NT Bible - Books, Themes, Authors, Dates

2 TIMOTHY

THEME: A Call to Endurance and Faithfulness in Pastoral Ministry. The last will and testament of a faithful man of God to a young man of God. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. This is the last canonical letter written by Paul, the second to his "son in the faith,". Written during Paul's second Roman imprisonment, Paul does not expect to be released. The letter was written shortly before his martyrdom c. AD 67.

1 TIMOTHY

THEME: A Shepherd's Manual for a Young Pastor. The purpose of the letter is summarized in 3:15-16. This was one of two letters to Paul's "son in the faith,". Paul led him (who was from Lystra, Galatia), to Christ on his first missionary journey. He later added him to his team at the beginning of his second missionary journey. his mother and grandmother were devout Jewish; his father a Greek. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. Critics strongly deny Pauline authorship due to theological bias, though internal evidence and church history clearly affirm that Paul authored the letter. Paul wrote the epistle shortly after release from his first Roman imprisonment (AD 60-62); hence the date for this letter is AD 62-64.

PHILEMON

THEME: An Appeal for Forgiveness. The letter is a personal request to forgive and restore his slave, Onesimus. It serves as a beautiful and practical model for Christian intercession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. One of the four "Prison Epistles," written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment, which lasted AD 60-62. Because Paul writes suggesting release is imminent, it is best to date this letter at the end of his imprisonment -AD 61/62.

2 THESSALONIANS

THEME: Comfort and Correction. The letter was written to comfort the believers in the face of growing persecution, reminding them that the Lord will bring retribution to those who were the source of their suffering, and to correct false understanding and practice that had arisen concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ since his first letter to them. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. This second letter was written only months after the first. Together, they are Paul's first canonical letters (if Galatians is AD 56), and the only two written on his second missionary journey -both from Corinth during his 18 months stay (cf. Acts 18:1-17). Hence, AD51/52.

TITUS

THEME: Conduct in the Church. The letter is written to, left by Paul on the island of Crete, to instruct him how to develop order, godliness, and healthy doctrine in the church there. he had become a dear disciple in the faith. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. Written between AD 62-64, after Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment (AD 60-62). After his release, Paul ministered with him on the island of Crete.

JUDE

THEME: Contending for the Faith. The letter is written to awaken Christians to the threat of false teaching and call them to contend earnestly for apostolic doctrine. The letter is very similar in content to 2 Peter. AUTHOR/DATE: Jude, one of the four half-brother of Jesus. Probably written after 2 Peter, but before the destruction of Jerusalem. Hence AD 68-70

1 CORINTHIANS

THEME: Correcting Sinful Behavior.The epistle addresses a church strongly impacted by the immoral world around it. It was also written to address specific questions the church had sent to Paul. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. Written in Ephesus on Paul's thirdmissionary journey, AD 55.

2 PETER

THEME: Defeating False Teachers. The epistle was written to instruct Christians how to counter the growing influence of false teaching in the church. This epistle and that of Jude provide the strongest descriptions of and admonition against false teachers. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Peter, who wrote the epistle shortly before his martyrdom at Nero's hands, in AD 67-68.

1 JOHN

THEME: Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship(with God, and with other Christians). AUTHOR/DATE: John the apostle; one of the sons of Zebedee, the other being James. Written c. AD 90-95.

ACTS

THEME: History of the Early Church. This is the second book in a two-part series by the author, addressed to Theophilus. Whereas the Gospel focused on the history of the Son of Man, this record details the history of the birth and early decades of the Church. The traditional title "Acts" could refer to the acts of the Apostles, or more appropriately, the acts of the Holy Spirit. AUTHOR/DATE: Luke the physician, who wrote his Gospel around AD 60, and this book shortly thereafter, before the end of Paul's first Roman imprisonment. Hence, AD 60-62. (Note the "we" sections that begin in Acts 16:10.)

MATTHEW

THEME: Jesus as King. This Gospel is directed towards a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's long-awaited Messiah and royal King. It is written to strengthen the faith of Jewish Christians and provide an apologetic tool for Jewish evangelism. AUTHOR/DATE: Matthew, whose other name was Levi; a tax collector who left everything to follow Christ; one of the Twelve. Matthew probably as early as AD 50.

MARK

THEME: Jesus as Servant. This Gospel targets a Gentile--especially Roman--audience. It is the "Gospel of action," moving rapidly through narratives with thefrequent use of "immediately" and "then." Jesus is presented as the Servant (cf. 10:45) who came preaching, healing, and teaching, and then finally dying for the sins of many. AUTHOR/DATE: Mark, also known as John in the book of Acts; a cousin of Barnabas; accompanied Barnabas and Paul on a part of their first missionary journey, but then abandoned them. Later was restored; became a close companion of the apostle Peter, under whose influence and witness he was able to pen this Gospel, probably in mid-50s AD.

LUKE

THEME: Jesus as the Son of Man. The Gospel uses the title "Son of Man" 26 times, presenting Jesus as the answer to the needs and hopes of the human race. The Gospel is specifically addressed to Theophilus (1:4), who most likely was a high-ranking Gentile official, intending to give himcertainty in his faith in this Savior. The Gospel also serves as "Part 1" of a two-part history of the Christian faith written by the same author to the same individual, with Acts serving as "Part 2." AUTHOR/DATE: Luke the physician. Educated, as evidenced by his literary style (more sophisticated than any other NT writer); a careful, accurate historian (cf. 1:1-4). Wrote around AD 60.

PHILIPPIANS

THEME: Joy in Christ through Selfless Service. Paul uses a practical reason (thanksgiving to the church for their generous gift they had sent) to address concerns of rivalry and selfishness which had started to take root in this congregation. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. One of the "Prison Epistles," written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment (AD 60-62), probably nearer to the end, since Paul hints that a verdict will soon be delivered. Hence, c. AD 61.

GALATIANS

THEME: Justification by Faith Alone. Provides a defense against the efforts of legalists to introduce works into the equation of salvation. Paul shows how God has always justified by faith, not works, and how the true life of faith is a life according to the rule of the Spirit, not the flesh. Justification by faith is not the Law, neither is it antinomianism. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. While most scholars date the epistle to AD 50, there is strong internal evidence to suggest it was written after 2 Corinthians and before Romans, in early AD 56.

2 JOHN

THEME: Necessities for Fellowship: Love and Truth AUTHOR/DATE: John the apostle. Written around the same time as -AD 90-95, during John's ministry in Ephesus.

2 CORINTHIANS

THEME: Paul's Defense of his Apostleship. It is intensely personal; it is second only to the epistle to the Galatians in passion (and hence, very complex grammatically). AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul; written months after 1 letter, from Macedonia on his trip from Ephesus to Corinth, late AD 55 or early AD 56, during his third missionary journey.

ROMANS

THEME: Righteousness of God. The theme of the book is stated in 1:16-17. DATE/AUTHOR: The apostle Paul. Written in Corinth on the third missionary journey, AD 56.

3 JOHN

THEME: Standards of Christian Hospitality. The letter is built on a contrast between true, Christian hospitality (evidenced by Gaius--the recipient) and prideful selfishness (evidenced by Diotrephes. AUTHOR/DATE: John the apostle. Written around the same time as -AD 90-95, during John's ministry in Ephesus. This epistle is the shortest of the NT letters.

1 PETER

THEME: The Christ-like Response to Suffering. The letter was written to instruct Christians how to live victoriously in every area of life -despite persecution. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Peter, a fisherman called by Jesus to be His disciple; also known as Simon. Written shortly before or just after July, AD 64, when Rome was burned.

EPHESIANS

THEME: The Christian's Position and Practice.The letter is one of encouragement and admonition, reminding believers of their infinite blessings in Christ, and calling them to live out their serious responsibilities. "In Christ/Him" is a key phrase. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. One of the "Prison Epistles," written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment, sometime between AD 60-62.

1 THESSALONIANS

THEME: The Model Church. Out of all of Paul's letters to the churches, his correspondence with them is the warmest. Paul writes to encourage them in their young and vibrant faith, and to deal with needs that had arisen and been reported to him. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. Paul wrote the first of these two letters to the church just six months after he preached the gospel to them the first time, on his second missionary journey, while in Corinth. AD 51. If Galatians was written in AD 56, then this letter is the first of Paul's canonical letters chronologically.

REVELATION

THEME: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, who is, was, and is to come. This book, composed primarily of prophetic truth, is written to exhort and encourage churches facing stagnation, worldliness, false teaching, and persecution, by showing the culmination of the purposes of God in human history, with Christ at the center. AUTHOR/DATE: John the apostle, author of the fourth Gospel, and 1-3 John. John wrote from exile, on the island of Patmos, at the end of the first century -c. AD 95.

COLOSSIANS

THEME: The Sufficiency and Supremacy of Christ. The letter is a defense of the sufficiency of Christ and His gospel in the face of false teaching threatening the church. These threats included legalism, asceticism, worship of angels, and pre-Gnostic trends. AUTHOR/DATE: The apostle Paul. One of the four "Prison Epistles," written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment (AD 60-62), near to the end because of its connection with the letter to Philemon, where Paul anticipates to soon be freed from prison. Hence AD 61.

HEBREWS

THEME: The Superiority of Christ. A good understanding of the book of Leviticus is important for understanding this epistle. The central message is God's provision of a perfect, final, once-for-all priest and sacrifice to atone for sin. It contrasts the incomplete provisions of the Old Covenant with the complete provisions of the New Covenant. AUTHOR/DATE: Unknown/anonymous; possible candidates include Paul, Apollos, and Luke. The present tense references to the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system suggest a writing of the epistle before the temple's destruction in AD 70. Hence, AD 67-69.

JAMES

THEME: True Faith Works. Written to a Jewish audience of the Diaspora, this epistle is considered the Proverbs of the New Testament because of its emphasis on wisdom and its practical sayings. It complements Paul's emphasis on justification by faith by focusing on the practical outworking of true faith. AUTHOR/DATE: The half-brother of Jesus who became a believer after Jesus' resurrection. Became one of the "pillars" of the Jerusalem church (Gal. 2:9). Also known as the Just. According to Josephus, he was martyred in AD 62. He wrote this epistle before the Jerusalem Council (c. AD 49), probably between AD 45-49, making it the first canonical book (chronologically) of the NT.

JOHN

THEME:Jesus as the Son of God.The last Gospel written, emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ. Clearly evangelistic in purpose (cf. John 20:31), the Gospel was written to bring readers to faith and life in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. AUTHOR/DATE: John, the disciple of Jesus. Wrote sometime between AD 80-90.