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