NEW TESTAMENT OVERVIEW

-Introduction

-2 Tim 2:15

-We know that we should study the scriptures but sometimes we don’t know how to

         go about it.

            -Sometimes the scriptures seem intimidating and overwhelming to a person.

            -What should I study?  Where should I start?  How do I go about it?

-Yes, the scriptures teach us that we should grow in knowledge.

            -1 Tim 2:3-4, 1 Pet 2:2, Heb 5:12

-So, let’s consider a brief, broad overview of the New Testament scriptures this evening.

            -With an overall, broad knowledge as a foundation it is easier to build upon.

-Gospels

-The word Gospel simply means “good news”.  Therefore, the Gospel accounts are the good news

  of Jesus.

-There are not four Gospels.  Instead there are four accounts of the one Gospel.

            -Matthew – written primarily for a Jewish audience – many references to O.T.

  prophecies

            -Mark – written primarily for a Gentile (maybe specifically to Romans) audience

  Jewish words and customs are explained.

            -Luke – written for a Gentile audience – Jewish customs are explained.

            -John – seems to be a supplement to what the other three wrote – includes things that

                                     the others omitted

-Matthew and John – apostles, Mark and Luke – companions of the apostles

-Main theme:  Jesus is the Son of God  (For example:  Mark 1:1, John 20:30-31)

            -The Gospel accounts show that Jesus fulfilled the O.T. scriptures. (Luke 24:44)

            -The Gospel accounts show the power of Jesus through His miraculous works.

            -We are told of His perfect life, His teachings and His sacrifice upon the cross.

            -Emphasis is placed on the week leading up to and including the crucifixion.

-Acts

-In this book we find the establishment and early history of the church.

-We find many examples of conversions.

-There is an emphasis on the preaching of the word.

-The first chapters of Acts focus on Peter (1-12) and the remainder of the book focuses

  on Paul (13-28).

-Patterns of church organization and worship are established as is the necessary response

  to the plan of salvation.

-The Epistles:  The word epistle simply means letters.  Some of the letters are written for

  specific occasions.  Some are more general in purpose.  Some are written to individuals

  while some are written to congregations.  Some are primarily for commendation and

  encouragement while others are more for correction and warning.

-Romans

-There are some wonderful themes throughout the book of Romans:  the Gospel, faith,

  grace, justification, redemption, etc.  However, this letter involves some more difficult

  passages – the meat of the word.

-Paul tells us that:

-The Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom 1:16).

-We all need the Gospel because we have all sinned (Chpts 1-3).

-We are saved through faith and not works of the Law (Chpts 3-5).

            -God has provided the means for us to be saved, both Jew & Gentile (Chpts 5-11)

-He exhorts and gives practical applications (Chpts 12-15) and then concludes with

  personal references and a salutation (Rom 15-16).

-1 Corinthians

-Paul wrote this letter because of some situations in the church at Corinth.

-It seems that Chapters 1-6 are a response to a report from the house of Chloe (1:11).

-Chapters 7-16 seem to be a response to a letter that the Corinthians sent to Paul.

-Paul addressed and instructed regarding divisions, fornication, marriage, meats offered

  to idols, Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, worship, love, resurrection, collection…

-2 Corinthians

-Paul defends his apostleship.  It seems there were those who were trying to discredit Paul.

-Paul tells of what He had suffered for Christ and the good of the Gospel. (2 Cor 11:23-27)

-He shows genuine concern for the Christians.

-Chapter 7 addresses worldly sorrow vs godly sorrow.  The Corinthians responded to

  Paul’s first letter with godly sorrow and repented.

-Chapters 10-13 – sharply rebukes false teachers

-Galatians

-Paul deals with those who were still trying to bind the things of the Law.

-Gal 1:6-7

-Chapter 2 – the incident with Peter and Paul

-Justification by faith and not the works of the Law – 2:16, 3:25-29

-Chpt 4 – Jesus delivered the Jews from the Law.

-Contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit – chpt 5

-Ephesians

-Paul focuses on unity within the church between Jews and Gentiles.

-In so doing He focuses on the church – the body of Christ – with Jesus as head.

-Paul reveals God’s plan (chpt 1), God’s saving grace (chpt 2), the unsearchable riches of

  Christ, unity (chpt 3), oneness within the church (chpt 4) family responsibilities (chpt 5),

  the armour of God (chpt 6).

-The book of Ephesians should give one a greater appreciation of the church.

-Philippians

-This is a letter of rejoicing even though it talks of suffering for Christ.

-Phil 2:5-8 – humility and servitude

-warnings against false teachers – chpt 3

-proper attitude – chpt 4

-Colossians

-This letter deals with a false doctrine that some had brought to Colosse. 

-This letter shows the preeminence and overall authority of Jesus (chpts 1&2)

-Beware of false teachers  (2:8)

-Chpts 3&4 – Christian purpose and conduct.

-1 Thessalonians

-Letter of commendation to the Christians amidst persecutions at Thessalonica. (1:5-6)

-They had received the truth of God’s word (2:13) and Paul urges them to stand fast (3:8).

-He also corrects some misunderstanding regarding the resurrection (chpts 4&5) and

  reminds them of some of their Christian duties (chpt 6).

-2 Thessalonians

-Their faith had grown during tribulations (1:3).

-Paul instructs them regarding the second coming of Christ (chpt 2).

-He expresses his confidence in them and instructs them to rebuke those in error (chpt 3).

-1 Timothy

-Paul is giving instructions and encouragement to Timothy and warning him of false

  teachers (chpt 1)

-chpt 2 – proper conduct for Christian men and women

-chpt 3 - qualifications of elders and deacons  

-chpt 4 – false teachers

-chpt 5 – Paul instructs Timothy about how to interact and deal with others.

-chpt 6 – dangers of materialism – the love of money

-2 Timothy

-chpt 1 – Paul’s love and encouragement for Timothy.

-chpt 2 – Paul urges Timothy to continue to labor for the good of the Gospel.

-chpt 3 – warnings of wickedness to come – Timothy told to continue on

-chpt 4 – “Preach the word” – Paul wanted Timothy to come to him.

-Titus

-chpt 1 – qualifications of elders

-chpts 2&3 – the things Titus was to teach – 2:1,15

-Philemon

-This is a personal letter to Philemon in regards to his runaway slave, Onesimus.

-Paul is returning Onesimus to Philemon and urges Philemon to willfully show love

  forgiveness and acceptance.

-Hebrews

-The book of Hebrews shows the superiority of Jesus and the Gospel over Moses and the

  Law.

-chpts 1&2 – Jesus revealed the truths of/from God.

-chpt 3 – Jesus is superior to Moses.

-chpt 4 – the power of the word

-chpt 5-8 - priesthood of Jesus (with exhortations to remain faithful & trust in God - chpt 6)

            -The law was temporary.  Jesus established a new and better convenant

-chpt 9-10 – the cleansing blood of Christ

            -10:1  - The law was “a shadow of good things to come…”.

            -Chpt 10 indicates the importance of remaining faithful and the dangers of falling away.

-chpt 11 – role call of the heroes of faith

-chpt 12-13 – exhortations to faithfulness and Christian living – (12:28)

-James

-This has been referred to as a book of practical Monday-Saturday religion.

-James gives a variety of practical instructions throughout the book. 

-Chpt 2 emphasizes the importance of putting our faith into action and chpt 3 warns of the

  dangers of the tongue.

-1 Peter

-This is a letter of encouragement to Christians suffering persecution.

-chpt 1 – hope of a heavenly inheritance to those who persevere

-chpt 2 – desire to grow spiritually (2:2) and follow in the steps of Christ (2:21-25)

-chpts 3&4 – instructions for Christian living

-chpt 5 – elders exhorted and all warned of the adversary whom we are to resist (5:8-9)

-2 Peter

-chpt 1 – Christian growth (includes the Christian graces – vs 5-7)

-chpt 2 – warnings about false teachers

-chpts 3 – judgment to come – exhortation to remain steadfast (3:17-18)

-1 John

-chpt 1 – fellowship with God through the cleansing blood of Christ

-chpt 2 – Jesus is our advocate.  Love not the world.

-chpt 3 – God’s love for us in allowing us to be His children - Our love toward one another.

-chpt 4 – warnings of false doctrine – Christian love

-chpt 5 – Our love toward God in obeying His commandments (5:3),

   Christian confidence (5:13)

-2 John

-Christian love

-Warnings of associating with those who teach falsely.

-3 John

-Christian joy for Gaius, rebuke toward Diotrephes and a good report for Demetrius.

-Jude

-Warnings against false teachers – (vs 3-4)

-Revelation

-This is a letter written to the seven churches of Asia (vs 4). It deals with those things that

  “must shortly come to pass” (vs 1) for them “for the time is at hand”. 

-Chpts 2-3 record the evaluations of the seven congregations of Asia.

-This book is written with much symbolism and figurative language.  Many who teach false

  doctrines try to support their teachings with this book (for example:  premillenialism).

-Even though its passages are difficult due to the symbolism, the overall message is a

  simple one:  God and his people win.

-Notice how the book ends:

            -vs 17 – an invitation

            -vs 18-19 – a warning – don’t add to or take away from

            -vs 20 – a reminder – Jesus will come again.

Date:  January 15, 2006