New Testament
THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament is a record of historical events, the ‘good news’ events of the saving life of the Lord Jesus Christ—His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the continuation of His work in the world.
Origin and Meaning of the Term “New Testament”
Our Bible is divided into two sections : * Old Testament * New Testament
The Greek word for “testament,” diaqhkh (Latin, testamentum), means “will, testament, or covenant.”
New Testament or Covenant (anticipated in Jeremiah 31:31 and instituted by the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 11:25), describes the new arrangement of God with men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation who will accept salvation on the basis of faith in Christ.
The old covenant revealed the holiness of God in the righteous standard of the law and promised a coming Redeemer; The new covenant shows the holiness of God in His righteous Son.
The New Testament, then, contains those writings that reveal the content of this new covenant.
The message of the New Testament centers on :
(1) the Person who gave Himself for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28) and
(2) the people (the church) who have received His salvation. Thus the central theme of the New Testament is salvation.
Composition and Arrangement of the New Testament
The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books written by nine different authors. Based on their literary characteristics, they are often classified into three major groups—
1. The historical (five books, the Gospels and Acts)
2. The epistolary (21 books, Romans through Jude)
3. The prophetical (one book, Revelation).
The Order of the Books of the New Testament
The order of the New Testament books is logical rather than chronological.
As Ryrie explains,
First come the Gospels, which record the life of Christ; then Acts, which gives the history of the spread of Christianity; then the letters, which show the development of the doctrines of the church along with its problems; and
The New Testament is a record of historical events, the ‘good news’ events of the saving life of the Lord Jesus Christ—His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the continuation of His work in the world.
Origin and Meaning of the Term “New Testament”
Our Bible is divided into two sections : * Old Testament * New Testament
The Greek word for “testament,” diaqhkh (Latin, testamentum), means “will, testament, or covenant.”
New Testament or Covenant (anticipated in Jeremiah 31:31 and instituted by the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 11:25), describes the new arrangement of God with men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation who will accept salvation on the basis of faith in Christ.
The old covenant revealed the holiness of God in the righteous standard of the law and promised a coming Redeemer; The new covenant shows the holiness of God in His righteous Son.
The New Testament, then, contains those writings that reveal the content of this new covenant.
The message of the New Testament centers on :
(1) the Person who gave Himself for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28) and
(2) the people (the church) who have received His salvation. Thus the central theme of the New Testament is salvation.
Composition and Arrangement of the New Testament
The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books written by nine different authors. Based on their literary characteristics, they are often classified into three major groups—
1. The historical (five books, the Gospels and Acts)
2. The epistolary (21 books, Romans through Jude)
3. The prophetical (one book, Revelation).
The Order of the Books of the New Testament
The order of the New Testament books is logical rather than chronological.
As Ryrie explains,
First come the Gospels, which record the life of Christ; then Acts, which gives the history of the spread of Christianity; then the letters, which show the development of the doctrines of the church along with its problems; and