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Book Overviews

New Testament Overviews

See how the story of the Old Testament is carried forward in the New Testament. Jesus is the long awaited Messiah of Israel. He is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures and God’s covenant promises.

Book Overviews Series • 32 Episodes

32 Episodes

New Testament Overview

The New Testament is not its own separate story. It's a continuation of the story introduced in the Old Testament and a fulfillment of God's covenant promises introduced in the first part of the Bible. This video breaks down the literary design of the entire New Testament, from the arrival of Jesus to the fulfillment of God's restoration of his creation.

Matthew begins with a genealogy that shows Jesus as a descendant from the line of David, a king and a fulfillment of the God's covenant promises to David and all of Israel. From the calling of the disciples to the parables to the great commission, Matthew's account shows readers how the promises and prophecies God made to his people in the Old Testament came to pass through Jesus.

Matthew begins with a genealogy that shows Jesus as a descendant from the line of David, a king and a fulfillment of the God's covenant promises to David and all of Israel. From the calling of the disciples to the parables to the great commission, Matthew's account shows readers how the promises and prophecies God made to his people in the Old Testament came to pass through Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark gives a thorough account of Jesus' life and ministry without making a clear statement about Jesus' identity, and this is intentional. Mark shows people, even Jesus' disciples, questioning who Jesus is. And the second half of the book provides strong evidence that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. Many Jews hoped that the Messiah would overthrow the Romans and rule as king, but as we read this book, we see that Jesus came as a servant to bring God's Kingdom. Despite his divine power, he sacrificed his life to save people from slavery to sin. The book's abrupt ending challenges us to decide if we believe he is the Messiah.

John's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' identity as the Messiah and Son of God. Because of this divine identity, Jesus is able to give eternal life to everyone who believes in him. We see this reality through the signs and miracles he performs. And seven times, he answers "I Am" when people question his identity, echoing God's personal name revealed in Exodus 3. John's Gospel also shows Jesus using his time on earth to introduce people to the new birth. By believing that he is the Messiah and God's son, they have eternal life and freedom from sin and are empowered to perform radical acts of kindness, generosity, and selfless love as they live their lives in devotion to Jesus and his Kingdom.

John's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' identity as the Messiah and Son of God. Because of this divine identity, Jesus is able to give eternal life to everyone who believes in him. We see this reality through the signs and miracles he performs. And seven times, he answers "I Am" when people question his identity, echoing God's personal name revealed in Exodus 3. John's Gospel also shows Jesus using his time on earth to introduce people to the new birth. By believing that he is the Messiah and God's son, they have eternal life and freedom from sin and are empowered to perform radical acts of kindness, generosity, and selfless love as they live their lives in devotion to Jesus and his Kingdom.

Luke documents how Jesus expands God's Kingdom and covenant by creating a new Israel that includes the poor, outcasts, and others to whom Jesus brings restoration and reverses their life circumstances as he gives them freedom and release from the tyranny of evil and sin. Throughout the book, we see that Jesus is indeed the messianic King, but he will reign over Israel by suffering. His actions usher in an upside-down Kingdom marked by self-giving love, and he challenges his disciples to follow his example and share in his ministry.

Luke documents how Jesus expands God's Kingdom and covenant by creating a new Israel that includes the poor, outcasts, and others to whom Jesus brings restoration and reverses their life circumstances as he gives them freedom and release from the tyranny of evil and sin. Throughout the book, we see that Jesus is indeed the messianic King, but he will reign over Israel by suffering. His actions usher in an upside-down Kingdom marked by self-giving love, and he challenges his disciples to follow his example and share in his ministry.

Jesus' followers received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and became filled and equipped to spread the good news that would restore God's kingdom over the world. Through persecution, the believers were scattered. They continued to preach, and the church at Antioch was born. It grew into the first multiethnic, international church from which missionaries were sent throughout the world to preach about Jesus, the messianic Messiah and risen king of all nations. Paul even continued to preach despite imprisonment and wrote important letters to the churches.

Jesus' followers received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and became filled and equipped to spread the good news that would restore God's kingdom over the world. Through persecution, the believers were scattered. They continued to preach, and the church at Antioch was born. It grew into the first multiethnic, international church from which missionaries were sent throughout the world to preach about Jesus, the messianic Messiah and risen king of all nations. Paul even continued to preach despite imprisonment and wrote important letters to the churches.

The people of Israel tried to obey God and follow the Law, but they didn't succeed. Only faith in Jesus' death and resurrection can justify humanity and fulfill God's promise to create a covenant relationship with His people, the descendants of Abraham. Through Jesus, God creates a new covenant family that includes Jews and gentiles who are unified as they love and forgive each other. Even though people continue to reject Jesus, God uses their rejection to expand His family and grow the Church.

Watch our Read Scripture video on the book of Romans, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This is the second of two Read Scripture videos dedicated to the book of Romans, which aims to help you see its unique contribution to the story of Jesus, but also how it works within the Bible’s overall framework.

He reminds believers that the Church is not a popularity contest, followers of Jesus cannot compromise when it comes to sexual integrity, the core principle of worship gatherings is love for others, and the resurrection gives us a reason for unity, motivation to maintain sexual purity, ability to love other people more than ourselves and ultimate hope for victory over death. Our belief that Jesus was raised from the dead makes the gospel more than moral advice or a recipe for private spirituality. It opens a whole new reality for every area of our life.

Paul resolves his conflict with the Corinthians by showing how the scandal of the crucifixion turns our value systems upside-down. He addressed problems in the Corinth church in 1 Corinthians, but many rejected his advice. This grieved Paul as he had spent a great deal of time with the Corinthian church. He followed up with a painful visit and then sent them 2 Corinthians, a letter that assured them he forgave and loved them. After reading the letter, many church members repented and embraced the letter's message. Essentially, it challenges believers to see life through the paradox of the cross. Because of the cross and God's Spirit, Jesus' followers receive power to live transformed lives. They become equipped to take up Jesus' cruciform life and make it their own. Through the cross and resurrection, believers may live differently and model the values God desires, including generosity, humility, and weakness.

In the book of Galatians, believers learn that they are justified by the Gospel of Jesus, not the laws of Torah. They are a part of a multi-ethnic family and equipped by the Spirit to love God and others. When people trust in Jesus as Messiah and put their faith in him, his life, death, and resurrection become theirs. They are new creations, free from the requirement to follow the laws of Torah. They now join a new multi-ethnic covenant family of Jesus, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham.

In the book of Ephesians, we learn how the Gospel creates a new multi-ethnic, covenant family of God and affects how we live every day as a new humanity unified in love. Scripture, prayer, and their relationships with each other equip us to put off our old humanity and put on new humanity that mimics Jesus and marks them us as mature followers of Jesus. Energized by the Holy Spirit, believers can stand tall against the spiritual evil that threatens our unity as a church family and maturity as followers of Jesus.

The book of Philippians shows how living as a Christian means seeing your own story as a living expression of Jesus' story. Knowing Jesus is a deeply personal and transformative encounter. We are to imitate his way of life. Even in our suffering, we can be content as we follow Jesus' ways and draw closer to him. While our true citizenship is in heaven, we can enjoy a close connection to Jesus and an awareness of his love and presence now that gives us hope in the darkest of circumstances.

The book of Colossians addresses problems the church at Colossae faced, challenging believers to examine their lives and be transformed through the resurrection and love of Jesus. Because of Jesus' resurrection, they are reconciled to God, free from the law, and able to live transformed lives. They are joined to Jesus as new creations and are part of his new multi-ethnic family. As members of the new humanity, no part of their human existence remains untouched by the loving and liberating rule of Jesus. Their suffering, temptation to compromise, moral character, and the power dynamic in their home must all be re-examined and transformed.

In this book, Paul asks Philemon to forgive his runaway slave Onesimus. This is a revolutionary act, demonstrating the Gospel in action and showing that all people are equal partners in the new humanity. Paul urges Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him back as an equal. Because they are both believers, God's grace and healing mercy have made them partners under the new humanity Jesus' established. While Paul doesn't mention Jesus' death and resurrection directly in this book, he offers to take on any punishment Onesimus deserves, a demonstration of what Jesus did on the cross. He encourages Philemon to do the same as he reconciles to Onesimus before God.

1 Thessalonians

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul celebrates the Church's holiness, love and future hope as they remain faithful to Jesus. Despite persecution, they flourish in their faith and stand strong. From the very beginning, following Jesus as King has produced a truly counter-cultural holy way of life that will sometimes generate suspicion and conflict among our neighbors. The way Jesus' followers respond to such hostility should always be with love, and they should meet opposition with grace and generosity. This way of life is motivated by hope in the coming kingdom of Jesus that has already begun in His resurrection from the dead. Throughout 1 Thessalonians, we see how the Thessalonian Church embodies holiness, love and a future hope as they remain firm in their faith and commitment to Jesus their King.

2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians discusses persecution, the return of Jesus, our need to remain hopeful and faithful, and idleness. It reminds us that what we hope for shapes what we live for. While they also worried they had missed Jesus' return, Paul clarifies that they should not fuel apocalyptic speculation but recall Jesus' words in Mark 13 about the public and obvious events leading up to His return. They should also remain faithful, hopeful, and confident and not fearful while waiting for Jesus' return and deliverance from the evil ruler. Finally, Paul addresses idleness and challenges believers to imitate Jesus' self-giving love. Their hard work provides for themselves and benefits others. Throughout the book, we see that what we hope for shapes what we live for.

In this letter, Paul instructs Timothy on how to address corrupt leaders who are sharing false teachings in the church of Ephesus. This letter addresses leadership, relationships, and service. Paul makes clear that what a church believes will directly shape how its members live and behave. So the church's theology and beliefs must constantly be critiqued and formed by the Scriptures and good news about Jesus. The church should be known for its devotion to the risen King Jesus as it models integrity, good works, and serving the poor and most vulnerable.

2 Timothy is Paul's last letter. It was written as encouragement to Timothy, challenging him to fully accept his calling despite the suffering and hardship that come with this life. The letter also reminds Timothy to maintain faith and hope in Jesus' resurrection and raise faithful leaders who will teach the good news about Jesus. Paul tells Timothy that through following Jesus, believers will experience challenges, suffering, risk, tension, discomforts, and struggles. In those dark and difficult moments, Jesus' presence, love, and faithfulness can become tangible and real.

The book of Titus teaches Cretan believers how to live godly lives in their sinful society. God's love and grace transformed their lives, and they can now share the Gospel of Jesus with the world. Paul reminds Cretan believers that despite their culture, they can be transformed into a new humanity by the same grace that Jesus demonstrated when he died to redeem them. As new humans, they can say no to a lifestyle that is inconsistent with God's generous love. They can show God's salvation message and transform their communities by participating in Cretan culture, rejecting anything corrupt, embracing good, and devoting themselves to Jesus.

The book of Hebrews challenges believers to remain faithful to Jesus despite hardships and persecution by following the great models of faith from the Old Testament. Hebrews makes clear that Jesus is greater than any Old Testament event or person. He is the ultimate revelation of God's love and mercy, and he is worthy of our devotion.

The book of James is filled with short, challenging wisdom speeches that are full of metaphors and easily memorized one-liners. While James doesn't teach new theology, this book does challenge believers on how they should live, covering topics such as speech, favoritism, love, wealth, and hardship. When believers listen to and obey God's word, they show their love for him and others. Their actions match their words, and their lives are made whole, complete, and perfect.

This letter was written as an encouragement to Gentile Christians facing persecution. Peter assures these faithful believers that they are chosen by God and that their persecution is actually a gift because it offers them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus. This is a love fueled by hope in his return and victory over evil. Peter is hopeful that their imitation of Jesus and demonstration of his upside-down Kingdom will give power to their words as they bear witness to God's mercy and show people the beautiful truth about Jesus.

In this letter, Peter issues two warnings against corrupt teachers, who are objecting to the reality of Jesus' resurrection and leading the community astray. This letter is meant to restore confidence and order to the Church by offering an expansive vision of hope for the whole world. In the coming Day of the Lord, God will expose evil and injustice to make way for a new heaven and earth. It will be a place permeated with righteousness and God's love and filled with people who know and love God and their neighbors.

John 1-3 addresses a changing tide in the early church, deceivers and teachers who no longer acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah or the Son of God. They are spreading fear and division among believers. John says that all legitimate teachers will share the truth about Jesus and the cross, love others sacrificially, and spread love and light rather than fear. He reminds believers to welcome true missionaries who teach the Gospel and love others. They should not welcome deceivers or make idols of anything that exalts itself in God's place.

The book of Jude references the Hebrew Bible and Jewish literature to illustrate God's judgment on rebellion. Jude warns against rebels corrupting other people and challenges the church to contend for the faith and stay faithful to God. The lives of Jesus’ followers must reflect their faith because God's grace demands a whole-life response that includes moral living.

Revelation 1-11

The book is not a secret code that allows believers to decipher the timeline of Jesus's return. It's a brilliant work of apocalyptic literature that shows how every human kingdom eventually becomes Babylon and must be resisted. Revelation prophecies that Jesus, the slain lamb who died for the sins of the world, will return one day as King to prompt repentance. Jesus will permanently remove evil and make all things new. This promise motivates every generation of God's people to remain faithful in the midst of persecution until their King returns.

Revelation 12-22

The book is not a secret code that allows believers to decipher the timeline of Jesus's return. It's a brilliant work of apocalyptic literature that shows how every human kingdom eventually becomes Babylon and must be resisted. Revelation prophecies that Jesus, the slain lamb who died for the sins of the world, will return one day as King to prompt repentance. Jesus will permanently remove evil and make all things new. This promise motivates every generation of God's people to remain faithful in the midst of persecution until their King returns.