Fast Facts on the Books of the New Testament

• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John
• Acts
• Romans

• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians

• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon

• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John

• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation
• References

Length

28 chapters

Probable author

The Apostle Matthew, a tax collector (Mt 9:9-13)

Date

Jewishness may indicate early date of 50s AD, but if Matthew used Mark as a source, the date could be anywhere between late 50s and 80s AD.

Place of Origin

Palestine or Syrian Antioch

Recipients

Jews

Purpose

To demonstrate that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah

Structure

Organized around five great discourses of Jesus (chs. 5-7; ch. 10; ch. 13; ch. 18; chs. 24-25), with a prologue and epilogue.

Emphases

Jesus as Messiah; OT quotations; Jesus' Davidic lineage

Early references

"Matthew put together the oracles of the Lord in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could." (Papias, Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord, c. 120 AD)

"Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome." (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.1, c. 180 AD)

"Among the four gospels... I have learned by tradition that first was written that according to Matthew, who was once a tax collector but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, who published it for those who from Judaism came to believe, composed as it was in the Hebrew language." (Origin (c. 185-254 AD), Commentary on Matthew, quoted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 6.25.4)

Length

16 chapters

Probable author

John Mark, a companion of the Apostle Peter

Date

Either 50s AD or shortly before 70 AD.

Place of Origin

Rome

Recipients

Gentiles, probably at Rome

Purpose

To encourage believers under threat of persecution and martyrdom

Emphases

The crucifixion, discipleship, suffering, Jesus as teacher, Jesus as the Son of God, the Messianic secret

Early references

"Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter." (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.1, c. 180 AD)

"...the Gospel according to Mark was composed in the following circumstances: Peter preached the word publicly at Rome. By the Spirit, he proclaimed the Gospel. Those who were present (who were numerous) urged Mark to write down what had been spoken. For he had attended Peter from an early period and remembered what had been said. On his composing the Gospel, Mark handedit to those who had urged him. When this came to Peter's knowledge, he neither hindered nor encouraged it." (Clement of Alexandria, c. 195 AD, quoted by Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 6.14)

Length

24 chapters

Author

Luke, a Greek-speaking Gentile physician and companion of the Apostle Paul

Date

Its Jewishness may indicate early date of 50s AD, but if Matthew used Mark as a source, the date could be anywhere between late 50s and 80s AD.

Place of Origin

Probably Rome (or Achaia, Ephesus or Caesarea)

Recipients

Theophilus, who lived in Antioch, Achaia, or Ephesus

Purpose

Luke was probably commissioned by Theophilus, a wealthy man, to record the gospel for the edification of Theophilus and others.

Emphases

Gentiles as part of God's plan, prayer, the joy of the "good news", the poor, sinners, women, family life, Jesus as Son of Man

Early references

"Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him." (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.1, c. 180 AD) "The third book of the Gospel is that according to Luke. Luke, the well-known physician, after the ascension of Christ, when Paul had taken him with him as one zealous for the law, composed it in his own name, according to general belief. Yet he himself had not seen the Lord in the flesh; and therefore, as he was able to ascertain events, so indeed he begins to tell the story from the birth of John." (Muratorian Canon 2-8, c. 200 AD) "And thirtabley, that according to Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul [2 Corinthians 8:18] and composed for those who from the Gentiles came to believe." (Origin (c. 185-254 AD), Commentary on Matthew, quoted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.25.6)

Length

21 chapters

Probable author

The Apostle John (or a later writer who used John's teachings)

Date

Traditionally, 85 AD or later, especially c. 100 AD; some have recently suggested no later than 70 AD.

Place of Origin

Possibly Ephesus

Recipients

Probably Gentiles of a Hellenistic background.

Purpose

To win converts or build up the faith of believers (20:31). Possibly also to refute heretical teachings.

Emphases

Incarnation of the Word, Jesus as Son of God, interpretive comments about Jesus' sayings and actions

Early references

"The fourth of the Gospels is that of John, one of the disciples. To his fellow disciples and bishops, who had been urging him to write, he said, 'Fast with me from today for three days, and what will be revealed to each one let us tell it to one another.' In the same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that John should write down all things in his own name while all of them should review it." (Muratorian Canon 9-16, c. 200 AD) "What a mind, then, we must have to enable us to interpret this work in a worthy manner. This is so even though it has been committed to the earthly treasure house of common speech. It is a writing that anyone can read." (Origen of Alexandria, Commentary on John 1.6, c. 228 AD)

Length

28 chapters

Probable author

Luke, the Gentile physician and companion of Paul who is also the author of the Gospel of Luke

Date

Probably c. 63 AD, shortly after the last event recorded in the book, since it does not record the outcome of Paul's trial, the Roman persecutions (64 AD) the martyrdom of Peter or Paul (c. 67) or the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD). If the book ends where it does only because of Luke's purpose (1:8), it could have been written later.

Place of origin

Rome

Recipients

Theophilus (see Gospel of Luke, above)

Purpose:

To present a history, to provide a guide for the future church, to show the triumph of Christianity

Characteristics

Accurate historical detail, literary excellence, dramatic descriptions, objective accounts of failures and successes

Emphases

Guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul's missionary journeys, the drawing away from Jewish traditions.

Early references

"The Acts of the Apostles, too, attests the resurrection." (Tertullian, On the Resurrection 39, c. 210 AD)

Length

16 chapters

Author

Apostle Paul

Date

57 AD

Origin

Corinth

Recipients

The church at Rome

Purpose

To prepare the way for Paul's upcoming visit to Rome and to explain the relationship between Jew and Gentile in God's plan of salvation.

Characteristics

Systematic and theological

Emphases

"Righteousness from God," justification by faith, sin and guilt, Jew and Gentile, moral exhortations.

Length

16 chapters

Probable author

Apostle Paul

Date

c. Spring 55 AD

Place of origin

Ephesus

Recipients

The church at Corinth

Purposes

To respond to reports of immorality in the Corinthian church, to provide counsel on several subjects as requested by the church, and to correct false teachings related to the resurrection.

Emphases

Righteous life and holiness

Early references

"As to the epistles of Paul... he wrote first of all - and at considerable length - to the Corinthians, to curtail the schism of heresy." (Muratorian Canon, c. 200 AD)

Length

13 chapters

Probable author

Apostle Paul

Date

c. Summer 55 AD

Place of origin

Macedonia

Recipients

The church at Corinth and Christians through Achaia

Purposes

To respond to false teachers who had been speaking against Paul at Corinth.

Emphases

Paul's integrity and role as apostle

Length:

6 chapters

Author:

Apostle Paul

Date:

c. 48-57 AD

Place of Origin:

Ephesus, Macedonia, Syrian Antioch, or Corinth

Recipients:

Churches in southern area of the Roman province of Galatia ( Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe)

Purpose:

Respond to Judaizers, who required Gentile converts to Christianity to be circumcized and who argued that Paul was not an authentic apostle.

Emphases:

Paul's apostolic authority, justification by faith apart from legalism. (This book was very influential on Martin Luther.)

Length:

6 chapters

Author:

Apostle Paul

Date:

c. 60 AD

Place of Origin:

Prison in Rome

Recipients:

Ephesus and other churches

Purpose:

Help readers understand God's eternal purpose and high goals for the church.

Emphases:

God's goals for the church ("to bring all things in the universe together under Christ"), spiritual gifts, unity of the church, purity.

Length:

4 chapters

Author:

Apostle Paul

Date:

c. 61

Place of Origin:

Prison, probably in Rome

Recipients:

Church at Philippi

Purpose:

To thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent him upon learning of his situation, to update them on his circumstances, to encourage them in persecution, to warn them about Judaizers and antinomians among them.

Emphases:

Joy (the word occurs 16 times), Christ, humility and unity. Contains no OT quotations.