1. Organization of New Testament
27 Books in New Testament
Remember!
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 and revealing God.

2. Vocabulary
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.

3. Four Gospels
Gospels are heart of scripture because it is the history of Jesus Christ
Gospel = “good news”
Apostle = “one who is sent” / “messenger”

4. Synoptic Gospels - Synoptic = similar view points
syn = same (i.e. synonym)
optics = having to do with sight (optometrist)
Matthew, Mark Luke are synoptic gospels
John –focus on Christ’s divinity

5. Development of Gospels: 3 stages
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

6. Symbols of Evangelists
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
Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:6-8

8. Teambuilding Tuesday (Name) and (Name) Went to (place)
Each take out a sheet of paper.
Write a story together.
After each line fold what you wrote and pass it along.
(Name) and (Name)
Went to (place)
Where they (action)
Finally (conclusion)

9. 1 Story 4 Tellings Watch Video
Imagine you have to relay what you just saw to someone else BUT you have to do it in 1 of 4 ways:
#1 Verbally summarize
#2 Draw
#3 Written description
#4 Charade

10. Matthew 1st 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

11. Mark 2nd gospel; 16 chapters Year: 65-70 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

12. Luke 3rd gospel Year: 70-85 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

13. John “beloved disciple” Year: 90-100 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
John’s Gospel fills in details left out of the other Gospels.
The family relationship of the Trinity is revealed most completely in John

14. Acts of the Apostles 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

15. The Epistles
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

16. Epistles: St. Paul
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

17. Revelation 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.