Overview of the New Testament

When I was in the US Army we were told that we needed to know the different parts of a rifle. Our drill sergeants would lead each of us recruits to a table where a dismantled rifle had been placed. Our task? We were to reassemble it in order for us to ‘know’ it. 

The Bible is sometimes described as a sword. Its parts must be understood before it can be effectively used. 

Arrangement of the New Testament

The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books written by nine different authors. These books are often classified into the following 4 major genres.

1. The Gospels (4 books) 
2. History (1 book)
3. Letters/Epistles (21 books)
4. Prophetical (1 book)

The arrangement of the New Testament books is more logical than chronological. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, in the Ryrie Study Bible, explains it this way: 

First come the Gospels, which records the life of Christ; then Acts, which gives the history of the spread of Christianity; then the letters, which show the development of the doctrines of the church along with its problems; and finally the vision of the second coming of Christ in Revelation (p. 1500)

Instructions

1. Read Chapter 3 – An Overview of the New Testament in Jesus is Lord.
2. Complete the Overview document.
3. Submit your completed document using the submission option below.