Session
11: Section 2
Overview
of the books of the Bible (Part 5)
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We
want to conclude the overview by looking at New
Testament times.
The
New Testament revolves around the Lord Jesus Christ.
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
tell his life story and message. There is a summary
of all four Gospels in the "Summary of the
Books of the Bible". The map shows the land
of Israel in New Testament times along with the
more common places mentioned in the four Gospels.
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A Roman Legionary.
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Rome
was the superpower at the time the New Testament
was written.
The
Roman Empire had swallowed up the Greek Empire
which went before it. So the world of the New
Testament would have been a very mixed culture.
There would have been many different ideas and
influences that could affect people in their way
of life and thought.`
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The
great Temple of Apollo at Corinth.
The
fact that meat which had been offered to idols
was on sale in the markets was a real problem
of conscience for the early believers at Corinth.
As
a result of this there was a lot said in the New
Testament to try and prevent the early believers
being led astray by the influences around them.
It was made clear that these influences would
directly affect the early believers:
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Read
Acts 20 v 28 to 31
and 1 John 4 v 1
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The
letters (Romans through to 3 John) were sent to the
early churches to help them try and resist some of these
influences.
The
Acts of the Apostles covers the development of the early
church after Jesus had ascended to heaven. It records
the spread of the preaching from Jerusalem, which was
mainly to Jews, through to preaching throughout the
known world to both Jews and non-Jews.
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Acts
1
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The
Ascension of Christ.
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Acts
2 to 5
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The
preaching of Peter, mainly in Jerusalem, and the
resulting opposition
from the Jewish authorities.
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Acts
6 & 7
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The
preaching of Stephen and the opposition that brought
his death.
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Acts
8
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The
preaching of Philip.
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Acts
9
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The
conversion of Saul (later called Paul). Paul was
to become the main force in spreading the gospel
round the world.
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Acts
10 & 11
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The
first non-Jewish convert - Cornelius.
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Acts
12
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Persecutions.
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Acts
13 to 28
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The
growth and problems of the early church and the
journeys of Paul, who eventually reached Rome.
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A
model of a Roman corn ship. Paul could have travelled
to Rome on a ship like this.
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The
map shows the Roman Empire in New Testament times
along with the
more common places mentioned in the New Testament.
Click on the map to enlarge it.
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It
is interesting to see what was happening in the Acts
of the Apostles. Paul moved out from Jerusalem and Israel
and finally ended up in prison in Rome. You may think
that this was not a very good position for a preacher
to be in. Yet if you think a little, it was the best
possible place for him to be.
Paul
was in prison in the capital city of the then known
world. He was in fact only under "house arrest"
for his own safety, as no charges had been laid against
him. So he was free to receive anyone interested in
hearing his message. This then, in effect, helped to
spread the gospel all round the known world. Those travelling
to and from Rome would hear the news of the gospel and
take it back home.
Another
critical force in spreading the gospel was persecution.
This had the effect of scattering the believers throughout
the Roman Empire. They would take the message with them,
and their beliefs would take root in the areas where
they settled.
You
can look at the summary of the contents of the New Testament
in the "Summary of the Books of the Bible".
Optional
Assignment 16
Overview
of the books of the Bible
Continue
from assignments 6, 8 and 11, making your own summary
of the Bible story. Using the Gospel of Luke and the
book of Acts, you can now complete the story with the
New Testament.
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