====== New Testament ======

| **Resources** |
| {{:new_testament_survey_2nd_edition_geoff_sunstrom_1994_.pdf|New Testament Survey, 2nd Edition (Geoff Sunstrom, 1994)}} |

The New Testament is the second major division of the Bible, written in the decades following the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It bears authoritative witness to the fulfilment of God’s promises in the Old Testament, centred upon the person and work of Jesus, the Messiah ([[Luke 24]]:44–47 and [[Hebrews 1]]:1–3). It records His incarnation, ministry, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension, as well as the formation and growth of the early church empowered by the Holy Spirit.

At its heart, the New Testament proclaims the good news (<autott>greek:2098|εὐαγγέλιον</autott>) that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (<autott>john_3:16|John 3:16</autott>). It calls all people to repentance and faith, offering the sure hope of forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ (<autott>acts_2:38|Acts 2:38</autott> and [[Romans 10]]:<autott>romans_10:9|9</autott>–<autott>romans_10:10|10</autott>).

===== Books of the New Testament =====

The New Testament is composed of 27 books, traditionally grouped into four categories:

  * The Gospels
  * The Acts of the Apostles
  * The Epistles (letters)
  * The Book of Revelation

==== The Gospels ====

The Gospels are the narratives that recount the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The term gospel means “good news” and refers to the announcement of God’s saving reign in Christ. There are 4 narratives:
  * [[Matthew]] – Written primarily for a Jewish audience, emphasising Jesus as the promised Messiah and fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy ([[Matthew 1]]:<autott>matthew_1:22|22</autott>–<autott>matthew_1:23|23</autott> and <autott>matthew_5:7|5:17</autott>)
  * [[Mark]] – The shortest and earliest Gospel, marked by urgency and action, portraying Jesus as the Son of God who came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (<autott>mark_10:45|Mark 10:45</autott>).
  * [[Luke]] – A carefully ordered account addressed to Theophilus, highlighting Jesus’ compassion for the poor and outcast ([[Luke 4]]:<autott>luke_4:18|18</autott>–<autott>luke_4:19|19</autott>)
  * [[John]] – Distinct from the other three (which are together known as the synoptic) gospels, focusing on the divine identity of Jesus and His mission so that readers “may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” (<autott>john_20:31|John 20:31</autott>)

==== The Acts of the Apostles ====

Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel ([[Acts 1]]:<autott>acts_1:1|1</autott>–<autott>acts_1:2|2</autott>), Acts traces the story of the early followers of Christ as the gospel spread from Jerusalem towards Rome, fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission in <autott>acts_1:8|Acts 1:8</autott> and <autott>matthew_28:19|Matthew 28:19</autott>. It can be viewed in three main movements:

  * Jerusalem (Acts 1–7) – The witness to the Jews, focusing on Peter’s ministry
  * Judea and Samaria (Acts 8–12) – The gospel beginning crossing ethnic boundaries
  * The ends of the earth (Acts 13–28) – Paul’s missionary journeys to the Gentiles and witness before rulers

While often called the “Acts of the Apostles,” it could equally be titled the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” as it highlights the Spirit’s role in empowering the church.

==== The Epistles ====

Epistles are letters written to individuals, churches, or groups of believers, providing instruction, encouragement, and correction. They are divided into:
  * Pauline Epistles – Written by the Apostle Paul to specific churches and include [[Romans]], [[1 Corinthians]], [[2 Corinthians]], [[Galatians]], [[Ephesians]], [[Colossians]], [[1 Thessalonians]], [[2 Thessalonians]], [[1 Timothy]], [[2 Timothy]], [[Titus]] and [[Philemon]]
  * General Epistles – Written by other apostles or leaders and include [[Hebrews]], [[James]], [[1 Peter]], [[2 Peter]], [[1 John]], [[2 John]], [[3 John]], and [[Jude]])

The letters address theological truths (justification, sanctification, the return of Christ) and practical Christian living (unity, moral conduct, perseverance).

==== The Book of Revelation ====

Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy given to the Apostle John while exiled on the island of Patmos (<autott>revelation_1:9|Revelation 1:9</autott>). It reveals the ultimate victory of God over evil with symbolic visions that portray the final judgment, the return of Christ, and the creation of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21–22).

While Christians differ on the interpretation of some details (e.g., the Millennium of Revelation 20), the central message is clear: God’s kingdom will triumph, and His people will dwell with Him forever free from suffering.

===== The Jewish World During the Time of the New Testament =====

When the Old Testament narrative closed around 400 BC, the Jewish people were living under Persian rule, having returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt both the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. The next four centuries are often called the Inter-Testamental Period and during this time the Jewish world experienced significant political, cultural, and religious change.

In 333 BC, the conquests of Alexander the Great brought much of the known world under Greek control. This spread Greek language and culture (Hellenism) far beyond its homeland, and Koine Greek became the common tongue for trade, governance, and scholarship. This cultural shift also influenced Jewish religious life, and it was during this time that the Old Testament was translated into Greek, the text being known as the Septuagint or LXX. This was read widely, including by New Testament writers.

By the first century BC, the Roman Empire had risen to dominance, and in 63 BC the Roman general Pompey captured Jerusalem. Roman rule brought an extensive network of roads, increased trade, and political stability, but also heavy taxation and a foreign military presence. At the time of Jesus’ birth (likely between 6 and 4 BC), Herod the Great reigned as a client king under Rome, exercising considerable authority in Judea while maintaining loyalty to his imperial overlords.

Jewish society in this period was religiously vibrant yet socially divided. The population of Jews included those born in the land of Israel, commonly referred to as Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, as well as Jews living throughout the Roman Empire, known as the Diaspora. Hebraic Jews were those who retained the Hebrew and Aramaic languages and traditional customs. Hellenist Jews were those who adopted the Greek language and many aspects of Greek culture .

From a Jewish perspective, humanity was divided into Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles who were sympathetic to Jewish faith in Yahweh and worshipped him without full conversion to Judaism were called God-fearers. A small number of God-fearers became full converts, known as proselytes. Most Gentiles, however, remained pagan, continuing to follow the religions of their own nations, worshipping multiple gods.

This was the complex cultural and political world into which Jesus was born, ministered, and sent out His apostles. Understanding this background helps explain many tensions and encounters recorded in the New Testament.

===== New Testament Geography =====

The events described in the New Testament span a wide and varied geographical area, from the rural hills of Galilee to the centre of Jewish worship in Jerusalem to the imperial city of Rome. Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, wasn't called Israel at the time of Jesus but was divided into distinct regions:
  * Galilee in the north, known for its fertile land and mixed Jewish-Gentile population
  * Samaria in the central hill country, inhabited by the Samaritans, a people with a complex history and tense relationship with the Jews (<autott>john_4:9|John 4:9</autott>)
  * Judea in the south, where Jerusalem and the temple stood as the religious heart of Jewish life

The geography of these regions deeply shaped New Testament history. The road networks built by Rome enabled rapid travel, which later allowed the apostles to carry the gospel far beyond their homeland. Coastal cities such as Caesarea Maritima connected the region to the wider Mediterranean world, while inland routes through Syria and Asia Minor became the highways of Paul’s missionary journeys.

As the message of Christ spread, it moved beyond the land of Israel to major urban centres across the eastern Mediterranean including Antioch, Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus, before eventually reaching Rome itself, the political and cultural hub of the empire. These geographical realities were not incidental and were part of God’s providential preparation for the rapid spread of the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (<autot>acts_1:8|Acts 1:8</autott>).

===== Major Theological Themes =====

Several central theological themes run throughout the New Testament:

  * The Kingdom of God – Announced by Jesus as both “already” present (<autot>luke_17:21|Luke 17:21</autott>) and “not yet” fully realised ([[Matthew 25]]:31–34).
  * The Person and Work of Christ – Fully God and fully man (<autott>john_1:1|John 1:1</autott>, <autott>john_1:14|14</autott>), the promised Messiah who redeems through His death and resurrection ([[1 Corinthians 15]]:<autott>1_corinthians_15:3|3</autott>–<autott>1_corinthians_15:4|4</autott>).
  * Salvation by Grace through Faith – A gift of God, not earned by works ([[Ephesians 2]]:<autott>ephesians_2:8|8</autott>–<autott>ephesians_2:9|9</autott>)
  * The Role of the Holy Spirit – Empowering believers for witness and holy living (<autott>acts_1:8|Acts 1:8</autott> and [[Galatians 5]]:16–26)
  * The Mission of the Church – To make disciples of all nations ([[Matthew 28]]:18–20).
  * Hope of Christ’s Return – The hope that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead and renew creation (<autott>titus_2:13|Titus 2:13</autott> and [[Revelation 21]]:1–5).

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