The People's Bible: New Testament

Book of Books provides a quick introduction to the author, content, and purpose of each book of the Bible. It includes introductions to the Apocrypha, a brief review of Jewish history, and an introduction to the New Testament manuscripts. This edition adds an introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls and a critical review of several translations of the Scriptures, including the New Living Translation and God’s Word.

When Matthew left his tax collector’s booth in Galilee to follow Jesus, he became an eyewitness to the Savior’s ministry. His record gives the teachings of Jesus special attention and assures believers that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by so many Old Testament prophecies. For these reasons, his gospel has become the first book of the New Testament.

Most believe that the gospel of Mark was the first of the gospels to be completed. Many also believe that Mark wrote down what Peter proclaimed. It is a gospel of action; Jesus does things. In addition, the gospel asserts that Jesus is the Son of God and spends a great deal of time with the last journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and the Savior’s suffering and death there.

Luke, a physician, traveled with the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys, sharing the message of Jesus. Luke carefully investigated the events in the life of Jesus and talked with eyewitnesses before he began his gospel. His record emphasizes that Jesus is the Savior of all people and was written for new Christians who wanted to know more about Jesus.

The apostle John refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” John was one of the inner circle of disciples, together with Peter and James. As he records the ministry of Jesus, the apostle adds many insights not recorded by the other gospels. John is a simple and clear statement of God’s grace in Christ, written so that readers might believe and have life in Jesus, God’s Son.

Luke wrote Acts as a continuation of his gospel. In this book Luke recorded the growth of the early church after Jesus ascended to heaven. The first part of the book records the growth of the church in and around Jerusalem. Luke goes on to record the apostle Paul’s conversion and the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman world.

On his missionary journeys, Paul heard about the Christians in Rome. He wrote his letter to the Romans to strengthen their faith so that they might help him spread the gospel farther to the west. For over two thousand years, Christians have treasured Romans for its clear and pure presentation of God’s grace to sinners.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians because the congregation faced a series of problems, including the danger of splintering into factions and even lapsing into paganism. Other problems plagued the Corinthians as well. Paul’s letter provided clear advice. The longest chapter, chapter 15, has become one of the most treasured, because it trumpets the victory of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians after he heard a report from Titus about the Corinthian congregation. In this letter Paul compliments the believers for their progress, encourages them to complete the collection for the church in Jerusalem, and defends his ministry against those in the congregation who opposed him and claimed to be super-apostles.

Paul wrote to the Galatians because their faith was threatened by false teachers who said that salvation was dependent upon both Christ and works. This false gospel, Paul wrote, was “no gospel at all.” Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians while he was a prisoner and reminded them of what God’s great power and grace has done for believers.

Paul wrote these letters while he was in prison. Philippians is a warm, personal letter expressing great joy in Christ. Paul wrote to the Colossians to help them understand Christian truth and ward off false teaching. Philemon is a short note to Paul’s friend, asking him to forgive a runaway slave who had become a believer.

When he left the Thessalonians to share the gospel elsewhere, the apostle Paul feared that these Christians would be overwhelmed by false teachers, persecution, and temptations. He wrote two letters to encourage them to remain faithful. These letters offer rich hope and remain good reading for Christians faced with challenges to their faith.

Timothy and Titus were important members of the apostle Paul’s missionary team. Paul’s letters to these two young men show his concern for the future of the church. In these letters Paul provides instruction, warns against false doctrine, and encourages faithfulness. The letters speak to every believer who is concerned about the future of the church.

The letter to the Hebrews asserts that God made his final and complete revelation to humanity through Jesus Christ. The letter provides a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, maintains that Jesus is greater than the Old Covenant, and encourages Christians to persevere in spite of their trials and temptations.

The letters of James, Peter, John, and Jude are often grouped together and called the general, or catholic, epistles because they are not addressed to a single congregation. Peter, James, and John are familiar names to readers of the New Testament. The book of Jude warns us against false teachers.

Revelation provides believers with a beautiful assurance of Christ’s final victory. The seven visions the apostle John records in Revelation describe the ongoing struggle between Christ and Satan. In these visions God assures believers that they will have eternal victory in the new Jerusalem above and that Satan finally will be defeated.