For a master copy of the outline, click here: Basic Bible Doctrine
To Listen on YouTube, click here: An Overview of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation (Part 5) - Matthew to John
IV. An overview of the New Testament and its major characters and events
1. The major characters in the NT
A. Jesus Christ
i. The New Testament focuses on the life and doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Saviour) who was promised and prophesied in the Old Testament.
ii. It declares that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh and that He came to earth to perfectly fulfill the law of God and die for the sins of all of God's elect in their stead.
iii. It declares that He built His church while on this earth and promised to preserve it forever.
iv. It declares that Jesus died by crucifixion, was dead and buried for three days and three nights, was raised from the dead, appeared to hundreds of witnesses, and ascended bodily into heaven and sat on His throne at the right hand of God ruling over all the universe.
v. It declares that Jesus will return on the last day of time to destroy the world, judge the wicked, and create new heavens and a new earth for His people to dwell in with Him.
B. John the Baptist
i. John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus who was born six months before Him.
ii. John was the prophesied forerunner of Jesus who announced His coming and baptized him.
iii. Jesus said that John was the greatest prophet that ever lived.
iv. John was beheaded in prison by king Herod.
C. The twelve disciples/apostles
i. Jesus chose twelve disciples in the beginning of His ministry whom He named apostles.
ii. Those men were: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus), Lebaeus (Judas, the brother of James), Simon (the Canaanite), and Judas Iscariot.
iii. These men accompanied Jesus during his ministry and were commissioned to go into all the world and preach the gospel, which they did, with the exception of Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
iv. Peter, John, and Matthew were authors of several of the books of the NT.
D. The apostle Paul
i. Before he became an apostle, Paul's name was Saul and he was a Pharisee and a vehement persecutor of the churches of Jesus Christ.
ii. On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, he was arrested by Jesus who appeared to him and blinded him for three days.
iii. He was converted, baptized, and became an apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (non-Jews).
iv. He made several evangelistic trips around the Mediterranean world and started churches all over the place.
v. He wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and was the most influential Christian in history.
2. The Gospels (Matthew - John)
A. The Gospels are four different accounts of the life of Jesus Christ written by four men named Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
B. The book of Matthew
i. The Gospel of Matthew was written in the first century AD, probably in the 60's AD.
ii. Matthew was a publican (tax collector) (Mat 9:9) who became one of Jesus 12 apostles (Mat 10:3).
iii. Matthew records Jesus' life from His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension.
C. The book of Mark
i. The Gospel of Mark was written in the first century AD, probably in the 40's AD.
ii. Some say that the Mark who wrote the gospel of Mark was Peter's disciple (1Pe 5:13).
iii. Mark begins his gospel with the baptism of Jesus Christ and ends it with the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
D. The book of Luke
i. The Gospel of Luke was written in the first century AD, probably in the 50's AD.
ii. Luke was a physician and the traveling companion of Paul.
iii. Paul confirmed Luke's gospel to be scripture by quoting it as such in 1Ti 5:18 c/w Luk 10:7.
iv. Luke records Jesus' life from His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension.
E. The book of John
i. The Gospel of John was written in the first century AD.
ii. John's gospel emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ and sovereign grace.
iii. John records Jesus' life from His baptism to His death and resurrection.
