The New Testament
The 4 gospels:
· Matthew:
o Originally written in Greek.
o Was one of the 12 apostles that were with Jesus when he was on Earth.
o Was a Jewish tax collector.
o Written between 50 and 70 A.D.
o Gives personal witness accounts of miracles Jesus performed.
o Longest gospel of the four with 28 chapters.
· Mark:
o Written between 50 and 60 A.D.
o Probably written in Italy.
o 16 chapters.
o About Jesus performing miracles.
· Luke:
o Was a doctor, probably well educated due to structure of the text.
o Addressed to Theophilus.
o Focused on story and history of Jesus, his birth, resurrection and crucifixion.
o Written between 59 and 70 A.D.
o 8 sections describing life, ministry and miracles of Jesus.
· John:
o Focuses more on spiritual themes rather than historical events.
o Was one of 12 disciples.
o Written between 50 and 85 A.D.
o Has first hand experiences with Jesus.
o 21 chapters.
Belief, Life of Jesus
One miracle – Jesus healing a leper:
Jesus came down the hillside after preaching and was approached by a leper. The leper knelt before Jesus and said ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus placed his hand upon the man and said ‘Be clean!’ The man was then cleansed of leprosy.
Jesus came down the hillside after preaching and was approached by a leper. The leper knelt before Jesus and said ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus placed his hand upon the man and said ‘Be clean!’ The man was then cleansed of leprosy.
Crucifixion of Jesus:
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and endured 6 trials after which he was painfully beaten, whipped and mocked. After that he was handed over to be crucified and was dressed in a purple robes and a crown of thorns. Then he made to carry the cross on his shoulders, he was then nailed to the cross and left to die. This is one of the most important times in history for Christians as Jesus died so that all people’s sins could be forgiven.
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and endured 6 trials after which he was painfully beaten, whipped and mocked. After that he was handed over to be crucified and was dressed in a purple robes and a crown of thorns. Then he made to carry the cross on his shoulders, he was then nailed to the cross and left to die. This is one of the most important times in history for Christians as Jesus died so that all people’s sins could be forgiven.
Resurrection: After Jesus was crucified he was laid to rest in a tomb, the morning after the crucifixion Mary Magdalene went to visit his tomb. She saw that the giant stone has been removed from the front of the tomb and that inside the tomb was empty. She ran the Peter and John (apostles) and so they all went to the tomb to see for themselves. Jesus’ body was gone and all that was left was the cloth which he had been wrapped in. The apostles returned home but Mary stayed, crying by Jesus’ tomb. Then she heard a man ask her why she was crying, she turned around and saw Jesus, alive once again. Jesus had been resurrected and Mary Magdalene was the first person to see him. If Jesus had not been resurrected then Christianity would not exist today.
Jesus’ Parents/Birth:
It is written in the gospel of Luke that Jesus’ parents were Mary and Joseph. Also when Mary became pregnant with Jesus she was engaged to Joseph but not married. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit when she was a virgin and is often known as the ‘virgin Mary.’ She was living in Nazareth when the Angel Garbrielle came to her and announced that she was to have a son who would be the messiah and she was to name him Jesus. Joseph had to return to his home and so took Mary with him when she was pregnant with Jesus. They travelled together to Bethlehem, where they found shelter at a stable at an inn. It was here that Mary gave birth to Jesus.
It is written in the gospel of Luke that Jesus’ parents were Mary and Joseph. Also when Mary became pregnant with Jesus she was engaged to Joseph but not married. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit when she was a virgin and is often known as the ‘virgin Mary.’ She was living in Nazareth when the Angel Garbrielle came to her and announced that she was to have a son who would be the messiah and she was to name him Jesus. Joseph had to return to his home and so took Mary with him when she was pregnant with Jesus. They travelled together to Bethlehem, where they found shelter at a stable at an inn. It was here that Mary gave birth to Jesus.
