I invite you to read my newly revised e-booklet:
Most Christians refer to the New Testament
from time to time but probably do not put much thought into how it was put
together. It is neatly organized and
appears as though it was systematically compiled in an orderly fashion and the
following concepts are often presumed:
·
The authors
of the Gospels were the apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
·
The Gospels
were written shortly after the death of Jesus by eye witnesses.
·
The books
contained in the New Testament were written in the order presented: Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John and the Pauline Letters follow.
It may appear as though the compilation of
the New Testament was an orderly process, but it was actually a long and
complicated endeavor and all of the above presumptions are misconceptions.
The booklet is a study guide that I will be using to teach my new course: A Contemporary Overview of the New Testament. It is brief and easy reading, perhaps disturbing for some Christians, but definitely not boring! There is a deliberate effort to focus on data rather than theological concepts and to present the material as objectively as possible, allowing the reader take in the data and come to one’s own conclusions in regard to its significance. I would love for you to read it and share your conclusions on this blog.
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