The New Covenant
The second section of the Bible is called the New Covenant. This is the part of the Bible that Christians hold sacred and forms the basis of Christianity. It begins with the Book of Matthew and ends with the Book of Revelation.
The first four books of the New Covenant are called the gospels. The word gospel is translated ‘good tidings’ in most reference books, but it is simply another word for truth.
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
I can’t imagine someone losing his life for speaking good tidings; but I can imagine someone losing his life for speaking the truth. It cost John the Baptist his head!
“For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
The gospels are records of the life of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. Four different authors give us insight into Jesus’ life, but it is only a glimpse. In the gospel of John, we find an interesting statement:
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”
After the four gospels, you’ll find the Book of Acts. This is the record of the ‘first century church’ — comprised of thousands of Jewish believers that believed in the Jewish Messiah. Soon after Jesus’ death, the Gentiles (non-Jews) were flocking to the community of Jewish disciples. It is during this time, many years after Jesus’ death, that the word ‘Christian’ appears for the first time.
“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Following the Book of Acts are letters written to various churches (groups of disciples) located in different cities and countries. The first is the Letter to the Romans (the church at Rome), then the Letter to the Corinthians (the church at Corinth, Greece), and many others. These letters address problems within the churches, rules for operating a church and the behavior God expects from Christians, including their leaders.
You will hear the New Testament letters also called epistles. Either one is correct and both words are used interchangeably in the Bible.
The New Covenant ends with the Book of Revelation — the most controversial book of the Bible for Christians, and one that has been subjected to thousands of misinterpretations and failed predictions. However, the Book of Revelation starts out with a statement that tells readers it is indeed possible to understand its cryptic writings.
“Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
This means it is possible to understand the things written in the Bible so we can do those things and receive a blessing!
-Jo
Bible passages: Mark 8:35, Mark 6:18, John 21:25, Acts 11:26, Revelation 1:3
Tags: bible, christianity, christians, epistles, first century church, gentiles, gospels, jewish disciples, judaism, new covenant, new testament, religion
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