 27 Books in New Testament  Classified same as books of OT 1. Law  4 gospels – teach New Law 2. History  Acts of the Apostles – early Church history 3. Wisdom  Epistles – tell how to live as Christians 4. Prophecy  Revelation – symbols & images reminding us of OT

 Evangelist – One who works actively to spread the Christian faith  Disciple - follower of Jesus Christ  Gospel – The “good news” of God’s mercy and love revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

 Gospels are heart of scripture because it is the history of Jesus Christ  Gospel = “good news”  Apostle = “one who is sent” / “messenger”  Synoptic – Matthew, Mark, Luke - Synoptic = similar view points  Gospel of John –focus on Christ’s divinity

1. Jesus  His life and teachings - apostles didn’t fully understand Jesus’ preaching until on earth for 40 days after resurrection and Pentecost 2. Apostolic preaching - taught others after taught by Jesus and inspired by Holy Spirit at Pentecost 3. Writing the Gospels - Jesus never commanded apostles to write anything down

1. Matthew – Man - begins genealogy of Christ according to humanity 2. Mark – Lion - image/voice crying our in wilderness (John Baptist) 3. Luke – Ox - animal of sacrifice; emphasis of worship/prayer 4. John – Eagle - divinity to humanity

 1 st gospel; longest with 28 chapters  Audience: Jewish Christians  Year: AD  Written by Matthew/called Levi; tax collector  Originally written in Hebrew/Aramaic  5 major sections in Matthew  Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the true heir of David’s kingdom

 2 nd gospel; 16 chapters  Year: AD  Audience: Roman Christians  Emphasizes Jesus as leader of a new exodus  Emphasizes JC’s healings, teachings, miracles  Peter was Mark’s primary source  Not apostle, but encountered Christ in life  Upper room was Mark’s house where Last Supper took place

 3 rd gospel  Year: AD  Audience: Gentiles  “Book of Mary”  wrote Acts of the Apostles  Blessed Virgin Mary was main source  Emphasizes universality of salvation  Luke includes details of JC’s conception and birth  Luke was a gentile, painter, doctor, well educated, and scholars think he was converted by St. Paul’s preaching and traveled with St. Paul

 “beloved disciple”  Year: AD  Audience: Jewish Christians; filled with allusions to Old Testament events and symbols that only Jewish readers would understand  Emphasizes Christ as Word of God Incarnate  The family relationship of the Trinity is revealed most completely in John

 Author = Luke wrote as a sequel to his gospel  Luke was a historian and gives reliable information  He was an eyewitness to many events described in his writings  He switches from “they” to “we” indicating he was traveling with the apostles Example: Chapter 16

 Epistle = a letter written to individuals, whole congregations, or the whole Church  usually addressed specific problems  Majority of epistles are written by St. Paul  St. Paul: converted from persecutor, intelligent, educated Roman citizen, Jewish by birth, good background in Scriptures and trends in pagan philosophy which enabled successful evangelization to gentiles

 Paul’s letters in NT range from longest to shortest to various churches he established: - Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians  Letters written to individuals: - 1 & 2 Timothy, - Titus, Philemon

 Hebrews: author unknown, most likely a disciple of St. Paul, shows how OT is fulfilled in life of Jesus  James: tells Christians to be doers of the world, and not merely hearers”; gives advice for Christians living together  1 Peter: helps Christians live faith in hostile world  2 Peter: warns against false teachers and reminds us of promised return of Christ  1-3 John: warn against false spirits and teachers to lead Church astray, 1 st duty as Christians is to love  Jude: warns against false teachers, and against those who would divide the Church

 Most likely written by evangelist John  Speaks in symbols  Various interpretations  Main message: regardless of tribulations to come, God will preserve all his people and bring them to heaven  Important images: Lamb of God, Wedding Feast, New Jerusalem.