LESSON 1

THE STORY BEHIND THE NEW TESTAMENT

Introduction:
  • In these lessons we will be focusing attention on the story behind the New Testament.
  • Another way of saying this is we want to learn the theology of the New Testament, or simply learn what the New Testament is all about.
  • We will note that the theology of the New Testament can be summarized in two words; Jesus Christ.
  • We will devote thirteen weeks to examining sections of the New Testament in a manner that will focus on the overall teaching of the New Testament.
  • This lesson includes several texts. Read them to the class, especially the ones from Hebrews. On the remainder of the texts select those that indicate the theology of the New Testament, namely, Jesus Christ.
    •   Remember, the NT is a collection of books that tell the story of Jesus Christ and his impact on people and the church.
  • Remember also, you only have 30/40 minutes to complete this lesson! Start on time and keep on time.  Keep focused!
     
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    The New Testament:
  • We have in our bibles two testaments; the Old Testament and the New Testament.
  • The word "Testament" actually means "Covenant"!
  • The two testaments represent covenants that God has made with man.
  • These are not covenants that man has made with God, but covenants that Gad has made with man!
  • God makes the covenant and man agrees to keep the covenant!
  • The Old Testament covers covenants that God made through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses (Gen 17:1-4; Ex 20, 24:1-8).
  • The New Testament represents a covenant that God made through Jesus Christ.
  • The word covenant derives from the Greek diaqhkh – diatheke – which can be translated either testament or covenant.
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  • In Heb 8:13-13 the writer to the Hebrews speaks of God having made a "new covenant" which superseded the "old covenant" that he had made "with their fathers" through Abraham.
  • This "new covenant" in Hebrews focuses on Jesus Christ who is better than the Abraham, Moses, and the "old covenant".
  • The New Covenant (or Testament) is a covenant of grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
  • Notice that Heb 9:15-22 speaks about this new covenant which was secured by Jesus’ blood.
  • In Heb 9:17 the writer speaks of a will (RSV, NIV) – the Greek word for will here is diatheke, the same as for covenant and testament.
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    The story or meaning of the New Covenant or the New Testament is the theology of the New Testament, and this is The Story of Jesus and his impact on people and the church!
     

         The Makeup of the New Testament:
    • Our New Testament is made up of 27 "books" or documents.
      Your first assignment is to memorize the names of these 27 books!
      (Run through them in class!)

    • These 27 books are grouped into 4 different categories of kinds (genre) of literature:
      • Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
    • The first three we call the Synoptic Gospels because they are very much alike, and in fact draw on similar materials.
    • John follows a different account of the ministry of Jesus.
    • The Gospels tell us the good news or good story of salvation, that is, the story of Jesus.
    • The primary focus of the Gospels is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
    • The remainder of the Gospels explain why the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is so important – he is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, through whom God seals his covenant.
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    • A Book of Theological History – the Book of Acts.
    • Acts explains how the church carried out the ministry of Jesus and the New Covenant.
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    • 21 Epistles or Letters to the Church and individual Christians – Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, & Jude.
    • The first 13 are by the Apostle Paul and are called the Pauline Epistles.
    • The other 8 are by the Apostle Peter, an unknown writer of Hebrews, James the brother of the Lord, the Apostle John, and Jude (possibly the brother of Jesus)
    • These letters relate to church pastoral (care) issues in Local Congregations which the Apostles and apostolic men address.
    • We will examine these "pastoral" letters as we progress through the lessons.
    • Each of these letters brings the church or disciples back to Jesus as the center of their faith. For example:
    • Rom 3:21,22; 5:1; 8:1
    • 1 Cor 2:2
    • Gal 3:25-29
    • Phil 3:8-11
    • Col 1:227-29
    • Heb 1:1-4
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    • The Book of Revelation – A fascinating series of letters to Seven Churches in Asia (modern day Turkey) encouraging them to keep their faith in Jesus, without compromise.

      • The message of Revelation is universal and applicable to all ages.
    • Rev 12:10, 11.
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    Summary:
    • The major point in this brief survey is to explain the content of the New Testament as a collection of writings whose message is primarily about Jesus Christ.
    • The New Testament is not a collection of writings about the church.
    • Neither is the theology of the New Testament the theology or story about the church – it is about Jesus Christ, and consequently His impact on people and the church.
    • Each of the books of the New Testament develops the story of Jesus Christ and explains how this story should impact the lives of all of his disciples, even ours today.