Welcome to this week’s blog. For the next few weeks, I will continue to focus on my favorite book, the Bible.
This week I will continue with part two of the Bible, the New Testament (the Bible, Part 2). I will identify the purpose of each book, the author of each book, the date written, key verses and key people involved to help give you a better understanding of the Bible before you dive into it on your own.
When you open your Bible, you will find the New Testament has 27 books, starting with Matthew (28 chapters) and ending with Revelation (22 chapters). To date, I’ve completed the overview of the Old Testament, 39 books, Genesis (50 chapters) and ending with Malachi (4 chapters).
If you wish to revisit any of the Old Testament blogs, you can find them on my website: https://www.thewitnesstoday.com/blog-archives.
The authors and compilers of books sixteen through twenty of the New Testament are Paul, Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, Silas, Philip, Priscilla and James (Jesus’ brother). Others have been suggested because the name of the author is not given in the biblical text itself. Whoever it was speaks of Timothy as “brother”.
16th Book – 2 Timothy: Chapters (1-4)
Purpose: To give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, pastor of the church of Ephesus.
Author: Paul
Date Written: ~ 66 or 67 A.D. (From the Latin word annō Dominī – stands for “In the year of the Lord”), from prison in Rome. After a year or two of freedom, Paul was arrested again and executed under Emperor Nero.
Key Verse: 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. – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV).
Key People: Paul, Timothy, Luke, Mark and others
17th Book – Titus: Chapters (1-3)
Purpose: To advise Titus in his responsibility of supervising the churches on the island of Crete.
Author: Paul
Date Written: ~ 64 A.D. (From the Latin word annō Dominī – stands for “In the year of the Lord”), around the same time 1 Timothy was written; probably from Macedonia when Paul traveled between his Roman imprisonments.
Key Verse: The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. – Titus 1:5-6 (NIV).
Key People: Paul and Titus
18th Book – Philemon: Chapters (1)
Purpose: To give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, pastor of the church of Ephesus.Purpose: To convince Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and to accept him as a brother in the faith.
Author: Paul
Date Written: ~ 60 A.D. (From the Latin word annō Dominī – stands for “In the year of the Lord”), during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, at about the same time Ephesians and Colossians were written.
Key Verse: Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. – Philemon 1:15-16 (NIV).
Key People: Paul, Philemon and Onesimus
19th Book – Hebrews: Chapters (1-13)
Purpose: To present the sufficiency and superiority of Christ.
Author: Paul, Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, Silas, Philip, Priscilla, and others have been suggested because the name of the author is not given in the biblical text itself. Whoever it was speaks of Timothy as “brother”.
Date Written: ~ 70 A.D. (From the Latin word annō Dominī – stands for “In the year of the Lord”), probably before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem because the religious sacrifices and ceremonies are referred to in the book, but no mention is made of the temple’s destruction.
Key Verse: The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. – Hebrews 1:3 (NIV).
Key People: Old Testament men and women of faith (Chapter 11)
20th Book – James: Chapters (1-5)
Purpose: To expose hypocritical practices and to teach right Christian behavior.
Author: James, Jesus’ brother, a leader in the Jerusalem church
Date Written: ~ 49 A.D. (From the Latin word annō Dominī – stands for “In the year of the Lord”), probably prior to the Jerusalem council held in 50 A.D.
Key Verse: But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. – James 2:18 (NIV).
Key People: James (Jesus’ brother)
Let’s recap. This week we covered the next five books (16-20) of the New Testament (2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews and James). Next week I will pick up with 1 Peter (21st Book) in the New Testament with the same format.
I am hoping you find this format an easy, quick overview of each chapter.
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli
Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quoted From: New International Version Bible (NIV)
Archived Blogs: https://www.thewitnesstoday.com/blog-archives
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