Notes
Slide Show
Outline
1
Books of the New Testament
  • Howard Culbertson
  • Southern Nazarene University
2
Matthew
  • Link between Old and New Testaments
  • Jesus is the true Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies
  • A Jew writing to fellow Jews
  •  Systematic use of Jesus’ sermons
  • Key chapters:  5-7 – Sermon on the Mount
3
Mark
  • The gospel of action (emphasizes works more than words)
  • Writing to Romans
  • Starts with John the Baptist
  • Short and rugged gospel
4
Luke
  • Written for Theophilus, a Roman official
  • Christ is savior of every person, not Jews only
  • Reflects doctor's heart
  • Great joy
  • Gospel of prayer


5
John
  • Written to everyone
  • Established deity of Christ
  • Not so much on what Jesus did as what kind of person He was
  • Great themes: light, life, love, truth, the Father-Son relationship
  • John 17 -- High Priestly prayer
6
Gospel comparison
  • Matthew is longest; Mark is shortest
  • Only Matthew and Luke tell of Jesus' birth and childhood
7
Gospel comparison
  • Geography of ministry:
    • Matthew and Mark:  Galilean ministry
    • Luke:  ministry in Perea
    • John:  ministry in Judea
8
Acts
  • Church history (acts of some of the Apostle – primarily Peter and Paul)
  • Paul’s 3 missionary journeys
  • Key chapters
    • Acts 2 – Day of Pentecost
    • Acts 15 -- pivotal decision
9
Romans
  • Righteousness of God and salvation through faith
  • Established Paul's credentials with church he had never visited
    • missionary fund-raising letter
  • Luther / Wesley
10
1 Corinthians
  • Serious problems and disorder in a divided church
  • Immorality
  • Order in services  13:1; 14:33
  • Key chapter: 1 Corinthians 13 -- love chapter
11
2 Corinthians
  • Paul defends his ministry as an Apostle and as founder of Corinthian church, profound concern for young Christians  4:5
  • 5:20-21
12
Galatians
  • Settle the debate:  Must one submit to Jewish law, including circumcision, to become a Christian? (5:1)


13
Ephesians
  • A prison epistle
  • The grandeur of the Church
    • Body of Christ 1:23, 4:16
    • Temple of God 2:20-22
    • Bride of Christ 5:23-32
14
Philippians
  • A prison epistle.
  • Beware of legalism
  • Live joyfully in Christ in the midst of adverse circumstances
15
Colossians
  • Prison epistle
  • Against Gnosticism (superior knowledge)
    • Believed in a ladder of deities
    • Asceticism (isolation from the world and all luxury)
  • The deity and all-sufficiency of Christ


16
1 and 2 Thessalonians
  • Eschatology,
    • Last things
    • Christ’s Second Coming
17
1 Timothy
  • Care of the church at Ephesus
  • Emphasizes godliness in a minister of Gospel
  • Beliefs and feelings about Church administration  4:12
18
2 Timothy
  • Paul's final letter
  • His dying shout of triumph
  • Tells Timothy to stand by his faith and to live by high convictions
  • “Last words from death row”
19
Titus
  • Warns against counterfeit Christians
  • Qualifications for church leaders
  • Concerning churches at Crete
20
Philemon
  • Letter from prison
  • On behalf of a runaway slave, Onesimus
21
Hebrews
  • Written to persecuted Christian Jews tempted to deny their faith
  • Better: The superiority of Christ and faith in Him
  • Key chapter: Hebrews 11 -- Faith chapter
22
James
  • 1:27  Good works and pure religion
  • The necessity of a living faith
  • Exposes subtle sins
    • pride, gossip, aloofness, materialism and practical atheism
  • Proving your faith by your works


23
1 Peter
  • The Christian attitude or frame of mind in the midst of suffering
  • Emphasis on holiness
24
2 Peter
  • Affirms Second Coming
  • Cries out against evils of heresy and teachers of error
  • A prediction of apostasy
25
1 John
  • A letter written from Ephesus
  • If we are His, we will love one another and live righteously
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2 John
  • Denounces false and heretical teachers
  • Walking in truth and love
27
3 John
  • Vast difference between good and bad behavior
  • Emphases:
    • Prayer
    • Faithful work in the Church
    • Christian integrity
  • Hospitality toward itinerant ministers, v 11


28
Jude
  • The faith once for all delivered to the saints
  • A great doxology
  • Immoral character of heretics


29
Revelation
  • The grand finale
  • Visions about the future
  • Ultimate triumph of Christ and the New Heaven and New Earth