understanding the new testament a guide to discover the truths in the story of jesus christ

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titustitusUnderstanding the New Understanding the New TestamentTestament

A Guide to discover the truths A Guide to discover the truths in the story of Jesus Christin the story of Jesus Christ

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1 1 Thessalonians

Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

jude

jude

Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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Reading the New Reading the New TestamentTestament

• What is your What is your approach to approach to reading the New reading the New Testament?Testament?

• ……open the Bible open the Bible and see where it and see where it leads?leads?

• ……a chapter-a-day?a chapter-a-day?• ……I have no clue?I have no clue?

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1 1 Thessalonians

Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

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jude

Colossians

Colossians


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RomansRomans

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Reading the New Reading the New TestamentTestament

• This study is designed to bring This study is designed to bring clarity and help you make sense clarity and help you make sense of what you read when you read of what you read when you read the New Testamentthe New Testament

• Let’s start with the Gospels and Let’s start with the Gospels and work our way through the Book of work our way through the Book of RevelationRevelation

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1 1 Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

jude

jude

Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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The Gospels Quick QuizThe Gospels Quick Quiz

• How many How many Gospels are Gospels are there?there?

• Who wrote the Who wrote the first Gospel first Gospel account?account?

• Are there Are there contradictory contradictory accounts in the accounts in the Gospels?Gospels?

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1 1 Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

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jude

Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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The Gospels Quick QuizThe Gospels Quick Quiz

• The Bible gives us The Bible gives us 4, but there are 4, but there are others “non-others “non-canonical” canonical” accountsaccounts

• We don’t know—We don’t know—maybe Markmaybe Mark

• It depends.It depends.

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1 1 Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

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jude

Colossians

Colossians


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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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The GospelsThe Gospels

• The Gospels are The Gospels are “stories” about “stories” about the life of Christ.the life of Christ.

• They were They were written for the written for the purpose of purpose of explaining who explaining who Jesus was and Jesus was and what he did.what he did.

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Colossians

Colossians


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JohnJohn


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The GospelsThe Gospels• Each of the Gospel writers had a Each of the Gospel writers had a

purpose in writing his account…purpose in writing his account…– Matthew shows Jesus as the Matthew shows Jesus as the

fulfillment of the Old Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament – Mark presents Jesus as the unique Mark presents Jesus as the unique

“Son of Man”“Son of Man”– Luke gives the account of Jesus Luke gives the account of Jesus

mission---to Jerusalem and the Crossmission---to Jerusalem and the Cross– John presents Jesus as divineJohn presents Jesus as divine

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Colossians

Colossians


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The Acts of the ApostlesThe Acts of the Apostles

• Luke continues Luke continues his gospel his gospel account in the account in the Book of Acts.Book of Acts.

• Acts traces the Acts traces the mission of the mission of the early church from early church from the Jews (through the Jews (through Peter) to the Peter) to the Gentiles (through Gentiles (through Paul)Paul)

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Colossians


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The Acts of the ApostlesThe Acts of the Apostles

• The main purpose The main purpose of Acts was to of Acts was to answer three main answer three main questions for the questions for the early Churchearly Church– What do we believe?What do we believe?– Who are we?Who are we?– Why should we be Why should we be

taken seriously by taken seriously by the Jews and the Jews and Romans?Romans?

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Colossians

Colossians


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Paul’s EpistlesPaul’s Epistles

• Paul is considered Paul is considered the 1the 1stst Christian Christian theologiantheologian

• He was the He was the author of 7 New author of 7 New Testament Testament epistlesepistles

• Can you name Can you name them? them?

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Colossians

Colossians


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Paul’s EpistlesPaul’s Epistles

• Some keys to look for when reading Some keys to look for when reading Paul’s letters:Paul’s letters:– What does he say about God? (only 2 What does he say about God? (only 2

chapters in his writings do not mention God)chapters in his writings do not mention God)– … … about humankind?about humankind?– ……the Law?the Law?– ……Jesus Christ?Jesus Christ?– ……the Spirit?the Spirit?

• If you look for these keys everything If you look for these keys everything else will make more sense!else will make more sense!

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Colossians

Colossians


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General EpistlesGeneral Epistles

• The remainder of The remainder of the books in the the books in the New Testament New Testament (except for (except for Hebrews) are Hebrews) are called the general called the general or “catholic” or “catholic” epistlesepistles

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• These epistles These epistles represent a variety represent a variety of genres: of genres: – Wisdom (James)Wisdom (James)– End-times (Jude, 2 End-times (Jude, 2

Peter)Peter)– False Teachers (1, False Teachers (1,

2, 3 John)2, 3 John)– Enduring Enduring

persecution (1 persecution (1 Peter)Peter)

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Colossians

Colossians


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• The “catholic” epistles are like a The “catholic” epistles are like a difficult jig-saw puzzle:difficult jig-saw puzzle:

• They are difficult to piece They are difficult to piece together and should not be together and should not be forced!forced!

• It is easy to get confused when It is easy to get confused when you try to harmonize the theology you try to harmonize the theology in these epistles with Paul (James in these epistles with Paul (James and Paul and works!)and Paul and works!)

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Colossians

Colossians


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HebrewsHebrews

• The epistle to the The epistle to the Hebrews is an Hebrews is an anonymous letteranonymous letter

• Although its name Although its name implies differently it implies differently it was probably was probably written to a Gentile written to a Gentile or mixed or mixed (Jewish/Gentile) (Jewish/Gentile) audienceaudience

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1 1 Thessalonians

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2 2 PeterPeter

jude

jude

Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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HebrewsHebrews

• The progression of the argument in The progression of the argument in Hebrews helps identify the Hebrews helps identify the important topicsimportant topics– The supremacy of ChristThe supremacy of Christ– Jesus a faithful High PriestJesus a faithful High Priest– The “better” sacrificeThe “better” sacrifice– Enduring and perseveringEnduring and persevering– The Last DaysThe Last Days

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Thessalonians

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jude

Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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HebrewsHebrews

• Keys to the Keys to the epistleepistle– ““Hold Fast”Hold Fast”– The New The New

CovenantCovenant– The Faithful High The Faithful High

PriestPriest– Understanding Understanding

the Old the Old TestamentTestament

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Colossians

Colossians


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RevelationRevelation

• Revelation is Revelation is perhaps the most perhaps the most difficult book in the difficult book in the New Testament to New Testament to understandunderstand

• It is written as a It is written as a letter (epistle), a letter (epistle), a prophecy (telling the prophecy (telling the future) and an future) and an apocalypse (another apocalypse (another worldly vision)worldly vision)

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Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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• To read the John’s vision it is best to To read the John’s vision it is best to take the images figuratively unless take the images figuratively unless they are obvious!they are obvious!

• The book begins with an introduction The book begins with an introduction about the vision on Patmos, moves to about the vision on Patmos, moves to Seven letters to the seven churches of Seven letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor, details John’s vision and Asia Minor, details John’s vision and concludes with the New Heavens and concludes with the New Heavens and New EarthNew Earth

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1 1 Thessalonians

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Colossians

Colossians


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• Most importantly, Most importantly, don’t be afraid to don’t be afraid to read it!read it!

• This book provides This book provides some of the most some of the most vivid imagery in vivid imagery in literary history!literary history!

• It also promises a It also promises a blessing to the blessing to the reader!reader!

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TimothyTimothy

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1 1 Thessalonians

Thessalonians

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Colossians

Colossians


MATTHEW

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RomansRomans

JohnJohn


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Understanding the New Understanding the New TestamentTestament

• These keys are designed to help These keys are designed to help guide you through the New guide you through the New TestamentTestament

• They are They are NOTNOT set rules! set rules!• The idea is for you to read The idea is for you to read

seeking understanding to help seeking understanding to help you grow in your faith!you grow in your faith!

understanding the new testament a guide to discover the truths in the story of jesus christ

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