New Testament Introduction

Servants Preparation Course Fall 2013October 15, 2013

Why is the bible important?

• “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

• “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

• God is revealing Himself to man• His love for man• His purpose for man• His promises for man

• In the Old Testament, the word of God came by the Law and commandments but in the New Testament the word of God came in the flesh – the Lord Jesus Christ. Read John 1:1, 14

• “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” Hebrews 1:1-2

“The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.”

-St. Augustine

Structure of the NT

4 gospelsBook of Acts14 Epistles of St. Paul7 Catholic (universal) EpistlesBook of Revelation

27 books*

*First mentioned by St. Athanasius in his festal letter in 367AD

Mat the w

Mar k

Luk e

Joh n

Act s of the

Apo stle s

The Gospels and Acts

Rom

an s

I Co rin thia ns

II Corin thi ans

Gal atia ns

Eph esi ans

Phil ipp ian s

Col oss ians

I Th essa lon ians

II The ssal onia ns

I Ti mot hy

II T imo thy

Titu s

Phil emon

Heb rew

s

James

I Pe ter

II P eter

I Jo hn

II Jo hn

III J ohn

Jud e

Rev ela tion

The Pauline Epistles

The Catholic (Universal) Epistles

•Gospel means “good news” ( from the Greek word: Evangelion)

• The gospels tell the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. (Not a complete biography)• See John 21:25

• Why 4 gospels?

• Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the “synoptic” gospels

• synoptic = similar, harmonious

• Each begin with baptism of Christ, public ministry, teachings and miracles and end with passion, crucifixion and resurrection.

Gospel of MatthewSymbol = a man St. Matthew was one of the twelve

Written to: the Jews (most probably originally written in Aramaic)

58-70 AD

often used the phrase, “that which was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled…” (genealogies, feasts, etc)

Longest and most detailed account of Jesus’ teaching: Sermon on the mount

See Matthew 1:1-17

Gospel of MarkSymbol = a lion St. Mark was one of the seventy

Written to: the Romans

55-65 AD

Largest number of miracles

Suggested that Mark was the young man referred to in this gospel that fled the garden of Gethsemane naked after Christ’s arrest. This account is only mentioned in Mark’s gospel. (Mark 14:51-53)

Gospel of LukeSymbol = an ox

St. Luke was a gentile converted by St. Paul

Written to: the Gentiles

Mid 60’s AD

Longest of the 4 gospels

Only gospel with accounts of annunciation of Jesus and John the Baptist. Why??

Gospel of JohnSymbol = an eagle St. John was one of the twelve

Written to: ALL (spiritual and theological account of Christ’s ministry)

80-90AD

See John 1:1

Highlights: Most “theological” gospelI am’s of JesusMiracles not recorded in other gospels (wedding of Cana, Lazarus,)Jesus final speech (John 13-17)

The Acts of the Apostles• “Acts of the Holy Spirit”• Written by St. Luke• Compare Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1

• Acts 1-7: Beginning of the church• Acts 8-20: Expansion of the church• Acts 21-28: Trial and imprisonment of St.

Paul

The Acts of the Apostles

Significant events:• Ascension of the Lord• Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)• The punishment of Ananias and Sapphira• Choosing the 7 deacons• Martyrdom of Stephen and preaching of Philip• Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul)• God’s vision to Peter shows that God has broken down the wall

between Jew and Gentile• A council is convened in Jerusalem to discuss circumcision of Gentiles• Spreading of the Church• Trial and imprisonment of St. Paul

Epistles of St. Paul

• Written to specific churches or specific people (See Colossians 4:16)

• 14 Epistles (including Epistle to the Hebrews)

7 Catholic (universal) Epistles

James1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJude

Why important?

Epistle of James (Jacob)

Author: 3 possibilities1. James the son of Zebedee: (Matthew 10:2), one of the twelve

disciples and the brother of John the Evangelist. He cannot be the writer of the epistle because he was murdered by Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 A.D. (Acts 12:1) At that time, the Christian Churches were not established yet to allow that some of the disciples would send them epistles, and the dispersion had not taken place yet, nor the heresies appeared.

2. James the son of Alphaeus: (Matthew 10:3)3. James the brother of the Lord: (Galatians 1:19), that is, his

cousin. Most agree that he is the writer of the epistle.Timeframe: 55-60Theme/purpose: Harmony of faith and worksKey verses: James 2:17-19

1 Peter

Author: St. Peter the Apostle(1 Peter 1:1)Theme/Purpose: Hope (to encourage

believers in their persecution to live a holy life)

Timeframe: Written 63-67 (persecution of Nero 54-68)

Key verses: 1 Peter 1:3

2 Peter

Author: St. Peter the Apostle(2 Peter 1:1)Theme/Purpose: wanted to send his children his final commandments to tell them about the kingdom of heaven and the Second Coming of the Lord – beware of false teachers. (2 Peter 1:14)Timeframe: Written 63-67Key verses: 2 Peter 3:1-4

1,2, 3 John

Author: St. John the Beloved (the Apostle, the Theologian)Theme/Purpose: God’s love for us and our love for God in truth and actionTimeframe: Written 85-95Key verses: 1 John 3:18Key words: light, life, love, truth

Epistle of Jude

Author: Jude, brother of James who is “brother of the Lord” (Matt. 13:55, Mark 6:3)

Theme/Purpose: Judgment (addresses false teachers)

**very similar to 2 PeterTimeframe: Written 60-80Key verses: Jude 3

Book of Revelation (Apocalypse)

Author: St. John the Beloved (the Apostle) while in exile on island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9)

Theme/Purpose: Revelation of last days, Second Coming and Kingdom of Heaven

Timeframe: Written ~95-96Only prophetic book of the New Testament

Read Revelation 21:1-4

Remembering the NT• Epistles of Paul: Faith• Epistle of James: Works• Epistles of Peter: Hope• Epistles of John: Love• Epistle of Jude: Judgment• Revelation: Heaven

• Faith through works with hope and love save us from judgment and take us to Heaven.

Conclusion

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

“You Christians look after a document [Bible] containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.” -Mahatma Gandhi