Dipl. Rel. pd. Carsten Hpfl

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New Testament

• Dipl. Rel. päd. Carsten Höpfl

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Introduction

• About
• me ?
• you ???
• the New Testament

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Contents

• The 27 Books of the New Testament
• Apocrypha
• Canonization
• Early manuscripts/ Handing down/ Additions
• Authority / Inspiration
• Translations
• Personal use of the New Testament
• Summary
• Literature

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Division

• The 27 Books of the New Testament
• Gospels
• Acts
• Pauline epistles
• (incl. Pastoral
• letters)
• General
• or Catholic
• epistles
• Prophecy

Thgy
NT
P. ep.
Gospels
Gen. ep.
Acts
Fut.
Hist.
P.cy
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Gospels (Matthew)

• Content The story of Jesus, including large
  blocks of teaching
• Author traditionally the apostle Matthew
• Date traditionally around 60
• Recipients almost certainly Jewish Christians
  with a commitment to the Gentile mission
• Emphases Jesus is the Son of God, the messianic
  King of the Jews (many prophecies cited)
• Learning verse Mt 16, 24-26 (cross) Option)

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Gospels (Mark)

• Content the story of Jesus
• Author John Mark (e.g. Papias A.D. 140, Justin
  A.D. 150), companion of Peter (1. Pt. 5,13 my
  son mark) and Paul (Kol 4,10)
• Date most likely between 50 and 60 A.D.
• Recipients the church in Rome (acc. to Papias)
• Emphases the time of Gods rule (the kingdom of
  God) has come with Jesus less teaching, more
  what Jesus does, the way of discipleship is to
  take up a cross and follow him
• Verse Mk 11, 24 (prayer)

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Gospels (Luke)

• Content the story of Jesus in an orderly
  account
• Author Luke, sometime companion of the apostle
  Paul (Col 4,14 2. Tim 4,11 Phlm 24, Acts), the
  only Gentile author in the bible
• Date between 60-62 (see Acts 28,30-31)
• Recipient(s) perhaps an high official of the
  roman government (most excellent Theophilus),
  Gentile Christians implied
• Emphases Jesus came to save the lost, including
  every kind of marginalized person
• Verses Lk 10, 27

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Gospels (John)

• Content the story of Jesus, Messiah and Son of
  God in his incarnation Jesus made God known and
  made his life available to all through the cross
• Author the beloved disciple (2124 cf. 1323
  1925-27 202 217) most likely refers to John
  the apostle, son of Zebedee the we of 2124
  suggests some more persons are responsible for
  the Gospel in its final form
• Date probably A.D. 90-95
• Recipients a christian community well known to
  the author likely located in or around Ephesus
• Verse Joh 10, 27-30 (if you know Joh 3,16 ?)

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Acts

• Content Luke Part 2 how by the power of the
  Spirit the apostles spread the good news from
  Jerusalem to Rome
• Author Luke, the physician
• Date ca. 62 A.D.
• Recipients Theophilus / Gentile christians
• Emphases the good news is accepted in joy by
  some and rejected in anger by others
• Acts 2,42

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Epistles (Romans)

• Content a letter of instruction and exhortation
  setting forth Pauls understanding of the gospel
• Author the Apostle Paul
• Date ca. A.D. 56, from Corinth
• Recipients the church in Rome
• Occasion a combination of three factors (Phoebe/
  plans of Paul/ problems)
• Emphases salvation by Christ alone, received
  through faith in Christ Jesus
• Learning verse Rom 1,17

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Epistles (1 Corinthians)

• Content a letter of correction, in which Paul
  stands over against the Corinthians on issue
  after issue, mostly behavioral
• Author the Apostle Paul
• Date ca. 55 A.D., from Ephesus (see 168)
• Recipients the church in Corinth, composed
  mostly of Gentiles (122 87)
• Occasion Paul responds to a letter from the
  church (71)
• Learning verse 1. Kor. 13,13

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Epistles (2 Corinthians)

• Content probably two letters (chs. 1-9 10-13)
  combined into one, dealing with Pauls tenuous
  relationship with the Corinthian church and other
  matters (Pauls ministry, the collection for the
  poor in Jerusalem, and some Jewish Christian
  itinerants who have invaded the church)
• Author the apostle Paul, joined by Timothy
• Date ca. 55-56, from Macedonia (213 75)
• Recipients the church in Corinth
• Occasion Tituss return from a recent visit
  (75-7) and Pauls anticipated third visit to the
  church
• Learning verse 2. Cor. 12,9A

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Epistles (Galatians)

• Content Law against Grace
• Author the apostle Paul, joined by all the
  brothers and sisters with him (1,2)
• Date probably 53 A.D. (perhaps 48 A.D.)
• Recipients Gentile believers in Galatia
• Occasion Pauls gospel and his apostleship is
  questioned by some agitators (5,12)
• Emphases the Spirit produces the righteousness
  the law could not
• Learning verse Gal 5,22.23

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Epistles (Ephesians)

• Content encouragement and exhortation, against
  the backdrop of the powers (612), Jew and
  Gentile believers together as triumph of God
• Author the apostle Paul
• Date A.D. 60-62, from Rome
• Recipients the church in Ephesus
• Occasion Tychikus, who is carrying this letter,
  is also carrying two letters to Colosse
  (Col./Phlm.)
• Emphases the cosmic scope of the work of Christ
• Verse Eph 3,20.21

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Epistles (Philippians)

• Content Pauls thanksgiving for, encourage-ment
  of, and exhortation to the suffering community of
  believers in Philippi, who are also experiencing
  some internal struggles
• Author Paul, joined by Timothy
• Date probably A.D. 62, from Rome
• Occasion Epaphroditus, came from and is now
  leaving to Philippi (230 418)
• Verse Phil 4,4-7

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Epistles (Colossians)

• Content a letter encouraging and warning
  relatively new believers to continue in the truth
  of Christ
• Author Paul, joined by Timothy
• Date A.D. 60-61 from Rome
• Recipients the (most Gentile) believers in
  Colosse also an exchange letter (416)
• Occasion Epaphras, brought news to Paul
• Verse Kol. 2,3 treasures of wisdom...

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Epistles (1. Thessalonians)

• Content a letter of thanksgiving,
  encourage-ment, exhortation and information for
  very recent Gentile believers
• Author Paul, joined by Silas and Timothy
• Date A.D. 50 or 51, from Corinth, the first
  letter of Paul in the NT (if not Galatians)
• Recipients quite new converts in Thess.
• Occasion return of Timothy to Paul and Silas
• Verse 1. Thess. 5,23.24

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Epistles (2. Thessalonians)

• Content encouragement in the face of suf-fering,
  warning against being misled re-garding the
  coming of the Lord, and exhor-tation for some to
  work with their own hands
• Author Paul, joined by Silas and Timothy
• Date A.D. 51/52, very short after 1. Thess.
• Recipients recent Gentile believers
• Occasion a word spoken in Pauls name
• Verse 2. Thess. 3,3 the Lordwill strengthen
  and protect you

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Pastoral letter (1. Timothy)

• Content an indictment of some false teachers and
  words of encouragement for Timothy
• Author the apostle Paul
• Date A.D. 62-63, from Macedonia
• Recipients Timothy and (ultimately) the church
  in Ephesus (see 621 plural form)
• Occasion Paul has left Timothy in charge of a
  very difficult situation in Ephesus
• Verse 1. Tim 1,15 Jesuscame to save
  sinnersof whom I am the worst

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Pastoral letter (2. Timothy)

• Content an appeal to Timothy to remain loyal to
  Christ, to the gospel, and to Paul, including a
  final salvo at the false teachers
• Author the apostle Paul
• Date ca. A.D. 66, from a prison in Rome
• Recipients (1) Timothy, (2) the church
• Occasion Paul has been once more arrested and
  taken to Rome
• Verse 2. Tim. 1,7 (spirit of power)

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Pastoral letter (Titus)

• Content instructions to Titus setting in order
  the church(es) on Crete
• Author the apostle Paul
• Date A.D. 62-63, from Macedonia
• Recipients (1) Titus, (2) churches on Crete
• Occasion Paul had left Titus on Crete, while he
  and Timothy went on to Ephesus
• Verse Tit. 3,5 (savedthrough the washing of
  rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit)

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Epistles (Philemon)

• Content secure forgiveness for a runaway slave
  named Onesimus
• Author Paul, joined by Timothy
• Date A.D. 60/61 from Rome (in prison)
• Recipients Philemon in Colosse
• Occasion Onesimus has been converted and has
  been serving Paul, now he is beeing sent back to
  Philemon, accompanied by Tychikus
• Verse Phlm 25 (The grace of the Lord Jesus
  Christ be with your spirit.)

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Epistles (Hebrews)

• Content a word of exhortation (13,22),
  encouraging faithful perseverance in light of the
  superlative final word God has spoken in Christ
• Author unknown (the Holy Spirit ?)
• Date probably 67-69 A.D.
• Recipients most likely Jewish Christians
  perhaps in Rome (see 13,24)
• Occassion the community is discouraged because
  of suffering (10,35-39)
• Hebr. 10,35 (So do not through away your
  confidence, which will be richly rewarded.)

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General epistles (James)

• Content short moral essays, emphasizing
  endurance in hardship and responsible living
• Author James, brother of the Lord
• Date probably 44 A.D.-49 A.D.
• Recipients believers in Christ among the Jewish
  diaspora (see 1,1 and Acts 12)
• Occasion concern about conditions in the church
  (e.g. judgmental words/abuse of the poor by the
  wealthy)
• Verse James 2,17 (faithnot accompanied by
  action, is dead)

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General epistles (1. Peter)

• Content encouragement for suffering christians,
  how to respond Christianly to their persecutors
• Author the apostle Peter, written by Silas
  (512)
• Date ca. A.D. 64-65 from Rome (513)
• Recipients mostly Gentile believers in the
  northwest quadrant of Asia Minor (114)
• Occasion probably concern over an outbreak of
  local persecution against new believers
• Verse 1. Peter 2,24b

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General epistles (2. Peter)

• Content a letter urging Christian growth and
  perseverance in light of some false teachers who
  deny the second coming of Christ and live in sin
• Author the apostle Peter (see 11.14 31)
• Date ca. 67 A.D.
• Recipients a specific group of believers (unkn.)
• Occasion a desire to establish the readers in
  their own faith and godly living
• Verse 2. Pt. 1,20.21 (men spoke from God as
  they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.)

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General epistles (1. John)

• Content encouraging believers in their loyalty
  to Christian faith and practice
• Author the apostle John
• Date 90-95 A.D., probably in Ephesus
• Recipients a Christian community/ies in Asia,
  well known to the author (219)
• Occasion the defection of false prophets
• Verse 1 Joh. 1,9 (If we confesshe will forgive
  us our sinsand purify us)

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General epistles (2. John)

• Content the elder warns against false teachers
  who deny the incarnation of christ
• Author the apostle John
• Date ca. 90-95 A.D., probably in Ephesus
• Recipients the lady chosen by God is likely a
  woman who hosts a house church her children
  are the community members (11)
• Occasion John is concerned about the false
  prophets, they might spread on their teaching
• Verse 2. Joh. 3 (Grace, mercy and peace)

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General epistles (3. John)

• Content It is all about the Elder, who wrote
  it Gaius, who received it Diotrphes, who
  provoked it and Demetrius who carried it.
  (A.M.Hunter)
• Author the apostle John
• Date 90-95 A.D., most likely in Ephesus
• Recipient Gaius, a beloved friend
• Occasion Diotrephes, who scorned an earlier
  letter and refused hospitality to the elders
  friends
• Verse 3. John 2 (I pray that you may enjoy
  good health and that all may go well with
  you...)

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General epistles (Jude)

• Content a pastoral letter of exhortation, full
  of strong warnings against false teachers
• Author Jude the brother of James, thus of Jesus
• Date not before 69 A.D., m.l. from Jerusalem
• Recipients probably a single congregation of
  Jewish christians, somewhere in Palestine
• Occasion some itinerants who have wormed their
  way in (NEB) to the church
• Verse Jud 9 (The Lord rebuke you!)

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Prophecy (The Revelation)

• Content a christian prophecy cast in apocalyptic
  style and put in letter form, about tribulation
  (suffering), salvation and judgment
• Author John (11.4.9 22,8), the apostle
• Date ca. 95 A.D. (e.g. acc. to Irenäus)
• Recipients churches in Asia
• Occasion the early Christians refusal to
  participate in the cult of the emperor (who was
  acclaimed lord and savior) was putting them on
  a collision course with the state
• Verse Rev. 3,20 Here I am! I stand at the door
  and knock. If anyone hearsIeat with him...)

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Apocrypha

• Christian writings claiming Apostolic authorship,
  or for some other reason considered authoritative
  by ancient churches, but which were not
  ultimately included in the 27-book NT canon
• Examples

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Canonization

• Marcion (140 A.D) Luke (M.)/ten letters of Paul
• Muratorain fragment (170 A.D.) Mainstream
• Irenäus (180 A.D.) 4 Gospelssome Pauline lts.
• Justin, Irenäus, Tertullian (2nd century)4
  Gspls., many of Pauls letters inspired, rejected
  by others
• Eusebius (300 A.D.) Accp.disp. Writings (all)
• St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria (367 A.D.),
  Festal Letter 39 to his churches in Egypt The NT
• Accepted a the Third Council of Carthage in 397
• Certain books were sometime questioned

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Guiding principles

• Is it inspired by the Holy Spirit? (Joh. 16,13)?
• Is it apostolic? (Eph. 2,20 Acts 2,42)
• Is it authoritative? (Gal 12 1. Kor 14,37 cf.
  1. Kor 7,10)
• Is it used by the christian community?
• Is it authentic? (In case of doubt No!)
• (see McDowell Josh, Die Bibel im Test, 2001)

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Early manuscripts

• Text types with common ancestor
• Alexandrian text-type most faithful and usually
  brief and austere
• Western text-type the longest (e.g. Acts10)
• Caesarean text-type mixture of first two
• Byzantine text-type majority of the extant
  manuscripts (debated)
• Most modern Englisch versions of the NT are based
  on critical reconstructions of the Greek text
  e.g. United Bible Societies G.NT or
  Nestle-Alands Novum Testamentum Gracae with
  Alexandrian character

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Handing down
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Additions

• Possible additions to the original text
• Mark 16,9-20
• Luke 22,19b-20,43-44
• John 7,53-8,11
• 1. John 5,7b-8a
• In addition, there is a large number of variant
  readings, see Bruce Metzgers Textual Commentary
  on the Greek New Testament (1994) for details

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Authority / Inspiration

• 3 inspiration types (Verbal, Personal, Real)
• Church fathers (100 Human/ 100 God)
• Infallibility correctness in doctrine
• Inerrancy correctness in factual assertions
  (including historical and scientific topics)
• Authoritativeness in questions of practice in
  morality

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Translations

• King James Version
• New American Standard Bible
• New International Version

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Personal use of the NT

• Reading from the beginning (Joh 7,38)
• For taking captive every thought (2 Cor 10,4)
  and spiritual warfare (therefore memorizing)
• Personal Encouragement (e.g. Psalms)
• Prayer/Prophecy for their strenghtening,
  encouragement and comfort (1 Cor 14,3)
• When I witness(Jes 55,11)
• For counselling(Hebr 4,12)
• To get advice (Lgs./Rhma.) and blessing (Ps 119)
• To get personal free (Joh 8,32)
• To become Holy (Joh 17,17)

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Summary

• You need to get deeperit is worth it
• Feedback?!?!
• Thank you!
• ???

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Literature

• Fee, Gordon Stuart Douglas, How to Read the
  Bible Book by Book, 2002
• Gumbel, Nicky, Fragen an das Leben, 1999
• Hanselmann, J. Swarat, U. Fachwörterbuch
  Theologie, 1996
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament
• Maier, Gerhard (Hg.), Lexikon zur Bible, 2000
• McArthur, John, Studienbibel, 2003
• McDowell, Josh, Die Bibel im Test, 2001
• Sawers, Robin, Harraps Concice Dictonary, 1999
• Yancey, Philip Stafford, Tim, The Student
  Bible, New International Version, 1996