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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Matthew 1st gospel; longest with 28 chapters Audience: Jewish Christians Year: 70-85 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.