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3 KEY FACTS

• Historical accuracy: all accounts are 1st hand or close to 1st hand
• Textual authenticity: there are more manuscripts documenting the NT than any other book in history
• Divine Authority: 1 author, many writers

LAID OUT IN 3 SECTIONS

• 5 Books
• 21 Books
• 1 Book

1st Section - The Story
60% of the New Testament
Matthew - Acts

2nd Section - The Letters (Epistles)
Next 21 Books
Romans - Jude

3rd Section - The Conclusion
Final Book
Revelation

THE STORY

• Starts with the Gospels
• Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
• Written for the same primary purpose: to tell of the life and ministry of Christ

The first three make up the Synoptic Gospels
97% of Mark's words are in Matthew
88% of Mark's words are in Luke

Remember though; it is the same story, written from four different perspectives to four different audiences.

The second part of the story: Acts
Written by Luke
Where the Gospels tell the story of Christ's life and ministry, Acts tells the life and ministry of the church.

The letters
Comprise 35% of the New Testament
5-6 writers depending on your view of Hebrews

Why Letters?
1) The Church was reproducing
2) The Church was Relational

2 groups of letters
Pauline Epistles (Romans - Philemon)
General Epistles (Hebrews - Jude)
Each of these groups are arranged from longest to shortest

PAULINE EPISTLES

• Missionary Epistles
• Written during Paul's missionary journeys
• Galatians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians

PAULINE EPISTLES

• Prison Epistles
• Written during his first imprisonment
• Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon

PAULINE EPISTLES

• Pastoral Epistles
• Written during his last ministry and imprisonment
• 1&2 Timothy, Titus

GENERAL EPISTLES

• Hebrews: who is the writer of Hebrews? "Only God Knows for sure"
• Named for the writer: James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude
• These were written mostly to a more general audience

CONCLUSION

• Revelation
• Written by John
• In 404 verses there are 278 references to the Old Testament