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Introduction To The New Testament Scriptures

Introduction to the New Testament Scriptures

The New Testament Scriptures are a collection of writings that are considered authoritative by Christians, alongside the Old Testament. The term "New Testament" refers to the new covenant between God and humanity, mediated by Jesus Christ [5].

The New Testament writings were composed by various authors, including the apostles Matthew, John, Paul, Peter, and James, as well as other early Christian leaders. These writings include the four Gospels, which narrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as letters (epistles) and other texts that provide instruction and guidance for early Christian communities [2].

The concept of "Scripture" in the New Testament refers to the authoritative writings that were considered inspired by God. The New Testament writers frequently cited the Old Testament Scriptures, demonstrating their reverence for the existing canon of sacred texts [1]. The New Testament itself became recognized as Scripture over time, as the early Christian church acknowledged the authority of the apostolic writings [3].

The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates the Reformed understanding of the New Testament Scriptures, stating that they are "given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life" [6]. This confession reflects the broader Christian tradition, which has long recognized the New Testament as a fundamental component of the Christian canon.

The early Church Fathers also played a significant role in shaping the understanding of the New Testament Scriptures. For example, Lactantius wrote about the "secrets of the prophets" being revealed in the New Testament, highlighting the continuity between the Old and New Testaments [5]. Similarly, Augustine referenced the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the new covenant, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations in the New Testament [8].

The New Testament writings demonstrate a deep connection to the Old Testament, with many authors drawing on the language, imagery, and themes of the earlier Scriptures. The Gospel writers, in particular, presented Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and expectations [4].

The process of compiling and transmitting the New Testament writings involved the use of amanuenses (scribes) and the circulation of manuscripts among early Christian communities [2]. The text of the New Testament has been carefully preserved and transmitted over the centuries, with various traditions contributing to its interpretation and understanding.

In the Reformed tradition, the authority of the New Testament Scriptures is closely tied to their inspiration by the Holy Spirit. According to John Calvin, the Scriptures are "self-authenticating" and bear witness to their own divine origin [9]. This understanding is reflected in the Westminster Confession's statement that the Scriptures are "immediately inspired by God" [6].

The New Testament Scriptures have been interpreted and understood in various ways throughout history. The early Church Fathers, the Reformers, and other Christian traditions have all contributed to the rich and diverse heritage of New Testament interpretation. As Matthew Henry noted, the New Testament is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God," and its message continues to be proclaimed and interpreted in diverse contexts [10].

The recognition of the New Testament as authoritative Scripture has been a hallmark of Christian orthodoxy. As Charles Hodge observed, the New Testament writings are "addressed to the people, and not to the officers of the Church either exclusively, or specially" [7]. This emphasis on the accessibility and authority of Scripture has shaped Christian theology and practice throughout history.

The New Testament Scriptures remain a vital component of Christian faith and practice, offering guidance, instruction, and inspiration to believers across the centuries. As the apostle Peter wrote, the prophetic word of Scripture is "a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" [11].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — It is proposed in this article to consider the text of the New Testament. The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. The history of the written text; II. The history of the printed text. I. THE HISTORY OF THE WRITTEN TEXT.-- + The early history of the apostolic writings externally, as far as it can be traced, is the same as that of other contemporary books. St. Paul, like Cicero or Pliny often employed the services of an amanuensis, to whom he dictated his letters, affixing the salutation "with his own hand." (1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3”
  3. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 40: Word of God. When we refer to the Bible as 153 of divine authority, we refer to it as a volume and recognize all the writings which it contains as given by the inspiration of the Spirit. In like manner when Christ or his Apostles quote the “Scriptures,” or the “law and the prophets,” and speak of the volume then so called, they give their sanction to the divine authority of all the books which that volume contained. All, therefore, that is necessary to determine for Christians the canon of the Old Testament, is to ascertain what books wer”
  4. Introduction “1 Enoch (Book of Enoch), Introduction, section 21: Testament. Biblical analysts may question obscure traces of evangelical diction in apostolic Fathers; but what candid and impartial inquirer can doubt the Enochian origin of the “Son of man sitting upon the throne of his glory”—the “new heaven” and the “new earth;” the “many habitations” of the elect, and “the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”? We have merely collated some of the most striking instances of parallel passages in the Book of Enoch and in the New Testament. Our readers can supplement our labours through their”
  5. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — CHAP. XX.--OF THE DEPARTURE OF JESUS INTO GALILEE AFTER HIS RESURRECTION; AND OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS, THE OLD AND THE NEW. (part 1): Therefore He went into Galilee, for He was unwilling to show Himself to the Jews, lest He should lead them to repentance, and restore them from their impiety to a sound mind.(11) And there He opened to His disciples again assembled the writings of Holy Scripture, that is, the secrets of the prophets; which before His suffering could by no means be understood, for they told of Him and of His passio”
  6. Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed) “Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed, 1646), CHAPTER 1 (part 1): CHAPTER 1 Of the Holy Scripture 1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more ”
  7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 44: in his stead. He must answer for himself; and if he must answer for himself, he must judge for himself. It will not avail him in the day of judgment to say that his parents or his Church taught him wrong. He should have listened to God, and obeyed Him rather than men. 2. The Scriptures are everywhere addressed to the people, and not to the officers of the Church either exclusively, or specially. The prophets were sent to the people, and constantly said, “Hear, O Israel,” “Hearken, O ye people.” Thus, also, the discourses of Christ were ad”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 33.--THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAH CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT.: Observe this also in that testimony which was given by the prophet on this subject in the clearest way: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will consummate a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. Because they continued not in my covenant, I also have rejected them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the cov”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:2 1:26 1:27 1:31 2:7 2:7 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:23 3:7 3:9 3:12 3:15 3:15 3:15 3:22 4:4 4:7 4:10 4:13 6:3 6:5 6:6 6:18 7:21 8:21 9:6 12:12 12:17 14:18 14:18 15:1 15:1 15:5 15:17 16:9 17:7 17:7 17:10 17:10 17:13 17:15 17:27 18:2 18:23 20:3 20:7 21:1 21:12 21:24 22:1 22:8 22:16-18 23:4 23:19 24:7 24:10 26:27 27:28 27:38-39 28:12 28:20 29 30:2 31:19 31:20 31:40-41 32 32:10 32:13 32:29-30 33 34 36:22 37:18 37:28 37:33 38:18 42 43 43:14 45:5 47:9 47:9 47:29-30 48:14 48:16 49:5-6 49:18 Exodus 2:12 3:2 3”
  10. Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 1:1: We may observe here, I. What the New Testament is - the divine testament, to which we adhere above all that is human; the new testament, which we advance above that which was old. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God, Mar 1:1. 1. It is gospel; it is God's word, and is faithful and true; see Rev 19:9; Rev 21:5; Rev 22:6. It is a good word, and well worthy of all acceptation; it brings us glad tidings. 2. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the anointed Saviour, the Messiah promised and expected. The foregoing gospel began with the generation of Jesus Christ -”
  11. 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:19: In these words the apostle lays down another argument to prove the truth and reality of the gospel, and intimates that this second proof is more strong and convincing than the former, and more unanswerably makes out that the doctrine of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God. For this is foretold by the prophets and penmen of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the influence and according to the direction of the Spirit of God. Here no”
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