“Theological biographies”
BOOKS of the NEW TESTAMENT
of Jesus written to make
specific theological points
Historical narrative about
to a specific audience Letters of Paul written to churches “bookend to Genesis”;
the birth of the church
and the global spread of and individuals. Pastoral guidance apocalyptic vision of God’s
general letters written to believers
the gospel for living as believers in Christ in a eternal reign, judgment,
as pastoral encouragement and to
difficult culture and restoration of the
confront false teachings
world
28 28
24
22
21
CHAPTERS
16 16 16 PAUL’S LETTERS
13 13
6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4
3 3 3
1 1 1 1
Romans
James
Jude
Matthew
Mark
John
Luke
Acts
Galatians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Ephesians
Colossians
Philemon
1 Timothy
Titus
2 Timothy
1 Peter
2 Peter
Hebrews
1 John
2 John
3 John
Revelation
Philippians
GENERAL LETTERS
NARRATIVE
Prison epistles Pastoral epistles
PROPHECY
“GOSPELS”
letters ordered chronologically within each section
DATE
45-55 55-65
65-70 64-68 85-90 61-63 48-49 51 55 55-56 57 60-62 63 64 66 45-48 64 67 64-68 65-68 85-90 85-90 90 95
Macedonia
Jerusalem
prison in
Caesarea or
Ephesus
uncertain
unkonwn
unknown
Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus
Antioch
Patmos
Corinth
Corinth
Rome
Rome
Phiippi
PLACE
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome while from prison in Rome
Paul is in prison
UNKNOWN
AUTHOR
MATTHEW ?
PETER
PETER
LUKE ?
JAMES
LUKE ?
JOHN
JOHN
JOHN
JOHN
JUDE
MARK ?
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
JOHN ?
Matthew Jesus is the true , royal Messiah & eternal King Written to Jews and Jewish converts
Mark Jesus as Servant of the Lord to Gentiles
to mostly Jewish believers or a
John Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh
Jewish-Christian community
Luke Jesus is the perfect, sinless man & divine Savior to Greek Gentiles
Acts The Gospel spreads, the birth & growth of the Church Written to Greek Gentiles
Romans True liberty in Christ to Christians in Rome, all churches
1 Corinthians confronting severe problems and questions in the church
to the church in Corinth (Greece)
2 Corinthians dealing with conflict over Paul’s authority as apostle
to churches in Galatia (Asia Minor): Lystra,
Galatians correct error: true liberty in Christ
Iconium, Derbe, Antioch
Ephesians nature, privilege, & responsibilities of Body of Christ to church in Ephesus (Asia Minor)
Philippians thankfulness; encouragement and joy even in hardship to church in Philippi (Macedonia)
to church in Colossae, perhaps also Laodicea
Colossians combat error; faith in Christ is enough
& Hierapolis (Asia Minor)
1 Thessalonians Remain faithful, have hope in Christ’s return
to church in Thessalonica (Macedonia)
2 Thessalonians correct error; live while waiting for Christ’s return
Philemon intercede for slave Onesimus; forgiveness & friendship to Philemon, personal friend of Paul
letters arranged in order they appear in the Bible
1 Timothy leader’s authority, responsibilities, oversight of church
to Timothy, young co-worker of Paul
2 Timothy advice for serving; enduring during difficulty times
Titus organizational matters; false teachers to Titus, co-worker of Paul
James genuine faith brings life change; acts, not just profession Titus, co-worker of Paul
1 Peter encourage believers in the midst of suffering
various churches and Christians around Rome
2 Peter be knowledgable & mature to avoid false teachings
Hebrews warning against leaving new covenant & returning to law uncertain, a specific group of Jewish Christians
1 John confront false teaching; love, obey, believe uncertain, but likely churches around Ephesus
2 John confront false teachings; love & truth to a specific church or group of believers
3 John truth or error shown in the life of believers to Gaius, personal friend of John
Jude confront false teachings, defend the truth of Gospel unknown, but a group of believers
Revelation God’s purposes & promises will be finally fulfilled Christians of the day in general
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TESTAMENT CANON canon means “reed” or “rule”;
a standard for measuring.
AD 48 - 150 AD 200 AD 250 AD 300 AD 400
“Muratorian Canon” NT of Origen NT of Eusebius Athanasius’s list
NT in church at Rome Council of Carthage
Matt, Mark, Luke, John Matt, Mark, Luke, John
NT Gospels, Acts, letters, Matt, Mark, Luke, John Acts Acts Matt, Mark, Luke, John
Revelation written Acts Paul’s letters: Paul’s letters: Acts
Paul’s letters: Romans Romans Paul’s letters:
Letters, gospels being Romans 1 & 2 Corinthians 1 & 2 Corinthians Romans
collected and circulated 1 & 2 Corinthians Galatians Galatians 1 & 2 Corinthians
Galatians Ephesians Ephesians Galatians
Early church fathers Ephesians Philippians Philippians Ephesians
quote from the 4 Gospels Philippians Colossians Colossians Philippians
and Pauline letters Colossians 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 Thessalonians Colossians
1 & 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 Timothy 1 & 2 Timothy 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Some other Christian 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Titus 1 & 2 Timothy
writings are being used Titus Philemon Philemon Titus
Philemon 1 Peter 1 Peter Philemon
4 Gospels collected as James 1 John 1 John Hebrews
one by AD 150 1 & 2 John Revelation of John Revelation of John (but James
Jude doubted authorship) 1 & 2 Peter
Revelation of John 1, 2, & 3 John
Revelation of Peter* Jude
Wisdom of Solomon Revelation of John
Disputed Disputed but well known
James
Hebrews 2 Peter
James 2 & 3 John Athanasius (296-373 AD),
Used in private, not Jude
2 Peter Bishop of Alexandria,
oldest known list of NT public, worship 2 & 3 John prominant early theologian
books; named after man Jude & defender of Trinity
who discovered the The Shepherd of Hermas The Shepherd of Hermas
parchment fragment Letter of Barnabas Excluded
Teaching of 12 Apostles The Shepherd of Hermas
Gospel of the Hebrews Letter of Barnabas
Gospel of the Hebrews Eusebius (260-339 AD), Bishop of
Origen (184-253 AD),
Revelation of Peter Caesarea, theologian
early church theologian
from Alexandria Acts of Peter
Didache
