Introducing the New Testament
12.28.22
When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that are under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4, 5)
The Old and New Testaments— the word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word ‘biblios’ which means book. The term ‘testament’ refers to a covenant. The Old Testament thus refers to the covenants between God and Israel, especially Abraham, Moses and David. The New Testament deals with God’s covenant with all mankind through Christ.
The Silent Years— as noted in a previous article [12.14.22], there were some 400 years of silence between the OT and the NT. During these years the nation of Israel was scattered and God did not speak to them, God was preparing the world for the coming of His Son.
The Jews of the Dispersion did much to spread the news of their Messianic hope. The Romans had made the world into one vast empire, and spread their roads throughout it. These roads (and the peaceful conditions that a centralized government created) aided in the rapid spread of the Gospel. Surely, it was the right time for the Messiah to come!
The New Testament as a Whole— the dominant idea of the NT is, in a word, fulfillment. The NT is the fulfillment of the OT. The OT, as wonderful as it is, is a work of unexplained ceremonies (endless sacrifices and ceremony), unachieved purposes (where is David’s throne?), unappeased longings (when will Messiah come?), and unfulfilled prophecies (the Messiah and the Kingdom).
But then Jesus came, and fulfillment began! He is the fulfillment of OT ceremony, history, philosophy and prophecy. These fulfillments prove that the OT is God’s Word. They guarantee that the still unfulfilled remainder of both the OT and the NT will occur in God’s perfect timing.
As J.S. Baxter declared, “The NT is the most vital book in the world. Its supreme subject is the Lord Jesus Christ. Its supreme object is the salvation of human beings. Its supreme project is the ultimate reign of the Lord Jesus Christ in a boundless and endless empire.”
The Canon of the NT— the word canon refers to a ruler or measurement. It speaks of the recognized books of the Bible.
What measurements were used to determine which books would be included in the NT? There were four criteria. First, the book had to have been written by an Apostle [Matthew, John, Paul], or someone closely associated with an Apostle [Mark, Luke]. Second, the content of the book had to be of a high spiritual character. Many apocryphal books were easily rejected on this basis.
Third, the book needed to be universally received by the church of the first three centuries. Most of the books were readily received. Only a few, like James, took some time to be accepted. The ultimate test was that the book had to give evidence of being divinely inspired. As the books of the Bible were given by the Holy Spirit, as the men considering these books were guided by the Holy Spirit, this gradually led to harmonious, and eventually to unanimous conclusions.
Next time we plan to take up the fist NT book, Matthew, the Gospel of the King.