New Testament final
Genres of the New Testament:
Gospels (4): Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
History (1): Acts.
Paul’s Letters (13): Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
General Letters (8): Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude.
Apocalyptic (1): Revelation.
Prominent Groups of the NT:
Primarily made up of priests: Sadducees.
Legalists, who believed in an afterlife: Pharisees.
Lawyers, studied Scripture for interpretation: Scribes.
Qumran desert dwellers responsible for Dead Sea Scrolls: Essenes.
Half-breed Jews that others avoided: Samaritans.
Foreign occupying force at the time: Romans.
Descendants of Esau of which Herod was one: Edomites.
Revolutionaries often known to start riots: Zealots.
Jewish ruling council at the time of Jesus: Sanhedrin.
Greek-speaking Jews: Hellenists.
Aramaic-speaking Jews: Hebrews.
Cultural Features of the Time:
Roman currency vs. Jewish currency: Roman currency included denarii, while Jewish currency used shekels and temple coins.
What languages were spoken: Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.
How were homes built: Made of stone or mud-brick with flat roofs; upper rooms were often used for guests.
What was the diet like: Bread, fish, olives, fruits (figs, dates), wine, vegetables, and occasional meat.
What was sanitation like: Primitive, with communal wells and public baths. Waste was disposed of in pits outside city walls.
What is a synagogue: A Jewish house of worship and community center for teaching and prayer.
What is an honor and shame culture: Social status depended on adherence to group norms; public shaming or honoring reinforced societal roles.
What philosophies existed at this time: Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, Platonism, and Judaism.
Life of Christ Elements to Review:
Birth and upbringing events and patterns: Born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth; visited by shepherds and magi; presented in the Temple.
The Temptation in the wilderness: Satan tempted Jesus three times, but He resisted using Scripture.
Jesus as Teacher:
Sermon on the Mount: Key teachings on the Beatitudes and Kingdom ethics.
Encounter with Samaritan woman: Conversation about living water (John 4).
Nicodemus: Teaching about being born again (John 3).
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: A warning about ignoring the needy (Luke 16).
Kingdom parables: Include the Parable of the Sower, the Mustard Seed, etc.
Jesus as Prophet:
Healing the blind man (John 9).
Driving out "Legion" of demons into pigs (Mark 5).
Healing the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5).
Transfiguration: Revealed His glory (Matthew 17).
Jesus as Priest:
Feeding the 5,000: Miraculous provision (John 6).
Olivet Discourse: Final teachings before His crucifixion (John 13–17).
Jesus as King:
Triumphal entry: Welcomed as King into Jerusalem.
Roman triumph parallel to crucifixion: Mocked with a crown of thorns.
Resurrection: Proved His divinity and defeated death.
Great Commission: Command to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20).
Early Church Elements to Review:
Pentecost: Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering the disciples (Acts 2).
Early church practices: Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, communal living (Acts 2:42-47).
Acts 1:8 fulfillment: The Gospel spread to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Handling disagreements: Distribution of food led to appointing deacons (Acts 6); Gentile inclusion was resolved at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).
Paul’s missionary strategy: Preached first in synagogues, then to Gentiles; established churches, revisited them, and wrote letters.
Epistles Elements to Review:
Review doctrinal issues: Include justification by faith, sanctification, unity, resurrection.
Essentials vs. preferences: Essentials like salvation by faith vs. preferences like food laws.
Where to find:
Fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23.
Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-18.
Love chapter: 1 Corinthians 13.
Faith chapter: Hebrews 11.
Melchizedek: Hebrews 7.
Major issues in the epistles: Division in Corinth, legalism in Galatia, second coming in Thessalonica, unity in Ephesus, and practical Christianity in James.
Revelation Elements to Review:
Layout of the book: Letters to seven churches, visions of heaven, seals, trumpets, bowls, and New Jerusalem.
Four views of apocalyptic literature: Futurist, Preterist, Historicist, Idealist.
Myths associated with the book: Speculation about dates of the end times, misidentification of symbols like "666."
Characters:
Known as The Rock: Peter (Matthew 16:18).
Encountered Jesus while heading to Damascus: Paul (Acts 9).
First martyr of the faith: Stephen (Acts 7).
Told about everything she ever did: Samaritan woman (John 4).
Disciple whom Jesus loved: John.
Disciple that was likely a twin: Thomas (name means “twin”).
Disciple who betrayed Jesus: Judas Iscariot.
Resembled Elijah: John the Baptist.
Descended from the Edomites: Herod the Great.
Married to Herod’s household manager: Joanna (Luke 8:3).
Had 7 demons driven out from her: Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2).
Met Jesus at night: Nicodemus (John 3).
Mother of James and John: Salome.
Was king of Salem and priest of God: Melchizedek (Genesis 14, Hebrews 7).
Invited Peter to speak at his house: Cornelius (Acts 10).
Was very busy when Jesus visited: Martha (Luke 10:38-42).
A chief tax collector and small man: Zacchaeus (Luke 19).
Disciple who formerly collected taxes: Matthew (also called Levi).
A doctor by profession: Luke (Colossians 4:14).
Paul’s protégé: Timothy (1 & 2 Timothy).
Once a useless slave: Onesimus (Philemon).