a journey through the new testament cover spt

SPT

A Journey Through

The New Testament

“The Bible is not a collec6on of fragmented stories, it is a collec6on of stories weaved neatly together into one grand plot”

A Journey Through

the New Testament

Table of Contents

Introduc)on 2 ...........................................................................................................................................

The Intertestamental Period 3 .................................................................................................................

A Survey of the New Testament 3 .............................................................................................................

Historical Narra)ve (Mathew - Acts) 5 ......................................................................................................

The Life and Wri)ngs of Paul (Romans – Philemon) 10 .............................................................................

The General LeLers (Hebrews – Jude) 26 ...................................................................................................

Revela)on 34 ..............................................................................................................................................

Resources for Deeper Study 36 ...................................................................................................................

Course Survey 39 .......................................................................................................................................

1

Introduc2on

Our Goal

This class will provide an overview of the New Testament

We’ll be looking at the big picture, not the minute details

Many people understand how the Bible begins and ends, but don’t know much about what happens in the middle or how each book of the Bible fits into the larger story of Scripture

Our journey through the Bible will show how God operates in history from the beginning of Scripture to the end

Why Does This MaLer?

Knowing the big story of Scripture helps us understand and interpret the liLle stories of Scripture

The Bible is not a collec)on of fragmented stories, it is a collec)on of stories weaved into one grand plot

Think of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, not Aesop’s fables

How Did We Get the Bible in the first place?

“Canon” = measuring s)ck

We take this two ways

First, the Bible is the measuring s)ck by which we evaluate our lives

Second, each book that made it into the canon of Scripture had to pass certain standards

Who wrote it?

When did they write it?

Is it consistent with the rest of Scripture?

Today, we hold the Bible in the form of one book, but for most of history, people have had Scripture in the form of many volumes of books on scrolls

2

The Intertestamental Period

At the end of the Old Testament (400 B.C.), Persia is the current world superpower

Persia is later defeated by the Greek empire under Alexander the Great (think of Daniel’s vision of the ram and the goat)

Greek Empire – a )me of prosperity and culture

For the first )me, the na)ons in the region of Israel spoke in a common language

Gave rise to great philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates

Maccabean Revolt – a )me of temporary reprieve

Gains Israel’s independence and leads to a temporary peace: 166-63 B.C.

Judas Maccabeus led a revolt to regain control of Jerusalem and cleanse the temple, an event the Jews celebrate in the fes)val of Hanukkah

Roman Empire – a )me of military upheaval and unrest

Created the world’s first roadway system, crea)ng an unprecedented ease of travel

During this 400 year period, God is silent and no books of the Bible are wriLen

A Survey of the New Testament

How should we study the New Testament?

The literary dimension

The historical dimension

The theological dimension

What is the New Testament?

A collec)on of 27 books

WriLen by one divine author and approximately nine human authors

WriLen in koine Greek, the common language of the people

WriLen over a span of less than 100 years

3

Three key genres in New Testament literature

Historical narra)ve (The Gospels and Acts)

Epistles or leLers (Romans through Jude)

Revela)on, or apocalyp)c literature

The Timeline of the New Testament

The life of Christ begins between 4-6 B.C. at the earliest

The book of Revela)on is wriLen near the close of the first century

The )meliness of the New Testament – it came at…

The right )me theologically

The right )me religiously

The right )me culturally

The right )me poli)cally

4

Historical Narra2ve - the Gospels and Acts

A note on the Synop)c Gospels

MaLhew, Mark & Luke are ohen called the synop)c Gospels

The word “synop)c” literally means “together sight”

What we know – MaLhew, Mark, and Luke “see” the life and ministry of Christ in a very similar way

Many scholars consider Mark to be the first Gospel writer, and believe that MaLhew and Luke spun off of his Gospel

97% of Mark’s words are in MaLhew

88% of Mark’s words are in Luke

Think of it as three people giving tes)mony regarding the same events in a court of law. All three saw the same events in different ways and from different perspec)ves

John’s Gospel is a supplemental Gospel

MaBhew

Helpful context

WriLen by MaLhew, a Jewish tax collector

MaLhew = “Gih from God”

Consider this in light of Christ’s statements in MaLhew 5:43-47

Records Christ calling him to be a disciple in MaLhew 9:9-13

In the 70s-80s A.D., soon aher the destruc)on of the second temple

To Jewish Chris)ans and/or Jews considering faith in Christ

MaLhew references the Old Testament more than any other New Testament writer (129x)

Portrays Jesus as “The King of the Jews”

No)ce the genealogy in chapter one and how it proves that Jesus is a descendant of both Abraham and King David

Key Verses to Consider: 1:20-23; 5:3-7:27; 16:13-20; 28:18-20

5

Prac)cal Study Tips

MaLhew focuses heavily on the teachings of Jesus, as opposed to the rabbis and Pharisees of their day

The Sermon on the Mount (5:1 – 7:27)

Teachings directed at the disciples (10:11-42)

Parables (13:1-52)

Teachings of the Kingdom (18:1-35)

Eight Woes against the Scribes and Pharisees / Teachings on Christ’s Second Coming (23:1-25:46)

When reading about the teachings of Jesus, remember to put yourself in the hearers’ shoes as Jews who are longing for a military Messiah to conquer Rome and set up an eternal kingdom in Israel

No)ce how inten)onal MaLhew is to connect Jesus to the Old Testament

Genealogy tying Christ to Abraham and David

Fulfilled Prophecies

11x MaLhew says, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets”

Mark

Helpful context

WriLen by John Mark, who was close to Peter (1 Peter 5:13) and the cousin of Barnabas

For more context on John Mark, read Acts 13:1-13, 15:36-41, and 2 Timothy 4:9-11

Mark was not one of the twelve disciples – he was likely around 12 years old when Jesus was crucified

Between 65-70 A.D, to Gen)le Chris)ans in Rome who were facing intense persecu)on under the Emperor Nero

Chris)ans were being burned alive at Nero’s garden par)es

They were being slaughtered in the Coliseum

They were being sewn into animal skins, and then hunted down and mauled by dogs

To top it all off, two of the church’s key leaders, Peter and Paul had been executed

With this in mind, Mark portrays Jesus as “The Servant of God” who endured suffering for them in the same way they were enduring suffering for Him

Their suffering for Christ and our suffering for Him is always worth it because of His suffering for us

6

Prac)cal Study Tips

Mark’s Gospel is ohen considered the easiest to read because it’s the shortest Gospel and because of his vivid storytelling and ac)on-oriented language

Keep up! Mark shows Jesus constantly on the move

41 )mes he says, “And immediately…”

25 more )mes he writes, “And again…” and goes on to the next event

No)ce that almost half of his Gospel is devoted to events in the last week of Jesus’ life

The fact that much of the events and dialogue centers on the life of Peter suggests that Mark wrote these things based on Peter’s own telling of the story

Luke

Helpful context

WriLen by Luke, a doctor, historian, and companion of Paul

To our knowledge, Luke is the only Gen)le author in the Bible

In the 70s or 80s A.D, to Theophilus, who was likely a Roman government official who was curious about Chris)anity

Whereas Mark writes to the Chris)ans in Rome who were suffering persecu)on, Luke writes to the Romans who are wondering where Chris)anity came from in the first place

Portrays Jesus as “The Perfect Son of Man” who brings salva)on to both Jews and Gen)les of all social classes

Key verses: 1:1-4; 15; 19:10

Prac)cal Study Tips

As a thorough historian, Luke writes both his Gospel and Acts in chronological order

No)ce the emphasis on the Gospel as “good news for the poor” and the need for followers of Christ to honor Christ with their money (3:10-14; 12:13-21; 16:1-13; 16:19-31; 19:1-10)

Make notes each )me you see prayer and/or the Holy Spirit men)oned – they are key throughout this book, and set up how Luke uses prayer and the Holy Spirit in Acts

No)ce how Luke portrays Christ as the perfect Man who triumphs through prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit, as an example for us to follow

7

John

Helpful context

WriLen by John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved”

John = “God is gracious”

John was the last surviving eye-witness of Jesus Christ, and he also wrote 1, 2 & 3 John and Revela)on

Some)me between 70-90 A.D; likely the last of the Gospels to be wriLen

To no specific audience, generally to the en)re world (John 3:16)

Portrays Jesus as the eternal “Son of God”

Key verses: 1:1-14; 3:16; 20:30-31 (theme verse)

Prac)cal Study Tips

Circle/underline key words that summarize the message of the Gospel: Father (137), believe (98), world (78), send (60), love (57), life, light and darkness, truth, witness, glory, eternal

Only eight miracles are recorded in the Gospel of John, but six of them are unique to his Gospel account

Note the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus, used to iden)fy Himself with the Father (Exodus 3:14)

Bread of Life (6:35, 41, 48, 51)

Light of the World (8:12; 9:5)

Door of the Sheep (10:7, 9)

Good Shepherd (10:11, 14)

Resurrec)on and the Life (11:25)

The Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6)

The True Vine (15:1, 5)

Note the seven “signs” or miracles that demonstrate the deity of Christ

Changing water to wine (2:1-11)

Healing the nobleman’s son (4:46-54)

Healing the paraly)c (5:1-9)

Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14)

Walking on water / calming the storm (6:16-21)

Healing the blind man (9:1-7)

Raising of Lazarus (11:38-45)

8

Acts

Helpful context

WriLen by Luke as “Part Two” of His Gospel

Luke – what Jesus “began” to do (Luke 1:1)

Acts – what Jesus “con)nued” to do through the Spirit-empowered church (Acts 1:1)

Primary theme: The Gospel spreads universally through the church in the power of the Holy Spirit

Key verses: 1:8; 2:42-47

Prac)cal Study Tips

See how the overall structure leads geographically away from Jerusalem

The Witness of the Church in Jerusalem (1-7)

The Witness of the Church in Judea and Samaria (8-9)

The Witness of the Church to the ends of the earth (10-28)

Make notes every )me you see prayer and/or the Holy Spirit men)oned

No)ce the repe))on of “salva)on” (2:21; 2:47; 4:12; 5:31; 13:23; 13:26, 47; 16:31; 28:28) and the “progress reports” regarding the advancement of the Gospel

6:7 – The Gospel spreading in Jerusalem

9:31 – The Gospel spreading in Judea and Samaria

12:24 – The Gospel spreading in Syria

16:5 – The Gospel spreading in Asia Minor

19:29 – The Gospel spreading in Europe

28:31 – The Gospel spreading in Rome

Watch in the different speeches of Acts how the Gospel is contextualized in different sesngs to reach different people

The methods may change from story to story, but the message remains the same

9

The LeBers of the New Testament 22 of the 27 books in the New Testament are leLers – over 81% of the New Testament books!

Why leLers?

The church is reproducing quickly and needs direc)on

The church concept is new and there is a lack of spiritual leaders

The leLers of the New Testament are divided into two groups

Pauline epistles (Romans – Philemon)

General epistles (Hebrews – Jude)

The Life and Wri2ngs of Paul Paul wrote at least 13 New Testament leLers

They are ordered from longest to shortest in your Bible

Nine were wriLen to churches; four were wriLen to individuals

Paul the person:

Born Saul of Tarsus

Came from a diverse and unique background

A Hebrew heritage

A Pharisee according to the Law

A Greek educa)on

A Roman ci)zen

Persecuted the church in Jerusalem and forced the Chris)ans to flee Jerusalem for neighboring territories, and caused the Gospel to spread to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1-3)

His conversion and ministry:

Converted to Christ around 31-33 A.D, approximately 3-4 years aher the death and resurrec)on of Christ

Considered the apostle to the Gen)les

Went on three missionary journeys that are each recorded in the book of Acts

Oversaw much of the early church movement amongst the Gen)les (2 Timothy 4:9-15)

10

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

Prac)cal Study Tips

WriLen about in Acts 13-14

Takes place from 46-47 A.D.

Traveled approximately 1400 miles

Wrote the leLer to the Gala)ans during this journey

Arrived in Jerusalem and aLended the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15)

11

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Prac)cal Study Tips

WriLen about in Acts 15:36 – 18:22



Wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians

12

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

Prac)cal Study Tips

WriLen about in Acts 18:22 – 21:17



Wrote his leLers to the Romans and 1 & 2 Corinthians

Arrives back at Jerusalem and falsely accused (Acts 21:18-23:22)

Imprisoned at Caesarea by the Sea from 58-60 A.D. (Acts 23:23-26:32)

Taken to Rome as a prisoner from 60-61 A.D. (Acts 27-28)

13

Paul in Prison

First Imprisonment in Rome (61-63 A.D.)

More like house arrest than actual prison (Acts 28:30-31)

Didn’t waste his )me in prison!

Wrote four leLers known as the Prison Epistles: Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon

Was chained to Roman members of the Praetorian Guard (their version of the Secret Service), and writes that “the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else.” – Philippians 1:13

Released and con)nued his ministry for two years before being arrested again under Emperor Nero

Second and final Imprisonment in Rome

Held in Mamer)ne prison, which was called “the House of Darkness”

This was more like a holding cell for those awai)ng execu)on for their crimes, which is why Paul knew that the )me of his departure had come (2 Timothy 4:6)

Wrote three leLers known as the Pastoral Epistles: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus

Beheaded in roughly 66-68 A.D.

Cell believed to be Paul’s during his final Roman imprisonment

14

Romans

Helpful context

WriLen to both Jewish and Gen)le Chris)ans in Rome

Primary themes: The righteousness of God and the Gospel of God

Threefold purpose:

To clearly instruct the church in basic doctrines about God and the Gospel

On average, the name of God is men)oned every 46 words in this book

To show the prac)cal implica)ons of the Gospel

To garner support for expansion of the Gospel to unreached people (Romans 15:24-29)

Romans is ul)mately a leLer for a missionary asking for financial support (Romans 15:22-24) – how does this impact the way we view missions today?

Key Verses: 1:16-17; 3:21-26; 8:28-39

Prac)cal Study Tips

Focusing on two things will help you as you study Romans

This is a theologically rich book, but it’s also easy to get bogged down

The first )me you study it, you’ll likely walk away with as many ques)ons as answers, but focus on the things you can understand, not the things you can’t understand

Paul wrote Romans to give the Chris)ans in Rome a clear understanding of the Gospel

As you read, look for the core Chris)an doctrines which fill this leLer: revela)on, depravity, jus)fica)on, propi)a)on, faith, original sin, the flesh, union with Christ, adop)on, sanc)fica)on, glorifica)on, spiritual gihs, the role of the Holy Spirit, etc.

Three Admonishments as you study:

Rekindle your love for Christ – Allow Romans to rekindle the joy you have in the Gospel and the love you have for Christ

Renew your mind under Christ – Perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, Romans teaches us right doctrine (what we believe), so allow Romans to renew your mind as you study

Refresh your soul in Christ – One of the main messages of Romans is grace, the thought that we don’t have to save ourselves or make ourselves beLer. Jesus accomplishes this work in us through His Spirit as we yield to Him in faith – let that truth refresh your soul as you read

15

1 Corinthians Helpful context

WriLen to a divided, carnal, and confused church in Corinth

Primary theme: the “wisdom of the cross”

The word “wisdom” appears 30x in the book, and 27x in the first three chapters

No)ce the contrast between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of the cross

No)ce the leLer’s bookends:

The cross (1:17-2:16)

The resurrec)on (15:1-58)

Prac)cal Study Tips

Understand the context

This was a Gen)le church that Paul had planted roughly 5 years before wri)ng this leLer

These people had been saved from lifestyles that were very worldly (6:9-11)

Paul had wriLen a previous leLer to the church in Corinth, but they had taken most of his

instruc)on the wrong way and started doing things that were very unchris)an

Now Paul is wri)ng a follow up leLer to them, correc)ng their beliefs and behaviors

See how Paul addresses at least 12 different issues in the church

1. Loyalty to church leaders over Christ, Himself (1:10 – 4:21)

2. Sexual immorality (5:1-13)

3. Lawsuits against other Chris)ans over an internal squabble (6:1-11)

4. The use of pros)tutes (6:12-20)

5. Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (7:1-24)

6. Singleness (7:25-40)

7. Ea)ng food sacrificed to idols 8:1 – 11:1)

8. Head coverings in worship (referencing reverence, humility, and respect for authority) (11:2-16)

9. Selfishness at the Lord’s Table (11:17-34)

10. Misconduct regarding speaking in tongues (12:1 – 14:40)

11. The bodily resurrec)on of believers (15:1-58)

12. Giving generously (16:1-11)

16

In each case, no)ce that Paul is correc)ng them, not teaching them things they didn’t already know

As you read, no)ce how our view of the cross affects our view of Chris)an ethics, Chris)an priori)es, and Chris)an astudes

Read this book like a child watching their sibling get disciplined and learn from their mistakes

2 Corinthians Helpful context

WriLen by Paul to defend his authority as an apostle in the church at Corinth

Primary theme: reconcilia)on and unity in the body of Christ

Four main elements in the leLer:

Paul’s explana)on of his plans to visit Corinth

Paul’s collec)on for the church in Jerusalem

Paul’s defense of apostleship and ministry

Paul’s concern regarding Jewish Chris)an opponents to the Gospel

Key Verses: 4:5-6, 16-18; 5:17-19; 8-9

Prac)cal Study Tips

You don’t have to study 1 Corinthians to be able to understand 2 Corinthians

In fact, many people who jump straight from 1 Corinthians to 2 Corinthians find themselves confused, because a lot happens in between the two leLers

Understand the context

This is likely the last of four leLers that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (remember, 1 Corinthians would have been the second leLer of the four)

Some false teachers have crept into the church at Corinth and undermined Paul’s teachings and turned the hearts of the people against Paul

Feel the heart of Paul in this book – it’s easily his most personal and in)mate leLer, as the main issue throughout is his tumultuous rela)onship with the people at Corinth

No)ce two things as he writes

He defends his apostleship by appealing to the character of God

His compassion and love for the flock, making it a great book for pastors to study

17

Gala2ans

Helpful context

Likely the first of Paul’s epistles; wriLen in response to the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15)

Paul is countering Judaizers who are pusng regula)ons on Gen)les to enter the church

Key Verses: 2:20-21; 5:1; 5:13-16; 6:14

Gala)a was a province in the Roman empire located in modern day Turkey, and Paul had visited several of the ci)es there on his missionary journeys, including Pisidian An)och, Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium

Prac)cal Study Tips

Paul condemns the false Gospel of faith and works

The false Gospel: Faith + Works = Jus)fica)on

The true Gospel: Faith = Jus)fica)on + Works

In other words, our works don’t earn our salva)on, they are evidence that we’ve been saved by faith

Paul argues that if we say we need to do something in addi)on to trus)ng in Christ for salva)on, then we’re saying that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross wasn’t enough

Overall structure

Grace as the founda)on of the Gospel (1-2)

Grace as opposed to the Law (3-4)

Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit (5-6)

No)ce the contrasts between jus)ce, mercy, and grace

Jus)ce is gesng what we deserve

Mercy is not gesng what we deserve

Grace is gesng something we don’t deserve

Note the contrast between the bondage of legalism and the joy of freedom in Christ

Contrast the “deeds of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit” in light of this (5:16-26)

Circle/underline key words as you read: law (32x), flesh (16x), works (7x), circumcision (13x), Christ (38x), the Spirit (17x), faith/believe (26x), grace (8x), jus)fy (8x), Abraham (9x), promise (10x), son/seed (18x), freedom (10x), slavery (11x), Gen)les (10x)

18

Ephesians

Helpful context

WriLen from prison to church leaders in Ephesus and surrounding areas

One of the most fascina)ng ci)es in the New Testament

Third largest city in the Roman empire at that )me

Center for Banking – more money traveled through Ephesus in a year than any other city besides Rome

Center for Commerce and Shipping – Housed a massive port for ships, and many early highways led to Ephesus

Center for Educa)on – Home to one of the largest libraries in the Roman Empire

Center for Poli)cs – Capital of the Roman province of Asia – at the top of the library there was even an inscrip)on that said, “Caesar is never wrong”

Center for Worship – the Temple to Artemis is one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

Prac)cal Study Tips

Before studying, it’s helpful to read of Paul’s missionary journey to Ephesus in Acts 18:18-21 and Acts 19 to get the context

Overall structure

Right doctrine (chapters 1-3)

Right living (chapters 4-6)

Mark each )me you see “love” (agape), “in Christ,” or “with Christ” – Paul uses them over 35x!

Take in the armor of God in chapter 6 and be reminded of how spiritual warfare is waged

19

Model of the Ancient Temple of Artemis Picture of the theatre at Ephesus Ruins of the library at Ephesus

Philippians

Helpful context

WriLen from prison to the church at Philippi (a Roman military colony)

Delivered by Epaphroditus – “God’s gambler”

Primary themes: joy and unity in Christ

Key Verses: 1:21; 2:5-11; 3:8-11; 4:9-13

Prac)cal Study Tips

Philippi was a town given to soldiers by the Emperor Octavian, so Paul uses military language throughout the book

The people of Philippi were very devoted to the emperor (“Caesar is Lord”), so the Chris)ans were enduring fierce persecu)on from their community

The Philippian church was probably the church that Paul would have been most proud of

Overall structure:

Christ is our life (1)

Christ is our example (2)

Christ is our goal (3)

Christ is our strength (4)

Note the “Christ hymn” of 2:5-11

Jesus is God

Jesus is man

Jesus is Savior

Jesus is Lord

Enjoy Philippians – it’s a breath of fresh air in Paul’s leLers!

As you read, look for the heart of a disciple-maker, wri)ng from the persecuted to the persecuted

20

Colossians

Helpful context

WriLen to the church at Colossae, which Paul had never visited

Colossae was a small market town 80 miles inland from Ephesus along a well known trade route

Paul is countering Gnos)cs in Colossae who were denying the deity of Christ

Primary theme: Christ is the head of the church

Key Verses: 1:15-20; 2:8-10; 3:1-3

Prac)cal Study Tips

Since the church at Colossae was very similar to the church at Ephesus, Colossians has many similari)es with Ephesians

While Ephesians focuses on the church, Colossians focuses on Christ as the head of the church

See the majesty of Christ in Colossians:

He is the head of all things (1:18; 2:10)

He is the Lord of crea)on (1:16-17)

He is the Author of reconcilia)on (1:20-22;2:13-15)

He is the basis for the believer’s hope (1:5, 23, 27)

He is the source of the believer’s power (1:11, 29)

He is the Redeemer and Reconciler (1:14, 20-22; 2:11-15)

He is the embodiment of God (1:15, 19; 2:9)

He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (1:16-17)

He is the all-sufficient Savior (1:28; 2:3, 20; 3:1-4)

As you read, mark these key words: all, fullness, filled, supremacy, sufficiency

As you study, focus on the prac)cal implica)ons of a life that is sustained by Christ alone

See the sovereignty of God, Colossae was destroyed by an earthquake during the 1st century A.D., but this leLer survived and is part of our Bibles today

21

1 Thessalonians Helpful context

WriLen from Corinth to a church of recent converts in Thessalonica

Paul’s threefold purpose:

To encourage the new believers and answer charges brought against him by false teachers

To explain the second coming of Christ, which they had misunderstood

To warn against idleness

Key verses: 1:4-10; 4:1-3; 4:13-18

Prac)cal Study Tips

Overall structure (based on 1:3):

Work Produced by Faith (1-3)

Labor Prompted by Love (4:1-12)

Steadfastness Inspired by Hope (4:13-5:28)

No)ce how every chapter ends with a reference to the coming of Christ

The coming of Christ and salva)on (1:9-10)

The coming of Christ and hope (2:19-20)

The coming of Christ and holiness (3:13)

The coming of Christ and grief (4:13-18)

The coming of Christ and sanc)fica)on (5:23)

No)ce full-circle disciple-making described in 1 Thessalonians 1

Share the Word (1:4-5)

Show the Word (1:5-6)

Teach the Word (1:6)

Serve the World (1:7-10)

Pay close aLen)on to how Paul emphasizes and describes “sanc)fica)on” (4:3, 4, 7) and “the coming of the Lord” (1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23)

No)ce the centrality of the Word throughout the book (1:5, 6, 8; 2:2, 4, 8, 9, 13)

22

2 Thessalonians Helpful context

WriLen as a follow-up leLer to the church at Thessalonica

Thessalonica was originally called Therma because of the hot springs found there

It was renamed aher Alexander the Great’s sister, Thessalonike

WriLen only a few months aher 1 Thessalonians

Paul’s threefold purpose:

To encourage believers who were facing increasing persecu)on

To exhort those who were idle to work for the glory of Christ un)l He comes back

To edify the believers in their pursuit of holiness

Key verses: 2:1-4; 3:1-5, 16

Prac)cal Study Tips

The tone of this leLer isn’t as warm as the first leLer Paul wrote them, because of two frustra)ons

First, Paul had learned that the church was being thrown into confusion (2:2) based on a

declara)on that Jesus had already come back

Someone had circulated a false teaching that the persecu)on they were facing was

actually the Great Tribula)on talked about in Revela)on

The Thessalonian believers thought they had missed the rapture and been leh behind

There was even a leLer in Pauls’ name being circulated throughout the region to give

credibility to the rumors (2:1-3), so Paul is wri)ng to refute that leLer

This explains why 18 out of the 47 verses deal with “the day of the Lord”

Pay close aLen)on to these key words: judgment, retribu)on, destruc)on

Second, Paul had learned that the Thessalonians were quisng their jobs and being idle, thinking

that Jesus had already come back – something he had already addressed with them in the first

leLer

This )me Paul states bluntly, “If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat,

either.” (3:10)

No)ce the way Paul ends the leLer to assure his readers that it is truly from him

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1 Timothy Helpful context

WriLen to encourage young Timothy as he leads the “big city church” in Ephesus

Timothy the man…

Raised in the city of Lystra

Met Paul when Paul went to Lystra on his second missionary journey (Acts 16)

Timothy was about 15 years old at the )me; by 1 Timothy, he was about 30 years old

Mother and grandmother were Jewish believers; father was a Greek

Primary theme: God desires for godly leaders to lead His church

There is a word for us here in an age where we value brilliance and charisma over godliness

Key verses: 3:14-16; 4:12; 6:11-12

Prac)cal Study Tips

View the pastoral epistles as a manual for the local church (3:14-16)

Seven )mes in 1 Timothy alone, Paul uses the word “command,” telling Timothy how to organize and shepherd the flock he’s been entrusted with

This is a military word that meant to command and set the tone for the troops

Overall structure:

Guard the doctrine of the church (chapter 1)

Guard the worship of the church (chapter 2)

Guard the leadership of the church (chapter 3)

Guard the purity of the church (chapter 4)

Guard the prac)ce of the church (chapters 5-6)

Our church must be always be about

Substance over style

Truth over trends

Christ over culture

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2 Timothy Helpful context

Paul writes this leLer – likely his last leLer – while awai)ng his trial and death

WriLen from Mamer)ne prison; which was pictured on page 14

Paul demonstrates how a Chris)an martyr can face death full of hope and faith in Christ

Key verses: 1:7; 2:1-4; 3:14-4:5

Prac)cal Study Tips

As you read, remember these are Paul’s final words to his young disciple

Feel the weight of Paul’s concern for Timothy

Feel the weight of Paul’s concern for the church as he passes the baton to younger leaders

Overall Structure:

Retain the standard of sound doctrine

Entrust the Word to faithful men who will teach others also

Rightly divide the Word of truth

Difficult )mes will come

Preach the Word in season and out of season

No)ce the picture of a successful ministry in Chapter 2

A successful ministry outlasts its original leaders (1-2)

A successful ministry endures hardship (3-13)

A successful ministry is centered on the Word (14-18)

A successful ministry produces holiness (19-26)

Feel the weight of Paul’s abandonment taking a toll on him

1 Timothy – “some have turned aside” (1:6); “some have made shipwreck” (1:19); “some have turned aside aher Satan” (5:15); “some have been led astray” (6:10); “some have erred” (6:21)

2 Timothy – “all have turned away from me” (1:15); “all forsook me” (4:16)

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Titus

Helpful context

WriLen to Titus, the leader of the church in Crete

Titus = “honorable”

Converted to Christ under the ministry of Paul (1:4)

Accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey, during which he was sent to Corinth (2 Corinthians 7-8)

Went to Crete with Paul and was leh there to build up the church aher Paul moved on

Fourfold purpose:

To remind Titus to appoint elders in the church – church leadership maLers

To warn Titus against false teachers in the church – church doctrine maLers

To instruct Titus how to lead different types of people in the church – church diversity maLers

To encourage Titus regarding the importance of grace in the church – church unity maLers

Primary theme: grace leads to godliness (1:4; 2:11ff.; 3:7, 15)

Key verses: 2:11-14; 3:3-8

Prac)cal Study Tips

Overall Structure:

Organizing the Church (1)

Take note of the qualifica)ons for elders given in Titus 1, and compare them with 1 Timothy 3

Following Christ (2-3)

As you study, receive two important reminders about doctrine

Note the major emphasis on good works (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14) and faith (1:1, 4, 13; 2:10, 13; 3:15) and how they work together in this leLer

Titus reminds us that our beliefs about God impact every decision we make

While the form of a church’s worship is vital to reaching its community for Christ, without a firm base of sound doctrine, the church’s founda)on is not sound

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Philemon

Helpful context

WriLen to Philemon, a Chris)an in Colossae who had come to faith in Christ through Paul

WriLen concerning Onesimus, a slave of Philemon’s who had run away and stolen money

Onesimus hid himself at Rome, where he met Paul during his first imprisonment and came to faith in Christ

Now Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon and hoping for reconcilia)on between the two

Paul writes to…

Inform Philemon of Onesimus’ salva)on

Ask Philemon to forgive him

Request to visit Philemon

Key verses: 15-18

Prac)cal Study Tips

See the picture of Christ as the Redeemer of lost sinners

See the effect of the Gospel on slavery

See how Christ transforms our rela)onships and enables us to forgive as He has forgiven us

This is a short book, but it contains some powerful truths that will cause you to search your heart

The General LeBers

Nine leLers not wriLen by Paul (depending on if you think he wrote Hebrews)

Ordered, again, basically by length

Titled according to the names of their authors

James, Peter, John, Jude, and the author of Hebrews

WriLen to more general audiences, rather than to specific churches

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Hebrews

Helpful context

Who wrote Hebrews? There are many guesses, but only God knows!

Most likely wriLen to Jewish Chris)ans facing persecu)on and confusion regarding their view of Christ

Primary theme: Jesus Christ is supreme and He is our everything

Message of Hebrews revolves around five exhorta)ons (13:22 – a word of exhorta)on)

Let us not drih from the Word (2:1-4)

Let us not doubt the Word (3:7-4:13)

Let us not grow dull toward the Word (5:11-6:20)

Let us not despise the Word (10:26-39)

Let us not disobey the Word (12:14-19)

Prac)cal Study Tips

Get ready – this is the heaviest theological book of the Bible in my opinion, and it’s very easy to get bogged down

Again, take away what you can, but understand that there will be things that you won’t understand

Understanding Levi)cus and the Old Testament sacrificial system is crucial to understanding Hebrews

See and study the Old Testament everywhere in Hebrews!

Psalm 8:4-6 in 2:5-18

Psalm 95:7-11 in 3:7-4:13

Psalm 110:4 in 4:16-7:28

Jeremiah 31:31-34 in 8:1-10:18

Habakkuk 2:3-4 in 10:32-12:3

Proverbs 3:11-12 in 12:4-13

Exodus 19 in 12:18-29

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Things to remember…

The author ohen quotes from the Greek Old Testament, so some of the Old Testament quotes may not say exactly what your Old Testament says if you flip to the passage he references

The author argues many )mes by going from the lesser to the greater

The author views everything in the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus, and shows us how we should as well

See how these key words point to the supremacy of Christ

Jesus is beLer (1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24)

Jesus is perfect (2:10; 5:9, 14; 6:1; 7:11, 19, 28; 9:9, 11; 10:1, 14; 11:40; 12:2, 23)

James

Helpful context

Likely wriLen by James, the brother of Jesus

WriLen to address the prac)cal implica)ons of true faith – what does Chris)anity look like in our daily life?

Key verses: 1:2-5; 2:14-17

Prac)cal Study Tips

See the Old Testament all over James as well – in 108 verses, there are references or allusions to 22 Old Testament books

There are also at least 15 references or allusions to the teachings of Christ, Himself (especially the Sermon on the Mount)

James is very similar to Proverbs in that it covers a variety of very prac)cal truths, but switches topics rather quickly

Note the emphasis on social jus)ce (1:9-11, 27; 2:1-13; 4:13-5:6)

Compare this book with Romans and Gala)ans

In Romans and Gala)ans, Paul teaches that we are saved by grace through faith alone – no works are needed

In James, James indicates that we are saved by grace through faith alone, but works are absolutely needed – as evidence of our faith in Jesus

Again, works don’t save us, but our works change when we’re saved, so they provide evidence of genuine salva)on

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1 Peter Helpful context

WriLen to the church in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) facing increasing suffering and persecu)on

Major theme is the sufficiency of God’s grace, which is used in every chapter (1:2, 10, 13, 2:19-20; 3:7; 4:10; 5:5, 10, 12 )

Key verses: 1:3-7; 3:15-17; 4:12-13

WriLen in 64 A.D., the year that Rome burned with fire and Nero began persecu)ng Chris)ans

The historian Suetonius, along with many others, believed that Nero was the one who set the city on fire, because he wanted to rebuild the city aher his own liking

With the public outraged at these rumors, Nero used the Chris)ans to take the heat and began an intense persecu)on where they “were massacred in a spectacular fashion” – Tacitus

Prac)cal Study Tips

Overall structure:

Christ’s call to holy living (1:13-2:10)

Holy living for the sake of a pagan world (2:11-4:11)

Holy perseverance through suffering as the church (4:12-5:11)

Study and compare with Ephesians

1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 3:5, 10




Mark these key words as you study: suffering (16 )mes); behavior/way of life (6 )mes); God (39 )mes); Christ (22 )mes); Spirit (8 )mes); God’s will (4 )mes); elec)on/calling (10 )mes); salva)on (6 )mes); hope (5 )mes)

1 Peter reminds us that we are God’s people living as “foreigners” or “strangers” in the present world, and that as a result, suffering is inevitable

But no)ce that Peter always refers to Christ’s work as His “suffering” and not His “dying.” He reminds us that if Christ suffered, we will also suffer with Him

As you study, learn from 1 Peter how to live out the Chris)an life in the middle of suffering and persecu)on

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2 Peter Helpful context

Peter is most likely awai)ng execu)on in Rome as he writes this leLer, so this is his deathbed leLer, much like 2 Timothy is for Paul

Emperor Nero is s)ll in power in Rome at this )me, so the persecu)on of the Chris)ans is s)ll in full swing

Primary theme: growing in grace and knowledge

Key verses: 1:20-21; 3:8-11

No)ce the similari)es and differences between 1 & 2 Peter

Warnings

1 Peter warns the church about danger of persecu)on from outside the church

2 Peter warns the church about danger of false teachers from inside the church

The way Satan is portrayed

Satan can come as a lion to devour with persecu)on (1 Peter)

Satan can come as a serpent to deceive with false doctrine (2 Peter)

Prac)cal Study Tips

Overall structure:

Grow in His grace (1:1-11)

Look forward to His coming (1:12-21)

Trust in His judgment (2)

Cling to His Word (3)

Look for the ways Peter speaks out against false teachers and false prophets within the church

Peter’s exhorta)on is that we cannot spot false teachers within the church unless we first and foremost search and study the Scriptures for ourselves

To take a pastor at his word is regarded as a dangerous thing in Scripture (Acts 17:11)

Compare with 2 Timothy to see two perspec)ves on facing death for the cause of Christ

Note the explana)on of the Bible’s inspira)on in 2 Peter 1:19-21

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1 John Helpful context

John states five purposes:

That we might have fellowship (1:3)

That we might have joy (1:4)

That we might not sin (2:1-2)

That we might overcome error (2:26)

That we might have assurance of salva)on (5:13)

No)ce the imagery John uses to portrays God in this leLer

God is light (1:5)

God is love (4:8, 16)

God is life (1:1-2; 5:11-13)

Prac)cal Study Tips

No)ce the criteria John uses to describe how we can have assurance of salva)on

Look for the ways John speaks out against false prophets in the church

The false prophets had recently been kicked out of the community (2:19), but not before they had done everything they could to lead the church astray from the truth

Mark these key words as you study: love (46 )mes), know (40 )mes), sin (27 )mes), abide/remain (24 )mes), world (23 )mes), life (13 )mes)


WriLen to either one local church or a highly esteemed woman in a local church

John is inten)onally vague, because he’s wri)ng during a )me of intense persecu)on, and doesn’t want to put the spotlight on his readers

The church must

Guard the doctrine of the Incarna)on

Avoid false teachers (no)ce how much this keeps coming up near the end of the Bible)

Key verses: 6-11

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Prac)cal Study Tips

1 John is sent to one local church and focuses on the false teachers they removed from their church

2 John is sent to a different place and sends a warning that those same false prophets may be coming their way

Overall structure:

Prac)cing the truth (1-6)

Protec)ng the truth (7-11)

Take special note of the balance between truth and love in 2 & 3 John

As you study, mark key words that are repeated: commandment, truth, walk, love, teaching, deceivers


Shortest book in the Bible

Primary theme: hospitality in the church

Four characters involved…

John, who wrote it

Gaius, who received it

Diotrephes, who caused it

Demetrius, who carried it

Prac)cal Study Tips

Overall structure:

Gaius – A hospitable Chris)an (1-8)

See the importance of hospitality outlined all throughout this leLer

Diotrephes: A proud Chris)an (9-10)

Demetrius: A pleasant Chris)an (11-12)

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Jude

Helpful context

WriLen by Judas, the half-brother of Jesus (MaLhew 13:55)

Likely took on the nick-name Jude for short, once the other Judas had betrayed Christ

Twofold purpose:

To condemn the prac)ces of the ungodly in the church

To counsel believers to hold fast and contend for the faith

Key verses: 3, 24

Prac)cal Study Tips

See the condemna)on of false teachers based on seven Old Testament examples

The children of Israel (5)

Fallen angels (6)

Sodom and Gomorrah (7)

Michael and the body of Moses (8-10)

Cain (11)

Balaam (11)

Korah (11)

Jude emphasizes Christ’s power to keep His church to the very end

Revela2on

Helpful context

WriLen…

By John when he was exiled on Patmos

To Chris)ans facing persecu)on in the first century

About the gospel and the future of God’s kingdom

Primary theme is the end of the world and the culmina)on of history

Key chapters: 1-5; 19-22

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Prac)cal Study Tips

Look for the Old Testament throughout Revela)on

278 out of 404 verse contain references to the Old Testament!

Most ohen referring to the Psalms, Daniel, Zechariah, Genesis, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joel

See how Genesis and Revela)on serve as book-ends of the Bible

Crea)on of the heavens and earth (Gen. 1-2); crea)on of the new heavens and earth (Rev. 21-22)

The first Adam reigning on earth (1:26); the last Adam reigning in glory (21:5)

Night and seas created (1:5, 10); no more night; no more sea (21:1, 25)

A bride brought to Adam (2:18-25); the Bride prepared for Christ (19:7ff.)

A tree of life in the Garden of Eden (2:9; 3:22); a tree of life in the new crea)on (22:2)

Satan uLers the first lie (3:1); nothing that makes a lie enters the city (21:27)

Death and a curse (3:14, 17-19); no more curse; no more death or tears (22:3)

Conflict between Christ and Satan (3:15); Satan’s final doom (20:10)

Man driven from God’s face (3:23; 4:16); Man to see His face in glory (22:4)

Remember that the purpose of the book is to explain the end )mes, not to answer every ques)on we may have

John interprets the most important images for us

Look at the visions as a whole, not always pressing every detail, as you’ll miss the point

Ul)mately, where John is clear, let’s be clear. But where there is not clarity, let’s allow for reasonable interpreta)ons that do not contradict the rest of Scripture

See the majesty and final victory of Jesus Christ all over Revela)on

Throne is used 44 )mes

Power and authority about 40 )mes

King, kingdom, or rule about 37 )mes

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Resources for Deeper Study

We’ve inten)onally saved this part for last, because it’s the least necessary. As long as you have your Bible, the Holy Spirit, and a willing heart, you can study the understand the New Testament. However, there are some excellent tools and resources that can help give us more context and help us understand the Bible more. Listed below are a few different categories of resources, many of which were used in prepara)on for this course.

Bible Study Sohware Tools

Logos – By far the best, but it can be very expensive (visit www.logos.com for details on pricing)

The Word – www.theword.net

Blue LeLer Bible – www.blueleLerbible.org

E-Sword – www.e-sword.net

Other Internet Helps

Precept Aus)n – www.preceptaus)n.org

Radical – www.radical.net

Grace to You – www.gty.org

Desiring God – www.desiringgod.org

Look at the Book – www.desiringgod.org/labs

Biblical Training – www.biblicaltraining.org

RightNow Media – www.rightnowmedia.org

Experience the Land of the New Testament - hLps://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Channel/1363

The Bible Project – www.thebibleproject.com

Surveys

New Testament Survey – Merrill C. Tenney

An Introduc)on to the New Testament – D.A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – D.A. Carson

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http://www.logos.com

http://www.theword.net

http://www.blueletterbible.org

http://www.e-sword.net

http://www.preceptaustin.org

http://www.radical.net

http://www.gty.org

http://www.desiringgod.org

http://www.desiringgod.org/labs

http://www.biblicaltraining.org

http://www.rightnowmedia.org

https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Channel/1363

http://www.thebibleproject.com

Books

Grasping God’s Word – J. ScoL Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

How to Read the Bible Book by Book – Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth – Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

“Be __” Series – Warren Wiersbe

“Exal)ng Christ In…” Series – David PlaL, Tony Merida

“Great Lives from God’s Word” series – Chuck Swindoll

Bible Doctrine – Wayne Grudem

Concordances

The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaus)ve Concordance of the Bible – James Strong

Young’s Analy)cal Concordance of the Bible – Robert Young

Atlases

The New Moody Atlas of the Bible – Barry J. Beitzel

Holman Bible Atlas – Thomas Brisco

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© 2020 Study Prac)ce Teach

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Founda)on. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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Course Survey

We appreciate your desire to know God deeper through His Word and hope that our )me together in this course has been beneficial for you. Please take a few minutes to share some feedback and ideas you have for how the course can be improved. Your thoughts are appreciated!

1. This course gave me a deeper understanding of the New Testament as a whole

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

2. This course provided me with resources that give me confidence that I can study, understand,

and obey the New Testament


3. I am confident that I could pass on what I’ve learned today to someone else


4. What was the most impac|ul part of the class? What was the least impac|ul? ______________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. What topics or ques)ons regarding the New Testament do you wish we would have spent more

)me on? _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

6. What did we cover that didn’t seem important? ______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

7. Please provide any addi)onal thoughts or comments you have __________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ben Williams is devoted to Christ as a disciple, husband, pastor, and the founder and president and of Study Practice Teach. Ben’s mission is to equip and encourage his readers to know, live, and share God’s truth.

When he’s not working or spending time with his beautiful wife Cara, Ben enjoys reading, listening to vinyl, playing sports, or smoking his pipe. For more resources, visit www.studypracticeteach.net.

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a journey through the new testament cover spt

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