The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible — 27 books written in the 1st century AD, containing the Gospels (life of Christ), Acts (early church history), the epistles (letters of doctrine and practice), and Revelation. It reveals Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
The New Testament (Greek 'kainē diathēkē' — new covenant) consists of 27 books written in the 1st century AD. Several biblical truths. (1) The structure. (a) Four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John — recording Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection. (b) Acts — the history of the early church, from Pentecost to Paul in Rome. (c) Pauline Epistles — Romans through Philemon (13 letters by Paul, plus Hebrews which some attribute to him). (d) General Epistles — James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude. (e) Revelation — John's apocalyptic vision. (2) The new covenant. The NT is the 'new covenant' Jeremiah prophesied (Jeremiah 31:31-34), sealed in Christ's blood (Luke 22:20). The OT pointed forward; the NT records the fulfillment. (3) Authors and dates. About 9-10 different human authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude, Hebrews-author). Written ~AD 40-95. All within living memory of eyewitnesses. (4) Languages. Originally Greek (Koine, the common Greek of the Roman Empire). Some Aramaic phrases (Mark 5:41, etc.). (5) Manuscript reliability. The NT has 5,800+ Greek manuscripts — the best-attested ancient text by orders of magnitude. Earliest fragments date within decades of the originals. The text has been faithfully preserved. (6) Canon. The 27 books were recognized as inspired by the early church. Criteria: apostolic authorship (or close apostolic connection), orthodox content, widespread early acceptance. By the late 4th century (Athanasius' Easter letter, AD 367; Council of Carthage, AD 397), the 27 were universally affirmed. (7) Authority. 2 Timothy 3:16 — 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God.' This includes the NT (2 Peter 3:16 places Paul's writings alongside 'other scriptures'). The NT is the word of God for the church. (8) Relationship to the OT. The NT does not replace the OT — it fulfills it. Christ said: 'Think not that I am come to destroy the law... I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil' (Matthew 5:17). The OT promises; the NT delivers. Both are Scripture. (9) Center. Christ is the center of the NT — his person, work, and teaching are the burden of every book. NT writings exist to proclaim him and to shape his church.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant.”
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.”
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood... as they do also the other scriptures.”
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Read the New Testament regularly. Read the Gospels first — they reveal Christ. Read Acts for the church's mission. Read the epistles for doctrine and practice. Read Revelation in proper context (apocalyptic genre). Memorize key passages. The NT is the apostolic witness to Christ and the foundational document of the church.
The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible — 27 books written in the 1st century AD: four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts, 21 epistles (most by Paul), and Revelation. It reveals Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises, records his life and the founding of the church, and provides doctrine and practice for Christian faith.
Approximately AD 45-95. Paul's letters are the earliest (1 Thessalonians, ~AD 50). The Gospels were written ~AD 55-95 (Mark earliest, John latest). Revelation ~AD 95. All NT books were written within living memory of eyewitnesses. The earliest manuscript fragments date within decades of the originals (P52 fragment of John, ~AD 125).
The early church recognized what the apostolic generation had received. By the late 4th century, the 27 NT books were universally affirmed. Criteria: (1) apostolic authorship or close apostolic connection; (2) orthodox content consistent with apostolic teaching; (3) widespread early acceptance and use. The church recognized; it did not vote into being.
The NT fulfills the OT. Jesus said: 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil' (Matthew 5:17). The OT promises; the NT delivers. The OT shadows; the NT substance. Christ is the bridge — promised in the OT, revealed in the NT. Christians read both as Scripture, interpreting the OT in light of Christ.