The New Testament
Introduction Crash Course of Inspired Authors and Setting
27 Books (and letters)
 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
 1 History of the Early Church (Acts)
 21 Epistles (Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians,
1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1&2
Peter, 1-3 John, Jude)
 1 Prophetic Writing (Revelation)
Matthew
 Author
 Matthew (aka. Levi), apostle
 Tax collector = wealthy and outcast
 Date
 45
 Setting
 Written to Jews with reference to OT fulfillment
 Stresses inclusion of Gentiles
 First
Mark
 Author
 Mark (aka. John Mark), not apostle
 Cousin of Barnabas
 Date
 64
 Setting
 Written to suffering Christians to instruct and encourage
Luke
 Author
 Luke, not apostle
 Doctor
 Converted by and accompanied Paul
 Date
 58-60
 Setting
 Written to Gentile Christians
 Researched
John
 Author
 John, apostle
 Date
 80’s
 Setting
 Written to Christians to combat early heresy
 Includes details left out by others
 Last
Acts
 Author
 Luke
 Doctor
 Converted by and accompanied Paul
 Date
 61-64
 Setting
 Commissioned
 Church history closely connected with Gospel of Luke
Romans
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 Mid 50’s
 Setting
 End of 3rd missionary journey from Corinth
 To teach Christian doctrine to the Christians in Rome
1 Corinthians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 Mid 50’s
 Setting
 Middle of 3rd missionary journey from Ephesus
 Addresses questions and rumors of misconduct
 Perhaps not Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 Mid 50’s
 Setting
 Middle of 3rd missionary journey from Macedonia
 Response to good and bad news report after first letter
Galatians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 52
 Setting
 Between 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys
 Addresses controversy of Gentile Christians
Ephesians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 62
 Setting
 Captivity letter
 Closely tied to Colossians
 Unity in Christ
Philippians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 63
 Setting
 Captivity letter
 Ultimately a thank you letter
Colossians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 62
 Setting
 Captivity letter
 Closely tied to Ephesians
 Refutes heresy threatening the Colossian church
1 Thessalonians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 50
 Setting




During 2nd missionary journey from Corinth
To thank and encourage
Stresses the power of God’s Word
Teaches about Judgment Day
2 Thessalonians
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 51
 Setting
 During 2nd missionary journey from Corinth
 Teaches about Judgment Day
 Corrects misunderstandings
1 Timothy
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 65
 Setting
 Pastoral epistle
 Timothy was raised in the faith
 Instructions on church and ministry
2 Timothy
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 68
 Setting
 Pastoral epistle
 Timothy was raised in the faith
Titus
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 68
 Setting
 Pastoral epistle
 Titus was not raised in the faith
Philemon
 Author
 Paul
 Date
 62
 Setting
 Captivity letter
 Specifically addressed to the owner or a runaway slave
Hebrews
 Author
 Unknown (Paul, Apollos, Barnabas, Luke, a woman, ?)
 Date
 64
 Setting
 Written to Jewish Christians to address Judaizers
 Christology
James
 Author
 James
 Relative of Jesus (brother or cousin)
 Led Jerusalem church with Peter
 Date
 50
 Setting
 Sanctification
 Luther had a hard time with James
1 Peter
 Author
 Peter
 Led Jerusalem church with James
 Date
 67
 Setting
 Written to scattered believers not being reached
2 Peter
 Author
 Peter
 Led Jerusalem church with James
 Date
 68
 Setting
 Warns against false teachers
 Peter’s swan song
1-3 John
 Author
 John
 Date
 85-95
 Setting
 Christian ethics/love
 Continues to address heresies addressed in Gospel
Jude
 Author
 Jude
 Relative of Jesus (brother or cousin)
 Date
 68
 Setting
 Live a life that defends doctrine (defend truth, avoid sin,
watch out for false teachers)
Revelation
 Author
 John
 Date
 100
 Setting
 Apocalyptic literature
 In exile on Patmos
 Comfort the faithful, warn those who are not
Keep a view of the context
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because
your faith is being reported all over the world. (Romans 1:8)
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you
in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way
– in all your speaking and in all your knowledge. (1 Cor. 1:4-5)
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord
Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving
thanks for you. (Ephesians 1:15-16)
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers
for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
(Philippians 1:3-5).
Keep a view of the context
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift
to make you strong. (Romans 1:11)
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no
divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in
mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and
revelation so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6)
Keep a view of the context
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through
the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by
his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of
eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7)
Keep a view of the context
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through
the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by
his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of
eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you
to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in
God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what
is good. These things are excellent and profitable for
everyone. (Titus 3:5-8)
Keep a view of the context
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your
stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I
preached to you.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he
was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he
appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to
more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared
to me.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called
an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of
God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-10)