Introduction

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Define the parts of the New Testament

Canon and the principles of its formation.

• Apply hermeneutics to biblical passages and explain the importance of hermeneutics in avoiding interpretation errors.

• Reasons for reading and studying the New Testament and applying it to daily life.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Define ‘Gospel’ and concisely describe

the relationship between Jesus Christ and the ‘Gospel of Good News’ found in the New Testament.

• Describe the main themes found in the gospels, epistles, and Revelation.

• Recognize the cultural, religious, and other effects of the Greek society on the pre-Christian and Early Church world.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Describe the theological significance and

real world relevance of Jesus’ death on the cross for the entire world.

• Explain the relationship between New Testament believers and Old Testament teaching.

• Distinguish between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming from relevant scripture passages.

What is the “Bible?”What is the “Bible?”

How do we know the right How do we know the right books are in the Bible?books are in the Bible?

The Greek KanonThe Greek Kanon

• It had to be unbendable

• It had to be dependable as to its straightness

KANWN

Canonicity refers to the church’s Canonicity refers to the church’s recognition of the authority of recognition of the authority of

the inspired writings.the inspired writings.

How was the Bible Written?How was the Bible Written?

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for

reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that

the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every

good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for

reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that

the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every

good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Theopneustos

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

• The Extent of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

• The Extent of Inspiration

• The Object of Inspiration

The Church was born with a The Church was born with a completed Canoncompleted Canon

The Testimony of JosephusThe Testimony of Josephus

“For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us,

disagreeing from and contradicting one another [as the Greeks have], but only twenty-two books, which contain the records

of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine...”

(Contra Apion 1:8).

The Testimony of JosephusThe Testimony of Josephus

“It is true, our history has been written since Artaxerxes, very peculiarly, but has not been

esteemed of the like authority with the former by our

forefathers, because there has not been an exact succession of

prophets since that time.” (Contra Apion 1:8).

The New TestamentThe New TestamentA Question of Apostolic A Question of Apostolic

AuthorityAuthority

……having been built on the having been built on the foundation of the apostles and foundation of the apostles and

prophets (Ephesians 2:20)prophets (Ephesians 2:20)

Can our copies of the Bible be Can our copies of the Bible be trusted?trusted?

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Original ManuscriptOriginal Manuscript

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Fundamental Questions in Fundamental Questions in HermeneuticsHermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?

• What did it mean to the original recipients?

Readers TodayReaders Today

Original AuthorOriginal Author Original ReadersOriginal Readers

BibleBible

Fundamental Questions in Fundamental Questions in HermeneuticsHermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?

• What did it mean to the original recipients?

• What does it tell us about our understanding of the Old Testament?

Caesarea ●

Jerusalem●

Joppa ●(Modern Tel Aviv)

Sea ofGalilee

●Megiddo

●Nazareth

Separating theWheat from the Tares

Sea ofGalilee

●Megiddo

●Nazareth

●Tiberias

Capernaum ●

Jerusalem

The City of God

Caesarea ●

Jerusalem●

Joppa ●(Modern Tel Aviv)

Now there is in Jerusalem by the

sheep gate a pool, which is called in

Hebrew Bethesda, having five

porticoes (John 5:2)

In these lay a multitude of those

who were sick, blind, lame, and withered

(John 5:3)

And a certain man was there, who had been

thirty-eight years in his sickness. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and

knew that he had already been a long

time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" (John

5:5-6)

The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am

coming, another steps down before me." (John 5:7)

Old Testament

World

• Different geographical regions

• Different languages

• Different national invaders

• Different types of literature

New Testament

World

What are some similarities between What are some similarities between the Old and New Testaments?the Old and New Testaments?

• Both speak of a Covenant.

• Both are of a historical value.

• Both attest to Christ, the Messiah