HISTORICAL SNAPSHOT

 


The original texts were written by various authors after AD 45 in Koine Greek, the common language of the first century Roman provinces in the eastern Mediterranean.  The 27 books of the New Testament were gradually collected into a single volume -


:: the 4 narratives of the life and death and miracles of Jesus called "gospels" 


:: a narrative of the ministries of the apostles in the early church 


:: the 21 letters called "epistles" consisting mostly of counsel and instruction 


:: an Apocalyptic prophecy - the book of Revelation 

 

Some historians believe the English term, "New Testament," ultimately comes from the Hebrew language.  The original Hebrew - b'rit chadashah - is usually also translated into English as "New Covenant." 

 

As a result, some claim the term was first used by Early Christians to refer to the new covenant that was the basis for their relationship with God. Two centuries later at the time of Tertullian, the phrase was being used to designate a particular collection of books that embodied this new covenant. 

 

Tertullian is the first currently known to use the terms novum testamentum (new testament) and vetus testamentum (old testament).  For example, he wrote: 

"This may be understood to be the Divine Word, who is doubly edged with the two testaments of the law and the gospel."  [Against Marcion, ch 14] 

 

Two hundred years after the events of the cross, Lactantius, in his "Divine Institutes" wrote: 

 

"All scripture is divided into two testaments.  That which preceded the advent and passion of Christ [the law and the prophets] is called the Old; but those things which were written after His resurrection are named the New Testament. 

 

The new is the fulfilling of the Old, and in both there is the same testator, even Christ, who has made us heirs of His everlasting kingdom:  "Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new testament to the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not according to the testament which I made to their fathers ..."    [Jeremiah 31] 

 

The former testament which was given through Moses was not perfect, but that which was to be given by Christ would be complete. 

 

It is common to translate using either of two English terms, testament and covenant, even though they are not synonymous -

 

"Who also has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter (OT law) but of spirit.  For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life."  [2 Corinthians 3:6] 

 

Contrary to popular misconception, the New Testament canon was not decided in large bureaucratic Church council meetings, but rather developed over many centuries.  Thus, McDonald states: 

"Although a number of Christians have thought that church councils determined what books were to be included in biblical canons, a more accurate reflection of the matter is that the councils recognized or acknowledged those books that had already obtained prominence from usage among the various early Christian communities." 

 

However this is not to say that no councils touched the issue of the canon.  In the first three centuries of Early Christianity, there seems not to have been a New Testament canon that was complete and universally recognized. 

 

The oldest clear endorsement of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John being the only legitimate gospels was written c. 180 AD by Bishop Irenaeus. 

 

Eusebius, c. 300, gave this list of New Testament writings:

"First ... the holy quaternion of the Gospels; the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of Paul, John, Peter ... after them the Apocalypse of John, concerning which we shall give the different opinions at the proper time.  These then belong among the accepted writings." 

 

Most modern English versions of the New Testament are based on critical reconstructions of the Greek text. 

 

[from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

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