Writings Part 1

1 st Century Christian Writings The New Testament 50 – 100 A.D. Collection of Christian History, Letters and Literature (in Greek) The term NT wasn’t used until the 2 nd Century A.D.

A. Influences on the Writings 1 st Century Christian Writings

The Hebrew “Scriptures” The term “Old Testament” didn’t come until the 2 nd Century

1 st Century Christian Writings The Septuagint “LXX” From 200 B.C. Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures

1 st Century Christian Writings The Septuagint“LXX” Predominant version of Hebrew Scriptures in 1 st Century A.D. 80% of OT quotes found in NT are from the LXX

“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” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

1 st Century Christian Writings The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 200 B.C – 200 A.D Non-canonical books

1 st Century Christian Writings Greco-Roman Literary Culture Distinct from Jewish oral tradition

1 st Century Christian Writings Greco-Roman Literary Culture Rhetoric (Persuasion)

1 st Century Christian Writings Greco-Roman Writing Methods Letters (Epistles) *The Prominent Media of the day

B. Motivations for the Writings 1 st Century Christian Writings

Motivations for the Writings To share the account of the Life and Ministry of Jesus (Luke 1)

1 st Century Christian Writings Motivations for the Writings To call people to faith in Jesus as Messiah (John 20:30-31)

1 st Century Christian Writings Motivations for the Writings To encourage leaders and congregations ( Ephesians 1:15-16)

1 st Century Christian Writings Motivations for the Writings To speak against heresy (Galatians 1:6-7)

1 st Century Christian Writings Motivations for the Writings To greet loved ones (Romans 16)

C. Tools for Writing 1 st Century Christian Writings

Papyrus / Parchment (2 Timothy 4:13) Scrolls Amanuensis (Romans 16:22 Galatians 6:11)

Papyrus Plant Papyrus Sheet

D. Manuscripts and Preservation 1 st Century Christian Writings

Manuscript = handwritten copies of the writings Over 5,000 manuscripts of portions of the NT have been collected The oldest manuscript dates to 125 A.D. (No Originals)

Example of a Greek Manuscript on papyrus

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. NRS John 20:30