Chapter 17: The New Testament
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
ANTICIPATORY SET
If there was no New Testament,
What familiar Old Testament stories would become tragedies?
What Old Testament promises would be unfulfilled?
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
BASIC QUESTIONS
What is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
How are the Old Testament and the New similarly organized?
Where is the New Law found?
KEY IDEAS
The New Testament does not replace the Old but fulfills it.
The New Testament is organized like the Old Testament: law, history,
wisdom, and prophecy.
The Gospels are the New Law; each tells the same story from a different
point of view; the first three are similar and called synoptic; all four reveal
who Christ is and what he did.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
GUIDED EXERCISE
A focused reading of Jeremiah’s prophecy (31:31-34) based on the
following question:
What essential feature of the New Covenant did Jeremiah foresee?
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What is the essential relationship between the Old and New
Testaments?
The New Testament does not replace but fulfills the Old.
What would the Old Testament be without the New Testament?
It would be a collection of tragic stories and unfulfilled promises.
What is the Old Testament in light of the New?
It is the story of the gradual unfolding of God’s plan of salvation, which
reaches its climax in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What is an Evangelist?
Literally, messenger of good news; an Evangelist is the Sacred Author of one of the
Gospels.
Extension: The word comes from the Latin evangelium, meaning good tidings.
What does synoptic mean?
Synoptic is from the Greek for see together. The Gospels of Sts. Matthew, Mark, and
Luke all view Christ from a similar perspective.
Why are the synoptic Gospels so similar?
Scholars speculate Sts. Matthew and Luke may have used St. Mark’s Gospel as a
source and they may have had an additional collection of Christ’s sayings.
What does each Gospel reveal?
Each tells us who Christ is and what he did and said.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
GUIDED EXERCISE
The Catechism, no. 1964 (p. 306), is an important but difficult statement
about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
Complete a paragraph shrink to understand its meaning.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER
Four Types of Books in Each Testament
Old Testament
Description
New Testament
Law
Complete the
table to compare
the four types of
books in each
Testament.
History
Wisdom
Prophesy
Description
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
Law
Four Types of Books in Each Testament
Old Testament
Description
New Testament
Five Books of
The giving of the Four Gospels.
Moses.
Old Law and the
founding of
Israel.
History
The Histories,
beginning with
Joshua.
The history of
Israel from the
death of Moses
on.
Wisdom
The Wisdom
books, beginning
with Job.
The Major and
Minor Prophets.
Poetry and stories The Epistles.
on how to live
wisely.
They speak the
The Revelation
truth to Israel,
of John.
warn of coming
disaster, and
make promises
for the future.
Prophesy
Acts of the
Apostles.
Description
The giving of the
New Law and
the founding of
the Church,
which is the new
Israel.
The history of
the Church from
the ascension of
Christ, the new
Moses.
Letters of advice
to members of
the early Church.
Messages for the
Church in
symbols and
images often
recalling the
Prophets.
Promises a New
Jerusalem.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
CLOSURE
Using the Graphic Organizer above, write a well-organized paragraph
comparing the two Covenants.
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Study Questions 1-5 (p. 317)
Workbook Questions 1-4
Read “The New Law: The Four Gospels” through “John” (pp. 307-311)
1. The Organization of the New Testament (pp. 306-307)
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
To help understand the parallels among the synoptic Gospels:
 read the Parable of the Sower in each synoptic Gospel (Mk 4:1–20,
Mt 13:1–23; Lk 8:1–15); and
write a paragraph explaining how the parable is the same in each Gospel,
as well as the differences.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
ANTICIPATORY SET
Read the prologue to St. Luke’s Gospel (1:1-4).
The name Theophilus, the person St. Luke addresses, means lover of God.
In a literal sense, St. Luke likely addressed his Gospel to a person of this
name; in a spiritual sense, he addressed it to anyone who loves God.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
BASIC QUESTION
What are the basic features of the Gospels of Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John?
KEY IDEAS
1. St. Matthew, writing to Jewish Christians, showed Christ is the heir to
David’s kingdom.
2. Drawing on his close relationship with St. Peter, St. Mark wrote his
Gospel for Roman Christians to show Christ is the leader of a New
Exodus.
3. St. Luke may have benefited from knowing the Mother of Christ
when composing his Gospel for Gentile Christians.
4. The Gospel of St. John was written for Jewish Christians and
emphasized Christ is the incarnate Word of God.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Who was the Sacred Author of St. Matthew’s Gospel?
This Gospel was written by the Apostle St. Matthew, also called Levi, who was a tax
collector before having been called by Christ.
Who was St. Matthew’s primary audience, and how did he write for them?
His Gospel was written primarily for Christians who had been Jews; therefore, he
showed how Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
St. Matthew often quotes extensively from Christ, letting him “speak for himself.”
What is the primary example of this?
The Sermon on the Mount comprises three chapters of Christ’s words without any
interruption from St. Matthew as the narrator.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What was the relationship between Sts. Peter and Mark?
Sts. Peter and Mark had a kind of father-son relationship. St. Mark followed St.
Peter to Rome to assist him.
Who comprised St. Mark’s primary audience?
He probably wrote to Gentile Christians in Rome.
What scholarly theory underlies St. Mark’s composition?
Some scholars think it is the earliest written. Some also think Sts. Matthew and
Luke used his as a source for their own Gospels.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What seems to have been St. Mark’s main interest?
St. Mark emphasized what Christ did rather than what he said.
Why did St. Mark include the unique incident of the naked young man in
his Gospel?
Most scholars believe it is a reference to St. Mark himself, which would give him
eyewitness credibility to those events.
Why is it relatively easy to read St. Mark in one sitting?
It is the shortest Gospel and reads quickly.
Extension: A number of actors have memorized this Gospel and perform it in
one-man shows.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
With which Apostle was St. Luke closely associated?
He traveled with St. Paul, who called him the beloved physician.
What is known about St. Luke as a writer?
He was well educated and had mastered the literary techniques of the best writers
of the day.
Extension: The prologue to his Gospel is an example of his skill.
Who was St. Luke’s primary audience, and how did he write for them?
He wrote for Christians who had been Gentiles, so he emphasized Christ’s ministry
to all peoples.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
How did St. Luke get information about the early years of Christ’s life?
He likely received it directly from the B. V. Mary, his Mother.
What did St. Luke reveal about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life of prayer?
She reflected on her experiences with Christ, “ponder[ing] them in her heart.”
According to the Catechism, no. 2600, what did St. Luke reveal about Christ’s
life of prayer?
He prayed before every major event of his mission.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Complete the following table about probable reasons St. Luke
wrote his Gospel.
Why Luke Wrote his Gospel
To Provide an Orderly Account
Unique Information
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
Why Luke Wrote his Gospel
To Provide an Orderly Account
Unique Information
Luke may have thought the other narrat ives Only Luke had information on the
were not written in the best order. He also
Annunciation, Jesus in the manger, the visit
made sure each story had its proper
of the shepherds, and Jesus at the Temple
historical setting.
when he was 12.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Who wrote the Gospel of St. John?
The Apostle Christ loved, St. John, wrote it.
When was St. John’s Gospel written?
He lived to an advanced age; it was written about AD 90-95.
Why may St. John’s Gospel have been written for Jewish
Christians?
His Gospel has allusions to events in the Old Testament and symbols
Jewish readers would have understood.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Complete the following table on the audience and aim of each
Evangelist.
Author
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Audience and Aims of the Gospels
Audience
Aim
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
Author
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Audience and Aims of the Gospels
Audience
Aim
Jewish
How Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophes ies.
Christians
Gentile
To show Jesus leads the new Israel in a new
Christians in
Exodus.
Rome
Gentile
Show Jesus’ ministry to all nations.
Christians
Jewish
Jesus Christ is truly God incarnate.
Christians
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
CLOSURE
Use the Graphic Organizer above to write a well-organized paragraph about
the Evangelists’ aims.
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Study Questions 6–16 (p. 317)
Practical Exercise 1 (p. 317)
Workbook Questions 5–24
Read “History: The Acts of the Apostles” through “Prophecy: The
Revelation” (pp. 312-314)
2. The Gospels (pp. 307-311)
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
Show a clip from a filmed life of Christ, perhaps from the Sermon on the
Mount, especially if this passage was used to compare the synoptic
Gospels.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
ANTICIPATORY SET
Read the prologue to the Acts of the Apostles (1:1-5), and then discuss the
following question:
How is the prologue of the Acts of the Apostles similar to the prologue to
St. Luke’s Gospel?
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
BASIC QUESTIONS
What is the Acts of the Apostles?
What is the purpose of the Epistles?
What is the message of the Book of Revelation?
KEY IDEAS
St. Luke followed his Gospel with the Acts of the Apostles, an
extraordinarily accurate history of the primitive Church, some of which he
witnessed firsthand.
The Epistles—the wisdom literature of the New Testament—addressed
problems the primitive Church faced by those living holy lives in a secular
environment.
The Book of Revelation promises the final fulfillment of the New
Covenant.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Why did St. Luke write the Acts of the Apostles?
It is a sequel to his Gospel.
What have archaeologists and historians confirmed about the Acts of
the Apostles?
Every detail of St. Luke’s narrative that can be verified has turned out to be
exactly correct. This shows him to be an extraordinarily careful historian.
Why does the narration in the Acts of the Apostles switch from they
to we?
The shift in pronoun indicates St. Luke began to travel with the Apostles.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Who wrote most of the Epistles?
St. Paul wrote most of them.
Who was St. Paul?
He was an intelligent, educated Roman citizen, Jewish by birth, who had a thorough
education in the Scriptures and Greek philosophy.
How are the Epistles of St. Paul arranged?
They are arranged generally from longest to shortest, not chronologically.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What is the purpose of the Epistle to Philemon?
St. Paul wrote to ask a convert, Philemon, to receive his runaway slave, Onesimos, as
a brother Christian.
What is the importance of the Epistle to the Hebrews?
It shows how the Old Testament was fulfilled in the life of Christ.
What are the Catholic Epistles?
They are letters written to the whole Church rather than to a particular church or
person.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
GUIDED EXERCISE
A think / pair / share using the following question:
What is the overall purpose of the Epistles?
GUIDED EXERCISE
A paragraph shrink on the paragraph “The Revelation, traditionally...” (p. 314).
GUIDED EXERCISE
A focused reading of Revelation 21:1-8 using the following question:
In this vision of the climax of history, what is the promise and the warning?
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
CLOSURE
Write a paragraph about the purpose of the Acts of the Apostles, the
Epistles, and Revelation.
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Study Questions 17-21 (p. 317)
Practical Exercises 2-3 (p. 317)
Workbook Questions 25-31
3. History, Wisdom, and Prophecy (pp. 312-314)
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
Read the excerpt from St. Jerome Against Jovinian (p. 315) and then
identify the four Evangelists’ symbols in the illustrations on pages 314316.
The End