Nature of the New Testament

The New Testament contains twenty-seven books, most or all of which were written in the first century. It is possible that one or two were written in the first few years of the second century, but these may have been based on documents already in existence.

Nearly a third of the books in the New Testament were written by Paul or his close associates. He died and was probably martyred for his faith somewhere around 65 AD. Paul’s writings, not the four biographical narratives of the life of Jesus (Gospels), contain the earliest records we have of what Christians believed.

Paul, a close contemporary of Jesus, had been a zealous Pharisee, intent on persecuting adherents of the new way. He seems to have spent about a decade trying to make sense of his experience en route to Damascus, during which the risen Christ appeared and asked Paul why he was persecuting him, by which he meant the church. No doubt Paul

Four Gospels

The first four books of the New Testament are called Gospels, which means good news, report, or narrative. Three of the four—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are deemed synoptic, indicating that their authors share a common perspective and often report the same events.

Mark, the shortest of the three and likely the first written, is principally but not exclusively addressed to Christians throughout the Roman Empire. As the earliest of the four Gospels, it is immensely important as a historical source. Many biblical scholars believe that both Matthew and Luke used Mark as the initial framework for their narratives, adding additional events and details. Probably relying on the teachings of Peter, it stands as the foundational statement of the Gospel narratives.

Matthew’s Gospel is addressed to Jewish Christians, either in general or to a specific community, perhaps in Syria. Its key message is that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises contained in the Old Testament, remained loyal to the Jewish Torah (law, teachings), was its definitive interpreter, and initially came to the Jews. It highlights the continuity between the old and the new.

The Gospel of Luke makes clear that Jesus announces, and through his death initiates, the kingdom of God. This opens up salvation to everyone in other words, rescue from rebellion against God (sin) and consequent death. Luke, a traveling companion of Paul, presents Jesus as the focal point of God operating in history to bring about salvation. His Gospel is the first of a two-part document, addressed to non-Jewish (Gentile) Christians throughout the Empire.

John, the fourth Gospel, contains material not found in the synoptics, and unlike them, there is no ambiguity about the divinity of Jesus or his role in creation. It is the most theologically developed of the four. It is addressed to Christians in Asia Minor and possibly throughout the Roman world. John makes explicit what is implicit in the other three Gospels, the true significance of Jesus as God’s embodiment in the flesh who brings salvation to those who accept and believe in him.

History of the Early Church

Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book in the New Testament, described the history of the early church and centers initial on Peter and after this on Paul. It contains many overt references to God’s Spirit at work. The last book in the New Testament, Apocalypse or Revelation, reports what its author reports seeing at the ultimate destiny of humanity and is filled with rich poetic imagery.

The Rest of the New Testament

Between Acts and Revelation, the New Testament contains a theological essay (Romans), a document that may originally have been a sermon (Hebrews), the many epistles (letters) of Paul and his associates, and writings by others, such as James, Peter, John and a short one from Jude. These documents are arranged in the New Testament from longest to shortest, mirrored in the descriptions below. They were probably circulated widely.

Synopsis of the Gospel Message

Written to Christians living in Rome, the book of Romans addresses the human condition of often wanting to do the right thing but failing, both themselves and others, including their creator. It emphasizes that rescue is provided for both Jews and Gentiles through the grace of God in Christ. Romans is a comprehensive, carefully reasoned, and powerful presentation of the Christian faith.

Letters from Paul

Widely recognized as one of the principal letters of Paul, in I Corinthians he addresses problems that have arisen in the church at Corinth, a highly cosmopolitan city, and answers questions its members have raised. Its subject matter includes most famously the nature and supremacy of love, physical resurrection after death, the difference between human and divine wisdom, and base moral practices.

There seems to have been at least two other letters from Paul to the church at Corinth, but the only other remaining one is what appears in modern Bibles as II Corinthians. It contains expressions of Paul’s relief or the positive changes that have occurred in the attitudes of Christians, for which he is thankful. The letter also includes his appreciation for their personal loyalty to him and his teachings.

The next four books are called prison epistles because they were presumably written or at least dictated which Paul was incarcerated. Paul wrote Galatians in response to a major controversy within churches located in the central region of what is now Turkey. In this letter, he emphasizes that salvation depends on God’s grace, appropriated by faith centered on the death of Christ, rather than on keeping the Mosaic law, a temporary measure between God’s promise to Abraham and the coming of Christ.

Ephesians, addressed to Christians living in Ephesus on the western coast of Asia Minor, is a masterpiece, and some rank it even above Romans as the most fully developed statement of Paul’s theology. The first three chapters present the significance of Christ as head of the church, and the last three demonstrate how this it to be lived out. Paul highlights how the emergence of the Christian church, Christ’s body, was God’s purpose all along.

The book of Philippians resounds with joy, and few would have guessed that it was written by a person in prison and perhaps facing execution. Philippi was a major Greek city in the northeast, and Paul writes with gratitude to Christians in the church there, which he appears to have founded. It is a letter of encouragement in which Paul encourages Christians, regardless of whatever pain and hardship life brings them, to rejoice.

Written to Christians in the church at Colossae, a thriving city in Turkey, Colossians is the last of the prison epistles. It is sometimes called a christological hymn because it emphasizes the cosmic significance of Christ and salvation of the Christian. Paul insists that without a correct view of Christ, it is impossible to appreciate the grand arc of history or fully understand the nature of goodness. His purpose is to counter anti-Christian influences.

I Thessalonians was the first of two letters Paul or a close associate wrote to Christians in the church at Thessalonica in Greece. In it he encourages them and expresses thankfulness for their faithfulness. He also encourages their purity of conduct (holiness), writes about those who die “in Christ,” and points to Christ’s return. In his second letter, II Thessalonians, Paul adds additional material and corrects misunderstandings about the future, and encourages them to work.

The next four books in the New Testament are the only ones addressed to individuals’ although they were probably widely circulated. Three, I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus, are called pastoral epistles and are addressed to Paul’s junior co-workers. They contain instructions about the qualifications of leaders within the church, encourages them to guard the message of the gospel against dilution or distortion, and emphasizes the importance of appropriate behavior. Philemon is a short and personal letter, asking Philemon to receive back a runaway slave as a brother in Christ rather than a slave.

Sermon

Hebrews is unique and it is likely that, before it was written down, it was a sermon, which it seems to resemble. Paul is not mentioned in the book, so exactly who wrote it remains uncertain. Nor is there anything in Hebrews that clearly indicates it was even written to Jews, although it appears to be addressed to Jewish Christians in Rome. Like Galatians, it cautions against compromising the good news (gospel) by lapsing back into observance of Jewish practices rather than relying on faith in Christ for salvation. Its theme is that Jesus is the final and supreme revelation of God, and that his atoning sacrifice is the fulfillment of promises in the Old Testament and therefore

Letter from James

This letter is to less well organized that most of the other books in the New Testament. It is not clear to whom it is specifically addressed. The book of James resembles Jewish wisdom literature in the Old Testament, and based on the teachings of Jesus, its purpose is to promote and encourage holy (righteous) living. James insists that no Christian should distort the gospel by treating it as a license. Because Christians are forgiven and reconciled to God through Christ is does not mean they are free to do whatever they please.

Letters from Peter

Written by Peter or a close associate, I Peter has been described as a theological feast because of the richness of its intellectual content. It is addressed to Gentile Christians scattered throughout eastern Turkey. Against the backdrop of ongoing persecution, it stresses how Christians have a new identity in Christ and are part of a new family because of their membership based on this identity. The concepts of new birth and new life in Christ are central to the book. II Peter may in part be based on Jude (see below) or perhaps show an awareness of its content. It appears to contain Peter’s final instruction and warnings.

Letters from John

There is a close connection between I John and the Gospel of John. They are similar in the specific ideas they contain and even use a lot of the same language. I John presupposes that readers are familiar with and have accepted what is recorded in that Gospel. It appears to have been written to several churches and seems intended to combat Gnostics (those claiming to have secret knowledge) who deny that Jesus was God in the flesh. II John addresses a similar problem, while III John applauds their treatment of Christian strangers and their adherence to truth.

Jude

This letter, written either to Jewish Christians or churches comprising both Jewish and gentile Christians, the location of these communities remains a mystery. Similar to Hebrews, Jude appears to be a sermon in the form of a letter. Its purpose is to warn against those who have made their way into the church and adversely influence the beliefs and behavior of those already in it.

Apocalypse (Revelation)

The last book in the New Testament is the Apocalypse or Revelation. It has been misused by poorly educated and naive religionists who claim to know in detail how it corresponds to human history, and in this way they resemble Gnostics (see above). Its first words identify it as the “revelation from Christ” given to him by God, and then communicated to John (almost certainly not the author of the Gospel of John). Addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor, it accentuates how God is ultimately in control and will bring about the divine purposes. Evil will be vanquished and there will be a new heaven and earth. Using these and other grand metaphors, the book is an astonishing finale to the Bible and describes the completion and fulfillment of salvation history.