Bible Guide - New Testament (Updated edition)

Andrew Knowles

Description

Hailed as a "classic reference book" by The Right Reverend James Jones, former Bishop of Liverpool, The New Testament Guide provides readers with a complete all-in-one journey through the books of the New Testament. Easy to read and navigate, this volume explores, explains, and brings to life the history, stories, cultures, and messages of each book. The accessibility of Andrew Knowles' writing demystifies many aspects of the scriptures, and deepens our understanding of their principles, doctrine, and messages for us today. Interspersed with boxed features that highlight key events, places, people and biblical passages, The New Testament Guide is an ideal introduction for new scholars and interested readers alike who have little or no grounding in the subject.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 21 février 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781912552375
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

For our grandchildren
Daniel and Bethan, Neve, Lily, and Arlo.

Text copyright 2001 Andrew Knowles
This edition copyright 2020 Lion Hudson IP Limited
The right of Andrew Knowles to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by
Lion Hudson Limited
Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Business Park
Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England
www.lionhudson.com
ISBN 978 1 9125 5236 8
e-ISBN 978 1 9125 5237 5
The Bible Guide first edition 2001
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise stated, scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder Stoughton, a member of the Hodder Headline Group. All rights reserved. NIV is a trademark of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790.
Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked J. B. Phillips are taken from The New Testament in Modern English, revised edition, translated by J. B. Phillips. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
All maps by Tony Cantale Graphics.
Cover image Mihai-Bogdan Lazar / shutterstock.com
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
CONTENTS
Author s Preface
What is the Bible?
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 and 2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter and Jude
1, 2 and 3 John
Revelation
Index
AUTHOR S PREFACE
When I began to write the original single-volume Bible Guide , nearly thirty years ago, I resolved that the book should be simple . The result was, I hope, a companion to the Bible that was helpful to those who sought further understanding of the text, as well as those preparing teaching or study courses. It has been most rewarding, from time to time, to receive news that this has been the case. For ease of use, the current Lion Scholar edition of The Bible Guide is now in two volumes, The Old Testament Guide and The New Testament Guide.
The original Bible Guide was first published in 2001. Two fine scholars, both friends from student days, gave valuable advice: Dr Chris Wright (now of the Langham Partnership), and Dr Stephen Travis of St John s College Nottingham (now St John s College of Mission). Two experienced tutors, Dr John Bimson, and the Revd Mike Butterworth, gave generous access to their teaching notes. Martin Manser took forensic care with the referencing and indexing, and alerted me to any gaps that needed to be filled. And Canon David Winter reviewed the manuscript with astringency and enthusiasm: a critical friend indeed.
I owe everything to those who have taught and continue to teach me the Bible. I dedicated the original book to my own Bible class leader, Gordon Buchanan, who, on Sunday mornings and as part of a very small group, faithfully taught us the Scriptures. The list of those who have challenged and inspired me since, by the grace and courage of their lively faith, is very long indeed.
I am indebted to Lyn Roberts and her team at Lion Hudson, for their care and encouragement in producing this new edition.
The world has changed since 2001, with climate change, militant Islamism, and the advance of AI presenting challenges and opportunities that will shape humanity for generations to come. How shall we live - as individuals, families, communities, and nations - if wisdom, justice and peace are to prevail? I know of no greater or more vital resource than the Bible to convey to us the nature, presence and purpose of the living God. Here is truth to guide, nurture, love, and restore us. God, through his son Jesus Christ, has done all that is necessary to save and renew this world. What remains is for us to become partners in this amazing and privileged task.
Andrew Knowles
Kendal
Epiphany 2020
WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The Christian Bible (which means book) is a collection of books that has been divided into two parts.
The first part is known as the Old Testament. These are Jewish Scriptures, and include ancient stories, histories, laws, poems, prophecies, and wise sayings. The testament of the title refers to a binding covenant (an agreement) between God (Yahweh) and the people of Israel (the Jews). In this covenant God chooses the Jewish people (Israel), blesses them, and blesses the world through them.
The second part of the Bible is known as the New Testament. This testament marks a fresh initiative by God, who sends his Son, Jesus, into the world to complete the mission first entrusted to the Jews. The God who was first revealed to the Jews as the only God, is now made fully known through his Son Jesus Christ.
What is the New Testament?
The New Testament is a collection of documents about the life and impact of Jesus of Nazareth. The followers of Jesus believe he is the Son of God and the Messiah of the Jews (the Anointed One , or Christ ). Their gospel is the good news that, through Jesus Christ, God is rescuing the world from the power of sin and death.
The testament of the title is a new commitment, or covenant, that God is making to humankind. Just as the old covenant with the Jews was sealed by the blood of animal sacrifice, the new covenant is sealed by the death of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus proves that his self-offering is effective, and that he is eternally alive in union with God.
The New Testament story
The New Testament tells how God sends his Son, Jesus, to be born into the nation of Israel. Jesus shows God s total commitment to defeat evil and win the world to his love. This commitment is expressed by incarnation - God actually becoming a human being. Books of the New Testament
Gospels and Acts
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Letters and Revelation
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Jesus shows what God is like, by his teaching, healing and power to overcome evil. He gives his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, by dying on a cross. He is raised from death by God, as a sign that sin is forgiven and death is conquered. Jesus followers are filled with his Spirit and take the good news of his victory to other parts of the world.
While the story of the Old Testament covers thousands of years, the story of the New Testament covers less than a century. The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus and ends with his promise, in the book of Revelation, that he will return soon .
The New Testament, like the Old, is a collection of books. There are four accounts of Jesus life (the Gospels), a record of the life and mission of the early church (the Acts of the Apostles), and some letters written by Paul and others. The New Testament ends with the Apocalypse , or book of Revelation.
The four Gospels
The story of Jesus is told in four Gospels. In the early years of the church, they were known simply as the gospel .
Three of the Gospels are similar - those of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Because they follow the same storyline and contain some of the same material, they are called the synoptic gospels. The fourth Gospel is named after John. This Gospel is arranged around a series of signs that Jesus did, with teaching and commentary in the form of lengthy discourses.
Gospel means good news . Whether preached or written, the gospel proclaims the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The purpose of a Gospel is that people may hear about Jesus Christ and put their faith in him.
The Gospels are the record of the eyewitness accounts of Jesus. At first the stories about Jesus were passed on by word of mouth ( oral tradition). This was a very safe way of communicating his teaching, as Jesus was a rabbi who taught in a rhythmic and colourful style. The Jews especially had well-trained memories, for that was how the law was learned. Jesus also promised his apostles that the Holy Spirit would remind them of his teaching and lead them into all truth.
When the eyewitnesses of Jesus resurrection started to die out, it became necessary to collect the stories about Jesus and his teachings and write them down. Such collections were used in the early church for worship, teaching and evangelism. The Gospels included some of these collections. The first Gospel to be written was Mark, in the AD 50s. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke followed, using Mark s outline, but adding material of their own. The last Gospel to be written was John, around AD 90.
Acts
The book of Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and the sending of his Holy Spirit upon his apostles.
The Holy Spirit enables the apostles to preach the gospel boldly. A lively, loving community of believers is established in Jerusalem. This is disrupted and dispersed by persecution from the authorities. The result is that the gospel starts to travel to other regions and cultures.
One of the leading persecutors of the church is Saul of Tarsus. He is dramatically converted on the Damascus road, where he encounters the risen Christ. As the apostle Paul, he makes three extensive missionary journeys. He travels to Cyprus and through areas which today are Turkey and Greece. His final journey is to Rome, where he is sent for trial before the empero