NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

BOOK AUTHOR APPROX MAIN THEMES HIGHLIGHTS OF EVENTS

DATE

Matthew Matthew AD 50 - Jesus revealed as the Messiah, showing Ch 1-2: lineage, birth, early life of Jesus
genealogy back to Abraham and quoting Old Ch 5-7: Sermon on the Mount
Testament to show fulfillment of prophecies, Ch 10: Mission & purpose of the disciples
mainly written to the Jews, whose civilization Ch 13, 18: Parables, Church
centred around the Scriptures Ch 21-27: arrest, torture, execution of Jesus
- the Kingdom of Heaven Ch 28: Resurrection, Great Commission
- ministry & teachings of Jesus

Mark John Mark AD 57-59 - Jesus revealed as Servant of the Lord / Ch 1: John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism & temptation
writing Saviour, mainly written to Roman believers and Ch 1-10: Galilean ministry
Peter's Gentiles, emphasizing Jesus’ actions & Ch 10: Judean ministry emphasising miracles over teaching;
account of superhuman authority over the natural realm to casting out demons (Ch 5), feeding 5,000 & walking on
Jesus a civilzation focused on government and power water (Ch 6), healing deaf, dumb, blind, epileptic (Ch 7-9),
- Jesus’ life, death & resurrection transfiguration (Ch 9)
- Galilean ministry & miracles Ch 11-15: last week of Jesus, around Jerusalem
Ch 16: post-resurrection ministry

Luke Luke, AD 58-65 - Jesus revealed as Son of Man, emphasizing
physician the humanity of Jesus, his portrayal showing
traveling the perfect universal man to a Greek culture
with Paul that valued beauty, philosophy & wisdom
- Jesus’ compassion towards the weak,
suffering, women, sinners and all other outcasts
- poor & needy the focus of his ministry
Ch 1-2: details of Jesus’ birth & childhood
Ch 7-8: Jesus’ tenderness towards women
Ch 10-16: motives, treasures of life: Martha & Mary (Ch 10),
Good Samaritan (Ch 10), the Rich Fool (Ch 12), the Lost Son
(Ch 15), the rich man and Lazarus (Ch 16), Rich Young Ruler
(Ch 18), Zaccheus (Ch 19)
Ch 19-24: last week; repentant criminal on cross (Ch 23)
Ch 24: Jesus’ resurrection, appearances, ascension

John John AD 85-90 - Jesus revealed as Son of God, emphasizing his Ch 1: origin of Jesus from the beginning
deity, fully God and fully human, and what he Ch 2: Jesus clears the temple
said over what he did Ch 3-4: Nicodemus, Samaritan woman
- Jesus’ statements & theology about himself Ch 5: healing on the Sabbath
Ch 8-10: woman caught in adultery, Jesus’ deity stated
Ch 11: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
Ch 12-17: Last Supper, Gethsemane, prayer for believers
Ch 18-20: arrest / denial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection
Ch 20-21: appearances, Peter re-instated

Acts Luke AD 61-64 - birth & history of early church Ch 1-13: believers empowered by Holy Spirit to be witnesses
- extension of gospel to the Gentiles in Jerusalem (Ch 1-8), Judea & Samaria (8-12), and the
ends of the earth (Ch 13)
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 - working with Holy Spirit and his new
indwelling ministry, suffering for gospel,
overcoming persecution and trials
- life and work of Paul, example of transition
from Old to New Covenant, law to grace
ends of the earth (Ch 13)
Ch 9, 15: Saul converted, church backs Paul in theology
Ch 13-21: Paul’s missionary journeys
Ch 21-26: Paul’s trials in Jerusalem & Caesarea
Ch 27: Paul’s final journey to Rome

Romans Paul AD 57, - doctrine of righteousness Ch 1-3: righteousness needed

written in - describes God, who he is, what he has done Ch 3-8: righteousness provided
Corinth to - describes Jesus, and what his death achieved Ch 9-11: righteousness vindicated
Christians in - describes us, what we were like without Christ Ch 12-15: righteousness practised
Rome and who we are after trusting in Christ

1 Corinthians Paul AD 55-57, - restoring Corinthian church to foundation in Ch 1-4: exhortations & teaching regarding unity
from Ephesus Jesus Christ, curing divisions Ch 5: dealing with (sexual) immorality
written to - responding to questions / improper conduct Ch 6: dealing with lawsuits
Christians in - correcting wrong understanding and use of Ch 7: instructions on marriage, celibacy
Corinth spiritual gifts Ch 11: instructions on Lord’s Supper
Ch 12-14: instructions on spiritual gifts
Ch 15: teaching on resurrection

2 Corinthians Paul AD 55-58, - relief and joy that Paul’s first letter had been Ch 3: ministry of righteousness vs condemnation
from well received, resulting in godly repentance Ch 5: basis of Christian faith: new birth exchanged for sin
Macedonia - contrasting Old Testament law with the new Ch 6-10: repentance, holy living, gracious giving
covenant of grace, new birth Ch 10-12: Paul’s authority, heavenly vision, ‘thorn in the
flesh’, humility and grace to overcome

Galatians Paul AD 48-55, - justification by faith alone not works of law Ch 2: inability of law to justify
written from - (resulting in) saving grace, spiritual freedom Ch 3: Abraham’s justification by faith
Antioch to Ch 5: love not works fulfilling the law; spiritual fruit
churches in
the province
of Galatia

Ephesians Paul AD 60-63/62, - to confirm and equip a maturing church Ch 1-3: God’s accomplishment through Jesus for believers
written from - body of Christ, unity of body, bride of Christ Ch 4-5: God’s purpose for the church as the body of Christ
Rome by Paul - Jews and Gentiles one in Christ Ch 5-6: our conduct; our stand against the devil
in prison, to
the Christians
at Ephesus

Philippians Paul AD 61-63, - “Resources through Suffering” Ch 1: Christ our life: rejoicing in spite of suffering
written from - right Christian experience is the outworking Ch 2: Christ our pattern: rejoicing in lowly service
prison to regardless of circumstances, of the life, nature Ch 3: Christ the object of our faith, desire, and expectation
church at and mind of Christ Ch 4: Christ our strength: rejoicing through anxiety
Philippi - acknowledging the church’s generous gift
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Colossians Paul AD 58-62, - diety of Jesus and his sufficiency in meeting Ch 1-2: deity of Christ, false philosophies
written from our needs in every area, for salvation and Ch 3: Christian conduct, and family relationships
Rome by Paul sanctification Ch 4: speech and friendships
in prison, to - mini course in ethics covering all of life
the Christians
at Colosse

1 Paul, AD 50-51, - second coming of Jesus Ch 1-3: thanks for their faith; Paul’s visit stopped by Satan
Thessalonians possibly written from - instructions in holy living Ch 4: living holy lives, in Christ Jesus
with Silas Corinth to Ch 4-5: coming of the Lord, vigilance and conduct in light of
& Timothy Christians at Jesus’ return
Thessalonica

2 Paul, AD 51-52, - clarification that the second coming of Jesus Ch 1: Day of the Lord
Thessalonians possibly written from had not taken place, would follow the Apostasy Ch 2: The Apostasy and exhortations to stand firm
with Silas Corinth to and revealing of the man of lawlessness Ch 3: avoiding idle men who don’t live by the gospel
& Timothy Christians at
Thessalonica

1 Timothy Paul AD 62-66 - care of the church at Ephesus, in essence a Ch 1: watch out for false doctrine and teachers
leadership manual for church organization and Ch 2: instructions on worship
administration Ch 3-5: developing mature leaders, church’s responsibility
- encouragement to Timothy to stand firm, toward singles, widows, elders and slaves
persevere and remain true to his calling Ch 6: flee false doctrines; right understanding of riches

2 Timothy Paul AD 67, - last words to encourage Timothy and all Ch 1: passion for Christ and sound doctrine
shortly believers to stay focused on the reward of Ch 2: avoiding ungodly beliefs, practices, fleeing immorality
before Paul heaven, avoiding false doctrine and practices, Ch 3: persecution and apostasy (“falling away”) in end time
was executed being ground in the truth Ch 4: standing firm in the faith and finishing the race strong

Titus Paul AD 66 - completing the establishment of proper Ch 1: qualifications for elders, dealing with false teachers
leadership in the churches in Crete Ch 2: teaching godly conduct for all kinds of believers
- with saving grace comes power to live as Ch 3: devotion to doing good, showing humility to all
godly examples; devotion to doing good

Philemon Paul AD 60 - receiving a runaway slave back as a brother Verse 10, 16: Onesimus becomes a Christian
- distinction between law and grace, slave and Verse 21: expectation of forgiveness, freedom for Onesimus
freed man

Hebrews ? Paul, AD 65 - superiority of Jesus as mediator of new and Ch 2-5: dangers of neglect, unbelief, spiritual immaturity
? Luke, better covenant, with better promises Ch 10,12: danger of failing to endure, of refusing God
? Apollos - justification through faith in Jesus’ once-for-all Ch 11,12: heroes of faith, Christ the Author and Finisher of
& others sacrifice replacing previous shadows our great salvation
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James James, AD 45-60 - true faith expressed through good works Ch 1: faith walk shown in genuine religion
brother of - the power of the tongue Ch 2-3: genuine faith shown in actions; genuine wisdom
Jesus Ch 4: humility, grace and victory over the devil
Ch 5: justice, patience, effective prayer

1 Peter Peter AD 60-65 - rejoicing in suffering for sake of Christ Ch 1: the Christian’s glorious inheritance
- hope from assurance of Christ’s return Ch 2-3: the Christian’s earthly pilgrimage, wives, husbands,
suffering for doing good
Ch 4-5: living for God, the fiery trial

2 Peter Peter AD 65-68/67 - call to grow strong in the faith to detect and Ch 1: making sure of salvation, accuracy of gospel
combat the spreading apostasy Ch 2: church Apostasy
- authenticity of the Word, sure return of Jesus Ch 3: holy lives, looking for Jesus’ return

1 John John AD 85-95 - true love, joy, fellowship with God and each Ch 1-2: understanding God; evidence of true children of God
other as the body of Christ Ch 3: love for God proved by love for others
- combating Gnostic heresies, showing Jesus as Ch 4: testing the spirits; God’s love and ours
the actual, material, authentic manifestation of Ch 5: faith in the Son of God
God in the flesh, with genuine knowledge of God
therefore resulting in moral transformation

2 John John AD 85-95 - urgent warning against tolerating false Verse 6: definition of love
teachers who denied the literal resurrection Verse 11: the practice of Christian love should not give
- true love not as emotion or feelings, but encouragement to the enemies of truth
obedience to the commandments of God

3 John John AD 85-95 - walking in the truth of the gospel Verses 1-8: praise for Gaius’ hospitality
- hospitality, support and encouragement for Verses 9-11: warnings regarding Diotrephes’ behaviour
fellow believers Verses 12: commending Demetrius’ example

Jude Jude, AD 60-80 - imminent apostasy; contending for the faith Verses 3: change of subject due to necessary urgency
brother of - faith once for all delivered to the saints Verses 4-6: warnings about false teachers
James & Verses 20-11: succeeding spiritual warfare
Jesus

Revelation God > AD 94-96 - unveiling of the character and program of God Ch 1: purpose of the prophecy, blessing
(sources 4, 5:) Jesus > for things that ‘must soon take place’ Ch 2-3: letters to seven churches in Asia
Angel > - disclosure / manifestation in full of Jesus now Ch 4-21: visions of the end of this age and the new heaven
John and in the coming ages and earth (devastations poured out upon the earth; the mark
of the beast, “666”; the climactic battle of Armageddon; the
binding of Satan; the reign of the Lord; the Great White
Throne Judgment; and the nature of the eternal city of God)
Ch 5: Conclusion, call to lordship of Jesus Christ

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Sources:
1: http://www.gotquestions.org/New-Testament-Survey.html
2: Halley’s Bible Handbook
3: New Testament (NIV)
4: http://bible.org/seriespage/book-revelation-overview
5: Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon

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