How to Read the New Testament, part 3

Daniel Lee
4 days ago
4 min read

I developed this method for reading the New Testament in four volumes because I wanted to 1) emphasize the differences in the four Gospels, 2) explore the development of Christianity over the course of the First Century, and 3) encounter the New Testament writings in a more (but not exclusively) chronological order. I hope by now you are beginning to understand the vision and purpose behind this reading plan.

Next up we will spend time with Luke, Paul, and the broader Greco-Roman world.

[TL;DR: Luke, Acts 13-28, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Romans, 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy]

Volume 3: A New Kingdom

The two greatest contributors to our New Testament and to Christian Theology as we know it are Luke and Paul. Luke was a Gentile convert to Christianity who traveled with Paul and others throughout the Roman Empire, detailing their journey and mission in various towns and cities along the way. He also wrote his own Gospel account based on extensive research and interviews.

Paul is considered to have written nearly half of the New Testament books (13 out of 27 works are contributed to Paul and his companions). Paul worked tirelessly to fulfill Jesus' mission to the Gentile world. This volume of books and letters details the expansion of Christianity into the heart of the Roman Empire.

The Gospel According to Luke

Luke concludes what we refer to as the Synoptic Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke mirror each other quite closely. It is believed by most scholars that Mark was written first. Matthew used Mark as a template for his own account. Luke then used both Mark and Matthew along with his own research and interviews to compile his Gospel account.

Luke has some unique Jesus stories and parables that emphasize the inclusiveness of God's love. Luke's Gospel draws attention to the poor, widows, outsiders, and outcasts more than the others. He also includes some of the most beloved parables, like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.

Acts chapters 13-28

Here we pick back up with the historical account of the First Century church. But now the spotlight shifts from Peter to Paul and his traveling companions - Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Timothy, and even Luke himself. In the later half of Acts the perpective changes from third-person to first-person-plural. These are known as the 'We' passages, indicating that the author was part of the mission team (found in Acts 16, 20, 21, 27, 28).

It can be a bit confusing keeping track of all the locations and timelines as Paul's missionary journeys are recorded. Most Bibles include maps in the back, at least one of which likely track's Paul's travels on his various mission trips.

1 & 2 Corinthians

Paul spent a lengthy amount of time in Corinth. He also partnered with Aquila and Priscilla there as tentmakers. But Corinth had it's fair share of issues. These two letters may actually be multiple letters combined into a two-volume set. We know these letters were part of an ongoing correspondence between Paul and the Corinthian church. He even refers back to other letters we don't have.

It's important to remember when reading Paul's letters to the churches, we are essentially listening in to one side of the phone conversation. It can take some digging to find out what the exact issues are or what was going on behind the scenes. These letters are a wild ride, for sure!

The Prison Epistles

Each of the following letters was written from one of Paul's imprisonments. It's unclear from which prison or city Paul is writing. Scholars are divided on Rome or Caesarea Maritime as the two likely options. It's also hard to pinpoint the chronological order in which they were written, but they were all likely composed between AD 58–62. Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians all address fairly similar themes concerning the life of the church and the lives of individual Christians in the midst of an increasingly hostile religious environment. There is quite a bit of overlap between those three letters.

Philemon is a short one-chapter letter written to a person, not a church, concerning a runaway slave. Onesimus, the slave turned brother in Christ, is coming home to Philemon. Paul tells Philemon to accept him back as a brother, not just a slave, and to treat him accordingly.

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

Philemon

Romans

This letter is considered Paul's magnum opus, his masterpiece of theology. Some of the greatest passages of Scripture are found in Romans, along with some of Paul's more challenging concepts. Countless men and women throughout the centuries have come to a deeper faith in, understanding of, and commitment to Christ becuase of the letter to the Romans. You could spend your lifetime studying Romans alongside the Gospels and never fully plumb the depths hidden therein.

The Pastoral Epistles

Full disclosure: there is much debate concerning Paul's authorship of these particular letters. I believe it is likely and quite plausible that Paul did in fact author, or at least dictate, these letters. Timothy and Titus were next-generation pastors – Timothy in Ephesus and Titus on the island of Crete. Paul writes to these young pastors trying to faithfully lead God's church in order to encourage, inspire, and instruct. These letters show us what is expected from church leaders – elders, deacons, pastors, and teachers. Paul's concern is that the gospel message continues to spread unimpeded by false teachers or lack of knowledge.

These letters were written toward the end of his life. Shortly after, Paul would be arrested again and sentenced to death under Emperor Nero in Rome.