A STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

(PART 2)

Irenaeus, who lived in the second century A.D., said that Matthew wrote the book of Matthew while Paul preached in Rome. That would make the writing of this bok about 60 or 61 A.D. Early church writers said that this gospel was written as early as 37 A.D. They also believed that this book was written in the Aramaic language but there is no proof of this and there is no evidence that our book of Matthew was translated out of Aramaic. Matthew’s occupation as a tax collector would require that he know Greek. Matthew shows Christ fulfilling the law and the prophets. Christ is the Messiah of Old Testament predictions, the fulfillment of the covenant to Abraham and the king of the true Israel of the line of David.

Mark was with Paul in Rome at the time of his imprisonment. (Colossians 4:10) He was also with Peter about the same time. (I Peter 5:13) Tradition has it that he was the interpreter of Peter. Peter, no doubt gave him the words of the book of Mark and he wrote it down. Mark points out that Christ preached a gospel of power and confirmed it by great miracles. Immediately and straightway were his terms of the wondrous works of Jesus. His gospel would have been written between A.D. 63 and A.D. 66.

Luke was reported to be a citizen of Antioch of Syria. He was the only Gentile to write books of the New Testament. He wrote about A.D. 53 in Rome where he was the personal physician of Paul the prisoner. Many say his gospel was written for the benefit of the Greeks who had become Christians; however, it is a gospel for all men. It shows Christ to be the great physician, healing both souls and bodies with his great power and precious messages.

First and Second Peter wrote to "the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." (I Peter 1:1) It is likely that Peter wrote after the release of Paul from prison in Rome. It was written about 62 or 63 A.D. and addressed to the Christians of Asia Minor. This was about the time that Nero began persecuting the Christians after the burning of Rome. IT is designed yo strengthen, encourage, and comfort persecuted Christians. They were faced with fiery trials. They were told, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." (I Peter 4:12) He told these Christians to "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." (I Peter 5:6) Second Peter was written shortly before Peter’s death or about the time that Paul wrote second Timothy. Tradition has it that the death of these two apostles occurred at about the same time. II Peter 3:10 speaks of "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." It is almost impossible for people to read this and not conclude that there is and end coming to this earth. Christians should "gro in grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:18)

James has been thought by some to be the earliest book of the New Testament to be written. This would be about 50 A.D. James was martyred for the cause of Christ. Some fanatical Jews forced him to the roof of the temple where they demanded that he blaspheme Christ. He declared boldly that Jesus is the son of God. He was then hurled from the temple and killed. This book was addressed to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." (James 1:1) Like Peter, he is exhorting the Christians to be faithful in trials. James declares that faith is useless unless it is shown in works. This James would be the Lord’s brother. (Matthew 13:55)

Jude was another brother of Jesus Christ who wrote the short epistle that bears his name. He writes to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. He exhorted the Christians to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3) He also told them to "keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (James 1:21)

The apostle John wrote five books of the New Testament. It is generally thought that he wrote these books somewhere between 90 and 96 A.D. He was "on the island of Patmos for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9), when he received the book of Revelation. This would be between 05 and 96 A.D. Along about that same time he wrote the gospel of John and first, second, and third John.

This is how our New Testament came into being. Paul boldly proclaims that God revealed these things for our benefit and that these inspired men spoke as the Holy Spirit taught them.(I Corinthians 2:8-13) Peter says we should be mindful of the words spoken by the apostles and the holy prophets. (II Peter 3:2) Hebrews 2:1-4 exhorts us to give the more earnest heed to these words lest at any time we should slip.

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