Understanding the New Testament

Now this is a very big subject, however, in order to understanding what is written to us in the New Testament, we must learn when and to whom each part was written.

2 Timothy 2:15 says "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

The gospels were written to tell us of the ministry of Jesus. This time period was prior to establishing the church. Remember Jesus saying to Peter, "On this rock I will build my church..." Note: "I will build..." The church had not yet been established during the time of Jesus. It was established when the gospel was first preached by Peter and the other disciples at Pentecost. Note the text in the book of Acts: "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47 and "Great fear seized the whole church..." Acts 5:11

The church began when people responded to the gospel. The church began when Jesus sent power from on high to initiate it. "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 and see that happening in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The book of Acts is very important as it shares with us the history of the early church. By reading and studying this book we learn how the First Century Church preached the gospel and how they responded to it. If I want to become a Christian today, I need to know how they became Christians. It is our goal to follow they biblical pattern. You may ask: "What about the other books/epistles in the New Testament? Don't they tell you how to become a Christian?"

The epistles were written to encourage the established church. The recipients of the epistles were already Christians. When We read what is written in these letters, we are reading reminders to the church of who they are and how they should live. We must not use these letters as if they were written to non-Christians.

So if I am to understand the New Testament, I must remember that the gospels were written to tell of the ministry of Jesus. The book of Acts was written to tell us how the early church was established, so that we could emulate that pattern. The epistles were written to encourage those who had given themselves to Jesus and became members of His church. If I know this, I will be able to correctly handle the word of truth.