New Testament Test 1

Inspiration of Scripture

• God-breathed

• The Holy Spirit guides and directs the writers so that they wrote the Word of God exactly how He wanted it to be recorded

Not a “Modern” View

It’s the view of the biblical authors themselves. The Lord spoke this (Jer 30:4) (Isa 8:11) (2 Pet 1:21)

Also, Peter quotes Psalms 69:25 and 109:8 in Acts

Canonization of the OT

• the process of RECOGNIZING the inherent authority of the OT scriptures

• collected and recognized no later than 150 b.c.

• The Septuagint (250-150 b.c.)

• by the time Jesus came, everyone was in agreement, and so was he!

Canonization of the NT

They had to meet some criteria

1. Apostolic

2. Widely received and recognized by Churches

3. Orthodox

Common Misconceptions

• created in the Council of Nicaea

• merely a human construct

• should’ve been settled immediately or quickly

Intertestamental Period

Definition of Gospel

euangelion→”good news”

refers to the good news about what God has done through Jesus

the four Gospels tell about that good news (gospel) in the form of a narrative

Eyewitness Testimony

The authors were very concerned with making sure that what they wrote was eyewitness testimony or very close to it, so that the authority and the impact that the books had on people were effective. (Practical) The eyewitnesses were starting to die by the time they started writing. (Evangelistic) They wanted people to believe that Jesus, who actually came as the savior. (Didactic) They wanted them to understand Jesus’ teachings and to practice them. (Geographical) They wanted to spread the gospel to spread geographically, and the best way to do that is through printed work.

Synoptic Gospels

• seeing together

• refers to the similarities between Matthew, Mark, and Luke

• they tell Jesus’ story from the ground up

  • John tells his story from Heaven down

Four Gospels

• having 4 gives us different perspectives

• historically, it’s remarkable

Life of Christ

• Pre-existence

  • Son of God, second person of the trinity

• Virgin Birth

• Childhood

  • born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth

• Public Ministry

  • beginning around 30 yo

  • 3 years long

  • ministry of teaching and miracles

• Atoning Death (crucified on Friday)

• Resurrection (raised on Sunday)

• Ascension

  • 40 days after resurrection

  • now at the right hand of the Father

  • serving as our advocate and High Priest

• Promises a second coming

Matthew

Author: Matthew (one of the 12, a tax collector, Galilean Jew- familiar with the OT)

Date: late 50s, early 60s

Structure: 1) the preparation (birth, baptism, ministry of John the Baptist, temptation) 2) Life and Ministry around Galilee 3) Toward Jerusalem

Themes: Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and the fulfillment of OT promises

Distinctive Features:

• First book in the NT bc its a bridge between Old and New Covenants

• Most Jewish of the Gospels

• Full of OT quotes

• Detailed Genealogy of Jesus

• Birth narrative

• Visit of the Magi

• Contains 5 blocks of teaching (Sermon on the Mount, Mission, Parables, Life in the Church, The Future)

• Sermon on the Mount

  • The Beattitudes

• Kingdom of “heaven”

• Jesus relives the history of Israel

• Parables

• Mention of “the Church”

• Ministry to and the mention of the Gentiles

• Emphasis on Judgement

• The Great Commission

Mark

Author: John Mark

Date: 50-60 AD *written first

Theme: identity of Jesus (Son of God, Messiah/Christ, Son of David, Son of Man), responses to Jesus (belief and unbelief), mission of Jesus (proclaim the kingdom of God, give his life as the ransom for sinners), Following Jesus and his disciples (and the hardships along with that), and Suffering (followers of Christ will suffer, his example proves this,) + some encouragement.

Structure: Two main movements 1) Jesus seems unstoppable 2) prediction of suffering, opposition, desertion, crowds turn on him, death, and resurrection (his turning point is Peter’s confession of who Jesus is.

Distinctive Features:

• shortest of the four

• earliest

• based on Peter’s eyewitness testimony

• less teaching, more action

• fast-paced “immediately”

• Jesus’ identity

• “Messianic Secret”

• the longer ending

Luke

Author: Luke (a physician, Gentile, traveling companion of Paul, also wrote Acts

Date: late 60s

Structure: Geographical to Jerusalem

Themes: Salvation, views of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Prayer, Joy

Distinctive Features:

• God’s identity with humanity

• Songs (the Magnificat and the Benedictus)

• Inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles

• Inclusion of Women

• Inclusion of Children

• Inclusion of the disenfranchised or overlooked of society

• person-centered parables

• amazement or astonishment

John

Author: John (one of the sons of thunder), “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” also author 1,2,3 John and Revelation

Date: AD 70-100

Purpose: So that people will believe that Jesus is the Christ, so that you may have life. (20:30-31)

Themes: the person of Jesus Christ, accepting or rejecting Jesus, belief in Jesus results in the gift of eternal life, The Holy Spirit, the unity and witness of Jesus’ followers, THEOLOGICAL

Distinctive Features: the seven “I AM” sayings, the seven signs/miracles, no parables, contrasts, clearest articulation of the doctrine of the Trinity, Jesus as the fulfillment of revered figures from the OT

Selected Material Found Only in John:

• The pre-existence of Jesus

• The presentation of Jesus as the divine Word (Logos)

• turning water into wine

• conversation with Nicodemus

• the Samaritan Woman

• the “I AM” sayings

• resurrection of Lazarus

• washing of the disciples’ feet

• Jesus’ high priestly prayer

• re-instating of Peter

Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Books of the NT

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation