Survey, Overview, and Chronology of the New Testament Intro

Introduction:

I. The problem stated:

The Bible is a living message intended to govern the lives of men in order that they may

be guided to a home in heaven, spending all eternity with their Creator. Sadly, however,

few have come to acquire an understanding of the things written, hence often fail in

fulfilling their Christian duties. Few ever come to see how that the words of the Bible are

like a painting, each stroke connecting to the next. More specifically, many Christians fail

to grasp all of that which is written because of the often-overwhelming task of mastering

each verse of each book. What needs to be understood, however, is that if people can

begin to develop an overall understanding of each book, such as: To whom it was written,

when it was written, and the purpose of the writing, then the seemingly insurmountable

task is easily overcome.

II. The purpose stated:

The purpose of this study is to help serious students of the Bible become better

acquainted with the New Testament in a manner which will give a general understanding

of each book and its application for each person; hence overcoming the intricate task of

becoming a savant of each book. By placing the New Testament books in Chronological

order the student will be able to see what problems the church was facing during particular

periods of time, and how instruction was given to overcome those problems, as well as, to

understand the historical aspect of the Bible.

III. The New Testament:

The New Testament is commonly divided into five sections, which are as follows: The

Gospel Records, or Books of Biography (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John); Historical (Acts

of Apostles); The Pauline Epistles (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,

Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and

Hebrews*); The General Epistles (James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John and Jude); The

Prophecy (Revelation).

* The authorship of Hebrews is often debated and some scholars assert Apollos as its respective author.

IV. The New Testament Inspiration:

A. The promise of Jesus:

a. Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13.

b. Matt 28:18; Col 3:17.

c. Ac 2:1-4; 8:18

d. Jn 20:30, 31; 1 Jn 1:1-4.

B. The process explained:

a. 1 Cor 2:9-13.

b. Eph 3:3-11.

C. Internal proof:

a. 2 Tim 3:16, 17.

b. 2 Pet 1:3; Jd 3.

c. Rev 22:6-20.

V. The New Testament Is Authoritative:

A. Is

sufficient

a. Eph 3:3, 4—Read and know.

b. 2 Tim 3:16, 17—makes complete.

c. 2 Pet 1:3—gives all man needs to know.

d. Jd 3—has been given in completion.

B. Is

sovereign

a. Extirpation:

i. The Levitical priesthood of Old: Ex 28:1; 6:16, 20.

ii. Covenant between God and Israel: Ex 19:1-5; 24:1-8; Dt 4:1, 2, 8; 5:

1-3.

iii. Not a covenant with Gentiles: Rom 2:14.

iv. Synonymous with 10 Commandments: Dt 4:13, 23.

v. Old Law was limited: Gal 3:16, 19, 24; Matt 5:17, 18; Jn 19:28-30.

vi. It was fulfilled and removed: Gal 3:19; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:6-13; Eph

2:14-16; Col 2:14-17.

vii. Heb 7:12-22; 9:15-17; 10:1-4, 9, 20, 28, 29.

b. Consummation:

i. Christ’s authority has supplanted the Law and the prophets: Heb 1:1,

2; Matt 17:5; 28:18; Col 3:17; Jn 12:48; Mrk 16:15.

ii. A system of remission: Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38.

iii. The last days: Joel 2:28-32; Ac 2:16-21; Heb 1:1, 2.

c. The Old Law gave us the letters, but the New gave us the words.

d. The Old Law gave us the type, but the New the antitype.

VI. Rules of Study:

Rule 1

. On opening any book in the sacred Scriptures, consider first the historical

circumstances of the book. These are the order, the title, the author, the date, the place,

and the occasion of it.

Rule 2

. In examining the contents of any book, as respects precepts, promises,

exhortations, &c., observe who it is that speaks, and under what dispensation he

officiates. Is he a Patriarch, a Jew, or a Christian? Consider also the persons addressed;

their prejudices, characters, and religious relations. Are they Jews or Christians--

believers or unbelievers--approved or disapproved? This rule is essential to the proper

application of every command, promise, threatening, admonition, or exhortation, in Old

Testament or New.

Rule 3

. To understand the meaning of what is commanded, promised, taught, &c., the

same philological [study if literature and language—RS] principles, deduced from the

nature of language; or the same laws of interpretation which are applied to the language

of other books, are to be applied to the language of the Bible.

Rule 4.

Common usage, which can only be ascertained by testimony, must always decide

the meaning of any word which has but one signification; --but when words have,

according to testimony (i. e. the dictionary), more meanings than one, whether literal or

figurative, the scope, the context, or parallel passages must decide the meaning: for if

common usage, the design of the writer, the context, and parallel passage fail, there can

be no certainty in the interpretation of language.

Rule 5

. In all tropical language [figures of speech—RS], ascertain the point of

resemblance, and judge of the nature of the trope [figure of speech—RS], and its kind,

from the point of resemblance.

Rule 6

. In the interpretation of symbols, types, allegories, and parables, this rule is

supreme: ascertain the point to be illustrated; for comparison is never to be extended

beyond that point--to all the attributes, qualities, or circumstances of the symbol, type,

allegory, or parable.

“The Bible is a book of facts, not of opinions, theories, abstract generalities, nor of verbal

definitions. It is a book of awful facts, grand and sublime beyond description. These facts

reveal God and man, and contain within them the reasons of all piety and righteousness;

or what is commonly called religion and morality. The meaning of the Bible facts is the true

biblical doctrine. History is therefore the plan pursued in both Testaments; for testimony

has primarily to do with faith, and reasoning with the understanding. History has, we say,

to do with facts--and religion springs from them. Hence, the history of the past, and the

anticipations of the future, or what are usually called history and prophecy, make up

exactly four-fifths of all the volumes of inspiration.”*

VII. A New Age—A New Law—A New Kingdom—A New Religion:

Proclamation of a Procedure

a. Gal 4:4—“fullness of times”

b. Lk 24:27, 46, 47—“in all the Scriptures…thus it is written…beginning at

Jerusalem”

c. Ac 1:16—“must needs have been fulfilled”

d. Ac 2:22, 23—“determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”

e. Ac 3:18, 22, 24—“God before had showed…for Moses truly said…have

likewise foretold of these days”

f. Ac 28:23—“out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets”

Promises

a. Gen 3:15—“it shall bruise thy head”

b. Gen 12:1-3—“in thee shall all…be blessed”

c. Matt 16:18—“will build my church”

Prophecies

a. Gen 49:10—“from Judah”

b. Ex 12:3-15, 22—“lamb without blemish…not a bone broken…covered with

blood…no leaven”

c. Dt 18:15—“a Prophet from the midst of thee”

d. Psa 22:1-22, 31—“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”

e. Isa 2:1-4—“in the last days…the Lord’s house shall be established…the

word of the Lord from Jerusalem…neither shall they learn way anymore” (cf.

Micah 4:1, 2)

f. Isa 7:14—“virgin shall…bear a son”

g. Isa 53—“rejected…borne our grieves…wounded for our

transgressions…oppressed and afflicted…he made his grave”

h. Isa 62:2—“new name”

i. Jer 31:31-34—“a new covenant…forgive their iniquity…remember their sins

no more”

j. Dan 2:44—“God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be

destroyed”

k. Hosea 1:6-2:1—“Ammi and Ruhamah”

l. Joel 2:28-32—“afterward…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord

shall be saved”

m. Mal 4:5—“Elijah…before the coming…of the Lord”

n. Lk 24:47—“repentance and remission of sins”

Performance

a. Matt 1 >> Gen 49:10; Dt 18:15; Isa 7:14.

b. Matt 3:1-10; 17:12, 13 >> Mal 4:5.

c. Jn 19 >> Isa 53; Psa 22:1-22, 31; Ex 12:3-15, 22 (cf. Ac 8:30-38; Rom 6:3,

4; Ac 20:28).

d. Mrk 9:1; Ac 1:6-8; 2:1-4, 16-21, 37, 38, 41, 47; 1 Tim 3:15 >> Isa 2:1-4; Jer

31:31-34; Dan 2:44; Joel 2:28-32; Lk 24:47.

e. Ac 11:26; Rom 9:25, 26; 1 Pet 2:10 >> Isa 62:2; Hosea 1:6-2:1.

* Heading number VI taken from: The Christian System, by Alexander Campbell.