Unit 9: Reading the Gospels within the Catholic Tradition

Section 2: Introduction to the New Testament

Introduction to the New Testament The Bible (The Christian Scriptures) –The Story of God’s actions in history and humanity’s response to God’s actions –The relationship between God and humanity is usually referred to as a Covenant (solemn agreement) Two Major Parts –The Old Testament (The Hebrew Scriptures) –The New Testament

Introduction to the New Testament The Old Testament (The Hebrew Scriptures) –The Story of God’s Original Covenant Relationship with the Chosen People of Israel The descendants of Abraham were originally called Hebrews, later Israelites, and finally the Jewish people The New Testament –The Story of God’s New Covenant Relationship with All People through Jesus

Introduction to the New Testament Salvation History –The Story of God’s actions in history and humanity’s response to God’s actions The Stories of the Jewish people included in the Old Testament The Stories of the Christian people included in the New Testament, Lives of the Saints, and other Histories The Creation of the World The 21st C. World of Today

Introduction to the New Testament The Bible (The Christian Scriptures) –Old Testament (The Hebrew Scriptures) 46 Books –New Testament – 27 Books Gospels [4 Books] –The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Acts [1 Book] –The Acts of the Apostles The Letters or Epistles [21 Books] –Pauline Epistles, Letter to the Hebrews, Catholic Epistles The Apocalypse [1 Book] –The Book of Revelation

Introduction to the New Testament The New Testament –Each book deals in some way with the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the impact he had on the early Christian community of the Church The four Gospels –Deal directly with the life, preaching, works, death, and resurrection of Jesus The other New Testament writings –Offer little information about the historical life of Jesus –Concentrate on the happenings within the early community of faith; the meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the individual believer; and various difficulties encountered by the first Christians as they moved out into the world

Introduction to the New Testament The Bible should be considered a Truth- filled, Mythical Text –The authors were not interested in historical or scientific facts –They were interested in communicating the deeper meaning and the eternal or universal truths about the world and human nature –They help us to understand Who we are as humans How we relate to nature How we relate to the divine (GOD!!!)

Introduction to the New Testament The Biblical authors told Mythical Stories in order to "re-member" the past “Re-membering” – to make present again –It is not simply a memory exercise Reuniting mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually with people and events of the past To make the past “real” again in the present world –A process of becoming a member of the community in which these Biblical events happened

Introduction to the New Testament Consider how Storytelling (the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, especially his last days and hours) and the Symbols & Rituals (the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass, the Easter Vigil Liturgy) of the Cycle of Meaning enabled a Christian to become a “member” of “the Body of Christ” and “re- member” that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah

Introduction to the New Testament