New Testament
The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events relating to first-century Christianity. The New Testament’s background, the first division of the Christian Bible, has the name of Old Testament, which is based primarily upon the Hebrew Bible; together they are regarded as Sacred Scripture by Christians.
The New Testament is a collection of 27 Christian texts written in Koine Greek by various authors, forming the second major division of the Christian Bible. It includes four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, epistles attributed to Paul and other authors, and the Book of Revelation. The New Testament canon developed gradually over the first few centuries of Christianity through a complex process of debate, rejection of heretical texts, and recognition of writings deemed apostolic, culminating in the formalization of the 27-book canon by the late 4th century. It has been widely accepted across Christian traditions since Late Antiquity.
Literary analysis suggests many of its texts were written in the mid-to-late first century. There is no scholarly consensus on the date of composition of the latest New Testament text. The earliest New Testament manuscripts date from the late second to early third centuries AD, with the possible exception of Papyrus 52.
The New Testament was transmitted through thousands of manuscripts in various languages and church quotations and contains variants. Textual criticism uses surviving manuscripts to reconstruct the oldest version feasible and to chart the history of the written tradition. It has varied reception among Christians today. It is viewed as a holy scripture alongside Sacred Tradition among Catholics and Orthodox, while evangelicals and some other Protestants view it as the inspired word of God without tradition.
Gospels
Gospel of Matthew
- Aliases: “According to Matthew,” “The First Gospel,” “St. Matthew’s Gospel.”
- Linked to: Synoptic Gospels, Sermon on the Mount, Great Commission
Gospel of Mark
- Aliases: “According to Mark,” “The Second Gospel,” “St. Mark’s Gospel,” sometimes “Peter’s Gospel” (Papias tradition).
- Linked to: Synoptic Gospels, Messianic Secret, Shorter Ending of Mark
Gospel of Luke
- Aliases: “According to Luke,” “The Third Gospel,” “St. Luke’s Gospel.”
- Linked to: Synoptic Gospels, Infancy Narratives, Luke–Acts Unity
Gospel of John
- Aliases: “According to John,” “The Fourth Gospel,” “Spiritual Gospel.”
- Linked to: Logos Theology, I Am Sayings of Jesus, Johannine Literature
Acts of the Apostles
- Aliases: “Acts,” “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” “Acts of the Church.”
- Linked to: Pauline Missions, Council of Jerusalem, Luke–Acts Unity
Pauline Epistles
Epistle to the Romans
- Aliases: “Romans,” “Letter to the Romans.”
- Linked to: Justification by Faith, Original Sin Debate, Pauline Theology
First Epistle to the Corinthians
- Aliases: “1 Corinthians,” “First Corinthians.”
- Linked to: Resurrection of Christ, Lord’s Supper in Corinth, Spiritual Gifts
Second Epistle to the Corinthians
- Aliases: “2 Corinthians,” “Second Corinthians.”
- Linked to: New Covenant Ministry, Weakness and Apostleship
Epistle to the Galatians
- Aliases: “Galatians.”
- Linked to: Faith vs Law, Paul and Torah, Judaizers
Epistle to the Philippians
- Aliases: “Philippians.”
- Linked to: Christ Hymn, Joy in Suffering
First Epistle to the Thessalonians
- Aliases: “1 Thessalonians,” “First Thessalonians.”
- Linked to: Parousia, Encouragement in Persecution
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians
- Aliases: “2 Thessalonians,” “Second Thessalonians.”
- Linked to: Man of Lawlessness, End Times in Paul
Epistle to Philemon
- Aliases: “Philemon,” “Letter to Philemon.”
- Linked to: Onesimus, Christianity and Slavery
Deutero-Pauline Epistles (contested authorship)
Epistle to the Ephesians
- Aliases: “Ephesians.”
- Linked to: Church as Body of Christ, Predestination Debate
Epistle to the Colossians
- Aliases: “Colossians.”
- Linked to: Christ as Head of Creation, Household Codes
Second Epistle to Timothy
- Aliases: “2 Timothy,” “Second Timothy.”
- Linked to: Pastoral Epistles, Paul’s Final Testament
First Epistle to Timothy
- Aliases: “1 Timothy,” “First Timothy.”
- Linked to: Pastoral Epistles, Church Organization, Women in the Church
Epistle to Titus
- Aliases: “Titus.”
- Linked to: Pastoral Epistles, Church Leadership in Crete
Catholic Epistles
Epistle to the Hebrews
- Aliases: “Hebrews,” “Letter to the Hebrews.”
- Linked to: Christ as High Priest, Supersessionism, Melchizedek
Epistle of James
- Aliases: “James,” “Letter of James.”
- Linked to: Faith and Works Debate, Catholic Epistles
First Epistle of Peter
- Aliases: “1 Peter,” “First Peter.”
- Linked to: Persecution in Early Church, Suffering and Glory
Second Epistle of Peter
- Aliases: “2 Peter,” “Second Peter.”
- Linked to: False Teachers in Early Church, Second Coming
First Epistle of John
- Aliases: “1 John,” “First John.”
- Linked to: Johannine Epistles, Love and Truth, Docetism
Second Epistle of John
- Aliases: “2 John,” “Second John.”
- Linked to: Johannine Epistles, Hospitality Debate
Third Epistle of John
- Aliases: “3 John,” “Third John.”
- Linked to: Johannine Epistles, Diotrephes Controversy
Epistle of Jude
- Aliases: “Jude,” “Letter of Jude.”
- Linked to: Use of Apocryphal Texts in NT, False Teachers
Book of Revelation
- Aliases: “Apocalypse of John,” “Revelation to John,” “The Revelation.”
- Linked to: Eschatology, Millennialism, Apocalyptic Literature