Name ______Date______
New Testament Survey LESSON 1 WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT?
When we say that we are going to study the New Testament, what do we mean? Some will say that we are referring to the twenty-seven books which make up the last main division of the Bible. But that is just partly right. We ought also to know what “Testament” means, and what makes it “New.”
According to the Greek language the word testament is diatheke. It sometimes means “will” and thus involves the idea of a legacy or inheritance left behind by one who died. The Old Testament word is berith and means “covenant.” In the Greek translation of the Old Testament diatheke basically retains the meaning of covenant.
In the Old Testament a covenant is an agreement between two parties often ratified by the sacrifice of an animal. In respect to God’s covenant with man, all of the terms are stated by God and man is asked to enter those terms. Thus in the New Testament the covenant is from God, ratified by the blood of Jesus, and indeed made effective by Jesus. It is designed to deal righteously and justly with man’s sin and to provide a way of life for the individual. The “New” is explained by the writer to the Hebrews in these words: “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete;” (Hebrews 8:13 NIV.).
But the New Testament is made up of twenty-seven books. These may be classed under four headings:
1. The Biographical section = the four Gospels;
2. The Historical section = The Acts;
3. The Pedagogical or Teaching section = all of the Epistles; and
4. The Prophetic section = The Revelation.
Is there a central message in these books? The central message is Jesus Christ, concerning His Person and Work. But this too may be looked at in terms of the four basic headings: 1) in the Biographical section there is the manifestation of Christ; 2) in the Historical section there is the Propagation of Christ; 3) in the Pedagogical section there is the Interpretation and Application of Christ; and 4) in the Prophetic section there is the Consummation In Christ.
1. List all of the New Testament books under their proper fourfold division.
Gospels______
Historical______
Epistles ______
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Prophetic______
2. Who was the New Testament written for?
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3. Why was the New Testament written?
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4. Have you read all of the New Testament books? Approximately how many books have you read?
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5. Do you have a set period of time each day when you read the Bible?
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6. Do you pray that God will help you to understand what you read?
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Name ______Date______
LESSON 2 THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
When one reads a particular book it is often important to see that book in the light of its historical setting. This is true concerning the New Testament. Christianity came into a world prepared for it, prepared in three important areas.
First, the known world of that day was united under the banner of the Roman Empire with its supreme power belonging to the emperor. The first ruler was Augustus (27 B.C. to A.D. 14) who was able to bring peace and stability to the Empire. Vast highway systems were constructed, all fanning out from Rome; the nations were all united under one rule; and all citizens of the Empire were protected by the laws of Rome.
Please note the chart below as it plots the rulers of the Empire and those of Judea and Samaria in conjunction with the lives of Christ, Peter, Paul, and John.
Second. the Empire was unified in terms of Greek culture and Greek language. Many people were bilingual with one of the spoken languages being that of Greek. This fact facilitated the rapid spread of the Gospel.
Third, the religions of the day also prepared the people for the coming of Christ. Roman religion was too formal and ritualistic, and thus left the people bankrupt in terms of religious experience. The Mystery religions were experience-oriented, but far too radical; thus they tended to disappoint those seeking
experience. Spiritual bankruptcy was the result throughout the Empire. Jewish religion was monotheistic In theology, puritan in ethics, and looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Into this total religious picture Christ came.
1. Who was ruler of the Roman Empire when Christ was born?
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2. Who was ruler of Judea and Samaria at the time of Christ’s birth?
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3. Approximately what year was Christ born according to the chart above?
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4. Who was ruler of the Roman Empire at the time of Christ’s death?
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5. Was a king or procurator ruling in Judea and Samaria at the time of Christ’s death?
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6. What was the name of the individual?
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7. What three ways did the Jewish religion prepare people for the coming of Christ?
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8. Was the universal language of the Empire Latin, Hebrew, or Greek?
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9. What was the form of the Roman government at the time of Christ’s coming, a republic or an empire?
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10. According to the chart, what apostle outlived Christ and the other apostles?
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LESSON 3 A SUMMARY OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
The Gospel According to Matthew was written by one of the twelve apostles1 Matthew by name or Levi, as he was sometimes called. His call bu Jesus to be a disciple is described in Matthew 9:9. The work appears to have been written for Jewish readers, perhaps as a catechetical book designed to instruct new converts to the Christian religion concerning the substance of Christianity.
In terms of outline and content the Gospel may be divided into seven main parts. The first part is the Introduction (1:1-4:16) involving Christ’s genealogy, birth, childhood, baptism and temptation. The last part is the conclusion (chapters. 26-28) involving Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and a short epilogue containing the Great Commission. Between these two sections there are five main parts which may be divided into two parts: 1-narrative and then 2-discourse. It is these discourse sections which point to Matthew as a catechetical book. The five parts are these:
1) The Standards of the Kingdom (4:12-7:29);
2) Discipleship in the Kingdom (8:1-11:1);
3) The Importance of the Kingdom (11:2-13:52);
4) Admittance into the Kingdom (13:54-19:2); and
5) The Progress of the Kingdom (19:3-26:2).
A recurrent formula which comes at the end of each discourse section is “When Jesus had finished these sayings.”
The theme of this Gospel has to do with the King and His Kingdom. It is consistently followed throughout the book in three specific areas: 1) Christ’s teaching which shows His authority; 2) Christ’s miracles which show His power; and 3) Christ’s fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies which show His Divine appointment. It is Interesting to note that there are over sixty Old Testament quotations in this Gospel alone.
Though this Gospel was written initially for the Jewish reader, its application is universal. This is seen at the beginning of the work where a reference is made to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (4:16), and at the end of the work, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (28:19). The point is that Jesus is no Jewish king exclusively. Each individual has some force ruling in his life. On the one hand it is Satan in terms of sin and the human will, but this leads to disaster. Christ is the only one who can rightfully rule in our lives.
Assignment: Read the entire Gospel of Matthew In your private devotions during the week.
1. It is possible that Matthew’s Gospel was written in order to instruct new converts and thus it is called a
______book.
2. Under which of the five main headings is the Sermon on the Mount found?
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3. Under which of the five main headings Is the Olivet~Discourse found?
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4. Ten miracles are described under the heading, “Discipleship In the Kingdom’ (8:1-11:1). State what they are and give Scripture references.
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5. Matthew’s Gospel has a universal application. What two passages indicate this?
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6. What is the theme of the Gospel According to Matthew?
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Name ______Date ______
LESSON 4 SUMMARY OF MARK’S GOSPEL
The Gospel According to Mark was written by John Mark, not one of the twelve disciples, but a close and helpful friend of both Paul and Peter (II Tim. 4:11, 1 Peter 5:13). The work appears to have been written for Roman readers and has been called a “witness document” with the basic subject matter being the death and resurrection of Christ.
Verses 1 through 13 of chapter one of Mark is the Introduction. Following this the rest of the Gospel may be divided into three parts. Robert Gundry, in his book, A Survey of the New Testament, uses the following threefold division as to the main headings:
I. The Redemptive Activity of Jesus In and Around Galilee (1:14-9:50).
II. The Redemptive Activity of Jesus on the Way to Jerusalem through Transjordan and Judea (10:1-52).
III. The Redemptive Activity of Jesus During the Week of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection (11:1-16:8).
Note the use of the word “activity” in the outline. this concept Is Important in Mark. For example, the word euthus, often translated “immediately,” is used over forty times. At times, however, the word seems to be used only as a connective and thus could be left untranslated. The point is, one narrative picture passes before the reader after another in rapid succession. One writer suggests that Mark is like a snapshot album which is devoted to one person, Jesus Christ.
But Mark never presents a busy “man-about-town” kind of Jesus. The title to Mark’s Gospel tells us plainly who this Jesus is: “Here begins the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). The album then that we have of Jesus is as the Son of God In His redemptive activity. But yet, as we get into the narrative sections of Mark the phrase ‘Son of Man” is used fourteen times. Does this contradict the Son of God idea? The answer is no. The term is used rather as a corrective in order to show that the Messiah is both God and man, both Servant and Master. It is a term which incorporates both the idea of Deity and humanity and has its roots In Daniel 7:13.
Assignment: Read the Gospel According to Mark in your devotions during the week.
1. Describe John Mark’s relation to both Paul and Peter (Acts 13:4-13; 15:36- 41; II Tim. 4:11; I Peter 5:13).
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2. To whom was this Gospel initially written?
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3. Some have called Mark’s Gospel a “______document.”
4. What is the title verse to Mark’s Gospel?
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5. What kind of activity does Mark present concerning the life of Jesus?
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6. What word is used over forty times In Mark to give the idea of a rapid change of scenes?
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7. What part of the life of Jesus does Mark deal within greater detail: His ministry around Galilee, His Passion, or His ministry on the way to Jerusalem?
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LESSON 5 A SUMMARY OF LUKE’S GOSPEL
The Gospel According to Luke was written by Paul’s traveling companion and a physician by profession, Luke. It was written specifically with the Greek in mind and appeals to the Greek pursuit of the ideal man. Luke presents this ideal man in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Greeks thought of such a man as having a keen intellect and a well-formed body. Luke presents the ideal man as seen in Jesus, one committed to God and filled with His Spirit.
In attempting to evaluate this work we will consider it from the methodology of the writer. The basic source of information on this subject comes from a work entitled The New Testament Speaks.
First, Luke’s Gospel is primarily historical in style. He is a real historian, and as a historian he selects his material concerning the Christ which will best inform Theophilus concerning Christianity. Second, Luke’s writing is schematic and is thus worked out with a specific plan In the framework of epochs or facets of time. The first epoch is that of Israel (1:1-3:20) and tends to portray an Old Testament atmosphere with emphasis upon angels, the Temple, and even John the Baptist, a kind of Old Testament prophet. The second is the Epoch of Jesus which begins with verse 21 of chapter three and runs throughout the remainder of the book. There is a third epoch in Acts, the Epoch of the Church. These three epochs run the entire gamut of man’s existence from past to future. Third, Luke’s writing is literary in that he tends to follow a more classical style. Fourth, Luke’s method is Biblical. While Matthew uses the proof text method in his presentation of the life of Jesus, showing how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, Luke tends toward an exposition of a particular Old Testament text. The Old Testament quotation in Luke 4:18, 19 becomes a basis from which not only the life of Jesus is manifested In Luke’s Gospel but from which the ministry of the Church is manifested in Acts. Fifth, Luke’s method is pastoral. That is, he shows special concern for individuals in a pastoral way.
Assignment: Read the Gospel According to Luke in your devotions during the week.
1. What was Luke by profession?
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2. To what person did Luke address his Gospel?
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3. Was this Gospel written specifically for the Jewish, Roman, or Greek reader?
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