Introduction to the New Testament
The New Testament is a canon of books which is the accepted standard in Christianity. The criteria for writings to be included in the New Testament include its apostolic origin, general acceptance, public use, and consistent message.
The Christian Bible in the Early Church was read publicly and people memorized verses by repeating them.
The New Testament mainly revolves around Jesus.
The Christian Bible in the Early Church was read publicly and people memorized verses by repeating them.
The New Testament mainly revolves around Jesus.
Jesus (c. 6 BCE)
Jesus was a great Jewish teacher who claimed to be the Son of God. Christians believe that he is the Messiah, because he fulfilled the prophecies. His mother was the Virgin Mary, who conceived Jesus from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus performed many miracles so the people would believe in him and God. He was a teacher who taught using many parables, and he was a very righteous person. The Pharisees did not like Jesus, because he went against Jewish teachings. He was later crucified. Christians see this as God sacrificing his only son to atone for the peoples' sins. Three days later, Jesus resurrected, which was another miracle.
Jesus was actually a Jew, but later, the people who believed in Jesus became Christians.
Jesus was a great Jewish teacher who claimed to be the Son of God. Christians believe that he is the Messiah, because he fulfilled the prophecies. His mother was the Virgin Mary, who conceived Jesus from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus performed many miracles so the people would believe in him and God. He was a teacher who taught using many parables, and he was a very righteous person. The Pharisees did not like Jesus, because he went against Jewish teachings. He was later crucified. Christians see this as God sacrificing his only son to atone for the peoples' sins. Three days later, Jesus resurrected, which was another miracle.
Jesus was actually a Jew, but later, the people who believed in Jesus became Christians.
Gospels
The gospels, meaning "good news", document the events, journeys, parables, suffering, and death of Jesus.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels, because they include many of the same stories, in a similar sequence and in a similar wording.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels, because they include many of the same stories, in a similar sequence and in a similar wording.
Matthew (c. 70 CE - c. 110 CE)
- Matthew starts with Jesus' genealogy in order to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, because the Messiah was predicted to have come from the House of David.
- The birth of Jesus was the first major event of Matthew.
- There were five major discourses in Matthew, which were the Sermon on the Mount, Missionary discourse, Parable discourse, Church order discourse, and discourse on the end times.
- Sermon on the Mount was the most famous, where Jesus preached of ethical guidelines from a mountain. Jesus delivers the people the most famous prayer, the Lord's prayer. The final teaching of the Sermon is the Golden rule "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
- Missionary Discourse: Jesus sends his 12 disciples on missionary journeys to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.
- Jesus provided guidelines for Christian communities, and says that children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus introduced the idea of the Trinity by telling them to baptize in the name of the father, son, and spirit. It ends with hope.
- Matthew starts with Jesus' genealogy in order to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, because the Messiah was predicted to have come from the House of David.
- The birth of Jesus was the first major event of Matthew.
- There were five major discourses in Matthew, which were the Sermon on the Mount, Missionary discourse, Parable discourse, Church order discourse, and discourse on the end times.
- Sermon on the Mount was the most famous, where Jesus preached of ethical guidelines from a mountain. Jesus delivers the people the most famous prayer, the Lord's prayer. The final teaching of the Sermon is the Golden rule "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
- Missionary Discourse: Jesus sends his 12 disciples on missionary journeys to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.
- Jesus provided guidelines for Christian communities, and says that children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus introduced the idea of the Trinity by telling them to baptize in the name of the father, son, and spirit. It ends with hope.
Mark (c. 66 C.E. - c. 70 CE)
- Mark has the shortest gospel and it is written in a journalistic style. It is very brief and fast-paced.
- The Book of Mark begins with Jesus' public life. Jesus was noted for teaching with authority, healing, and exorcism.
- The gospel refers to the suffering servant.
- There were no explanations or interpretations for the parables.
- It is Mark's unique style to sandwich one narrative in the middle of another.
- There were two endings - the alternate ending was about how the manuscripts grew.
- Mark has the shortest gospel and it is written in a journalistic style. It is very brief and fast-paced.
- The Book of Mark begins with Jesus' public life. Jesus was noted for teaching with authority, healing, and exorcism.
- The gospel refers to the suffering servant.
- There were no explanations or interpretations for the parables.
- It is Mark's unique style to sandwich one narrative in the middle of another.
- There were two endings - the alternate ending was about how the manuscripts grew.
Luke (c. 80 CE - 100 CE)
- Luke wrote two volumes in the Bible: The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts (Act of the Apostles).
- Luke's main audience was for the Greeks.
- Luke's Gospel began with the birth of John the Baptist.
- The Book included events of Jesus' childhood, such as when Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem and he got lost there.
- Luke's Gospel interprets Jesus' teachings well enough for Jews and non-Jews as well.
- The Book includes Jesus' parables of the Good Samaritan, the Rich Fool, The Mustard Seed and the Yeast, the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Coin.
- Jesus' journey to Jerusalem - Jesus healed diseases of the mind and body and sent his twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God.
- The Gospel of Luke is the only synoptic gospel where Jesus is called a Savior.
- The Gospel of Luke is the only gospel where Jesus claims that he has come to seek out and save the lost.
- Luke wrote two volumes in the Bible: The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts (Act of the Apostles).
- Luke's main audience was for the Greeks.
- Luke's Gospel began with the birth of John the Baptist.
- The Book included events of Jesus' childhood, such as when Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem and he got lost there.
- Luke's Gospel interprets Jesus' teachings well enough for Jews and non-Jews as well.
- The Book includes Jesus' parables of the Good Samaritan, the Rich Fool, The Mustard Seed and the Yeast, the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Coin.
- Jesus' journey to Jerusalem - Jesus healed diseases of the mind and body and sent his twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God.
- The Gospel of Luke is the only synoptic gospel where Jesus is called a Savior.
- The Gospel of Luke is the only gospel where Jesus claims that he has come to seek out and save the lost.
John (c. 90 CE - 100 CE)
-The Book of John is different from the synoptics. It focuses on Jesus' signs, which are miracles he performs so people believe in him.
- Stated in the first lines in the Book of John that Jesus is both divine and human; later formulated into the written creeds which are the central doctrines of Christianity: the incarnation and the Trinity.
- In the Book of Signs: includes Jesus changing water to wine at the wedding in Cana, and the raising of Lazarus. There were seven major signs.
- Jesus had a conversation with his friend Nicodemus. He compared physical birth to spiritual birth. The spiritual birth signifies a new relationship with God.
- Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Jesus revealed his identity to the woman, and she went back to her village to spread the word that Jesus was the Messiah.
- "I am" statements are only found in John's gospel.
- The Book of Glory begins following the raising of Lazarus. It features the Last Supper. Jesus switched from speaking to his disciples to speaking directly to God, and prayed for all his disciples (found in John 17:11).
- The Resurrection: Jesus was crucified. Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb three days later.
- Third Encounter: Jesus' disciples were fishing and saw a man on the shore. Peter recognized the man as Jesus. Jesus gave three instructions to Peter: "Feed my lambs", "Tend my sheep", and "Feed my sheep".
- The Book of John ended with an unusual conclusion: there were many other things Jesus did which could not be written down.
-The Book of John is different from the synoptics. It focuses on Jesus' signs, which are miracles he performs so people believe in him.
- Stated in the first lines in the Book of John that Jesus is both divine and human; later formulated into the written creeds which are the central doctrines of Christianity: the incarnation and the Trinity.
- In the Book of Signs: includes Jesus changing water to wine at the wedding in Cana, and the raising of Lazarus. There were seven major signs.
- Jesus had a conversation with his friend Nicodemus. He compared physical birth to spiritual birth. The spiritual birth signifies a new relationship with God.
- Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Jesus revealed his identity to the woman, and she went back to her village to spread the word that Jesus was the Messiah.
- "I am" statements are only found in John's gospel.
- The Book of Glory begins following the raising of Lazarus. It features the Last Supper. Jesus switched from speaking to his disciples to speaking directly to God, and prayed for all his disciples (found in John 17:11).
- The Resurrection: Jesus was crucified. Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb three days later.
- Third Encounter: Jesus' disciples were fishing and saw a man on the shore. Peter recognized the man as Jesus. Jesus gave three instructions to Peter: "Feed my lambs", "Tend my sheep", and "Feed my sheep".
- The Book of John ended with an unusual conclusion: there were many other things Jesus did which could not be written down.
Book of Acts
Birth of the Church and its Growth
- The Acts of the Apostles closely resembles the gospels in its literary form.
- Acts places strong emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the apostles
- Luke summarizes what the community believed and proclaimed about Jesus' death and resurrection, and also adds an account of Jesus being taken up to heaven which is now called ascension.
- The Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit and Peter then told them about Jesus' death and resurrection.
- Early members of the church led a normal life.
- The Christian movement grew from a sect of Judaism to a new faith.
- Many followers dispersed in regions of Judea and Samaria as a result of rejection and persecution.
- Philip was based in Samaria and began converting and baptizing Samaritans in the name of Jesus only.
- Jerusalem leaders conveyed to the converts that it was the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Christianity grew throughout many countries. Christianity is often considered a western religion but its origins are in the Middle East, and its earliest converts were African.
- The Acts of the Apostles closely resembles the gospels in its literary form.
- Acts places strong emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the apostles
- Luke summarizes what the community believed and proclaimed about Jesus' death and resurrection, and also adds an account of Jesus being taken up to heaven which is now called ascension.
- The Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit and Peter then told them about Jesus' death and resurrection.
- Early members of the church led a normal life.
- The Christian movement grew from a sect of Judaism to a new faith.
- Many followers dispersed in regions of Judea and Samaria as a result of rejection and persecution.
- Philip was based in Samaria and began converting and baptizing Samaritans in the name of Jesus only.
- Jerusalem leaders conveyed to the converts that it was the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Christianity grew throughout many countries. Christianity is often considered a western religion but its origins are in the Middle East, and its earliest converts were African.
Cornelius
- Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was in charge of 100 men in the Roman army. He was a Gentile.
- He was a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously to people and prayed constantly to God.
- He had a vision: an angel instructed him to send men to Peter in Joppa, and he complied.
- He is considered by Christians to be the first Gentile to convert to Christianity.
- Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was in charge of 100 men in the Roman army. He was a Gentile.
- He was a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously to people and prayed constantly to God.
- He had a vision: an angel instructed him to send men to Peter in Joppa, and he complied.
- He is considered by Christians to be the first Gentile to convert to Christianity.
Peter
- Peter was one of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus' disciples.
- Peter was criticized in Jerusalem for converting Gentiles.
- Peter was arrested and jailed. This event took place during the Passover. He was bound by two chains and four squads of soldiers. An angel comes and rescues Peter. All soldiers that were guarding Peter were killed.
- Peter was crucified in Rome. He requested to be crucified upside down because he saw himself unworthy of being crucified in the same way as Jesus.
- Peter was one of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus' disciples.
- Peter was criticized in Jerusalem for converting Gentiles.
- Peter was arrested and jailed. This event took place during the Passover. He was bound by two chains and four squads of soldiers. An angel comes and rescues Peter. All soldiers that were guarding Peter were killed.
- Peter was crucified in Rome. He requested to be crucified upside down because he saw himself unworthy of being crucified in the same way as Jesus.
Paul
- Saul of Taurus, a Jew, was converted to Paul, a Christian.
- Saul was initially travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians to bring to Jerusalem. On his way, he encountered a light from heaven. Saul was blinded for three days and went without eating or drinking.
The First Journey
- Paul went to many towns in the Roman Empire. He would enter the local synagogue and make his sermons to the Jewish people. He preached about how Jesus was the Messiah, because he fulfilled all of the prophecies in the scriptures.
- Jews opposed Paul's teachings, but many Gentiles accepted. Because of this, Paul was angry and started to dislike Jews.
- Paul was almost killed many times.
The Second Journey
- Paul and his companions journeyed through many cities.
- In Athens, Paul caught the attention of a group of Greek philosophers, and they had a debate. In the debate, Paul made a very famous speech, explaining the Gospel using Greek culture and quoting Greek thinkers. The speech showed that he didn't simply reject the local culture, and used the local culture to explain the teachings of Christianity.
The Third Journey
- Paul started preaching in public halls instead of synagogues, as Jews rejected his teachings.
- Paul performed many miracles, including healing the sick and the possessed, and even raised a boy from the dead.
- Despite performing miracles, Jews still refused to follow his teachings.
Paul's Arrest
- When Paul came back to Jerusalem, he was warned that Jews had built up strong opposition against him. The Jewish crowd was very violent.
- People found out Paul was a Roman citizen, so he was taken to the Jewish council. He was then sent to Rome to be tried by the emperor.
- In Rome, he was put under house arrest. Some Jews visited Paul, but most Jews still rejected his teachings.
- In his final recorded speech, Paul told the Jews that they have rejected Jesus, and the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles.
- Saul of Taurus, a Jew, was converted to Paul, a Christian.
- Saul was initially travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians to bring to Jerusalem. On his way, he encountered a light from heaven. Saul was blinded for three days and went without eating or drinking.
The First Journey
- Paul went to many towns in the Roman Empire. He would enter the local synagogue and make his sermons to the Jewish people. He preached about how Jesus was the Messiah, because he fulfilled all of the prophecies in the scriptures.
- Jews opposed Paul's teachings, but many Gentiles accepted. Because of this, Paul was angry and started to dislike Jews.
- Paul was almost killed many times.
The Second Journey
- Paul and his companions journeyed through many cities.
- In Athens, Paul caught the attention of a group of Greek philosophers, and they had a debate. In the debate, Paul made a very famous speech, explaining the Gospel using Greek culture and quoting Greek thinkers. The speech showed that he didn't simply reject the local culture, and used the local culture to explain the teachings of Christianity.
The Third Journey
- Paul started preaching in public halls instead of synagogues, as Jews rejected his teachings.
- Paul performed many miracles, including healing the sick and the possessed, and even raised a boy from the dead.
- Despite performing miracles, Jews still refused to follow his teachings.
Paul's Arrest
- When Paul came back to Jerusalem, he was warned that Jews had built up strong opposition against him. The Jewish crowd was very violent.
- People found out Paul was a Roman citizen, so he was taken to the Jewish council. He was then sent to Rome to be tried by the emperor.
- In Rome, he was put under house arrest. Some Jews visited Paul, but most Jews still rejected his teachings.
- In his final recorded speech, Paul told the Jews that they have rejected Jesus, and the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles.
Epistles
Paul's Letters
- Paul wrote letters to early Christian churches to help them deal with their problems.
- There were two types of letters by Paul: the nine epistles written to the churches, and the four pastoral and personal epistles.
- When Paul was in Corinth, he wrote the longest single letter in the New Testament. This letter is of Paul's understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
- Paul used ancient rhetorics and literary devices to make his letters very persuasive.
- Paul's thesis says that whoever has faith in God and Jesus would be considered righteous by God and should receive salvation, including Gentiles.
- There were five parts of Paul's argument: the need for redemption, justification by faith, freedom, God's righteousness, and Christian behavior.
- Paul ends his arguments with personal witness and affirming his right to instruct the Romans.
- People have found guidelines for life in the letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, and the Ephesians.
- Paul was worried about the Galatians because they were being led astray by unidentify teachers.
- Paul argued that the followers were not under the law and were no longer slaves to the law but had been freed by the baptism of Jesus.
- The Philippi church was first founded in Europe by Paul.
- Unity within the church was emphasized.
- Women were looked down upon, had to dress modestly, and not allowed to teach or have authority over men.
- Paul wrote letters to early Christian churches to help them deal with their problems.
- There were two types of letters by Paul: the nine epistles written to the churches, and the four pastoral and personal epistles.
- When Paul was in Corinth, he wrote the longest single letter in the New Testament. This letter is of Paul's understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
- Paul used ancient rhetorics and literary devices to make his letters very persuasive.
- Paul's thesis says that whoever has faith in God and Jesus would be considered righteous by God and should receive salvation, including Gentiles.
- There were five parts of Paul's argument: the need for redemption, justification by faith, freedom, God's righteousness, and Christian behavior.
- Paul ends his arguments with personal witness and affirming his right to instruct the Romans.
- People have found guidelines for life in the letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, and the Ephesians.
- Paul was worried about the Galatians because they were being led astray by unidentify teachers.
- Paul argued that the followers were not under the law and were no longer slaves to the law but had been freed by the baptism of Jesus.
- The Philippi church was first founded in Europe by Paul.
- Unity within the church was emphasized.
- Women were looked down upon, had to dress modestly, and not allowed to teach or have authority over men.
Peter's Letters (c. 85 CE)
- First Peter reacted to the prosecutors and accepted suffering.
- The letter of First Peter is addressed to various churches in Asia Minor.
- Second Peter encouraged good conduct and identifies Jesus with God.
- Second Peter addressed a threatening heresy which had arisen because the anticipated Second Coming of Christ had not yet occurred.
- First Peter reacted to the prosecutors and accepted suffering.
- The letter of First Peter is addressed to various churches in Asia Minor.
- Second Peter encouraged good conduct and identifies Jesus with God.
- Second Peter addressed a threatening heresy which had arisen because the anticipated Second Coming of Christ had not yet occurred.
John's Letters (c. 100 CE)
- The First Epistle of John defined how Christians should recognize their teachers by their ethics, their proclamation in the flesh, and by their love.
- The letters were based on eye-witness accounts.
- Described how people should show love to the invisible God; people must be loyal, faithful, and follow God's orders.
- The First Epistle of John defined how Christians should recognize their teachers by their ethics, their proclamation in the flesh, and by their love.
- The letters were based on eye-witness accounts.
- Described how people should show love to the invisible God; people must be loyal, faithful, and follow God's orders.
Revelation
Crisis and Persecution
- Christians were prosecuted through the Roman Empire, because they didn't worship the Roman gods. Because of the persecution, Revelations was written symbolically to hide the true meaning from the Romans, but they had to write them down to keep the traditions.
- The first few letters were written by John. He saw seven lamp stands, which symbolizes a divine pattern of events including the Seven Days of Creation.
- Christians were prosecuted through the Roman Empire, because they didn't worship the Roman gods. Because of the persecution, Revelations was written symbolically to hide the true meaning from the Romans, but they had to write them down to keep the traditions.
- The first few letters were written by John. He saw seven lamp stands, which symbolizes a divine pattern of events including the Seven Days of Creation.
A Great Battle
- There are four different ways to interpret the Book of Revelations: Past history, symbolic history, continuous history, and future history. The most common interpretation is a combination of the first two.
- Symbols in the Book of Revelations is rich in imagery; it utilizes colors, numbers and images.
- John had a vision of heaven; he saw the throne room of God, a scroll closed with seven seals. He also had many other visions.
- Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first rode a white horse, which symbolized war. The second rode a red horse, which symbolized bloodshed. The third rode a black horse, which symbolized famine. The fourth rode a green horse, which symbolized death.
- There are four different ways to interpret the Book of Revelations: Past history, symbolic history, continuous history, and future history. The most common interpretation is a combination of the first two.
- Symbols in the Book of Revelations is rich in imagery; it utilizes colors, numbers and images.
- John had a vision of heaven; he saw the throne room of God, a scroll closed with seven seals. He also had many other visions.
- Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first rode a white horse, which symbolized war. The second rode a red horse, which symbolized bloodshed. The third rode a black horse, which symbolized famine. The fourth rode a green horse, which symbolized death.
A New Jerusalem
- John prophesied an apocalyptic destruction of the Earth, then a new heaven and a new Earth known as New Jerusalem, a divine city.
- The New Jerusalem is symbolized as a bride to show the close direct relationship between God and His people; sacrifices are not needed to mediate between God and humans.
- John had three visions of the New Jerusalem: the first was as a wall, the second was as an enormous square city, and the third was as a garden.
- The last chapters echo important themes from the New Testament and the Hebrew Scriptures. New creation is similar to Genesis. There will be a new creation and a new Israel, as the New Jerusalem is the same as the New Israel.
- John prophesied an apocalyptic destruction of the Earth, then a new heaven and a new Earth known as New Jerusalem, a divine city.
- The New Jerusalem is symbolized as a bride to show the close direct relationship between God and His people; sacrifices are not needed to mediate between God and humans.
- John had three visions of the New Jerusalem: the first was as a wall, the second was as an enormous square city, and the third was as a garden.
- The last chapters echo important themes from the New Testament and the Hebrew Scriptures. New creation is similar to Genesis. There will be a new creation and a new Israel, as the New Jerusalem is the same as the New Israel.