Introduction to New Testament Theology

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NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY BTH 532

MISSIO UNIVERSITYTRAINING LEADERS TO TRANSFORM

NATIONS

Dr. J. Lee SimmonsDean

PowerPoint #1

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Types of Theology

Systematic Theology Seeks a coherent and unified understanding of what

the Scriptures teach on a particular doctrine Dogmatic Theology

Examines what the Church has taught in its authoritative creeds and doctrinal statements

Historical Theology Examines what the Church has taught over the

centuries of its existence Practical Theology

Seeks to develop and understand the teaching of Scripture and its application to the work and ministry of the Church

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What is New Testament Theology?

A specific approach to the NT only for theological truths

Systematic theology is focused on doctrinal truths of the entire Bible.

The purpose of NT theology is to harmonize and systematize theological truth from the different NT authors who had different purposes for writing.

Practically, systematic theology is too broad of a subject to be covered in one class.

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What is New Testament Theology?

“That discipline that works to clearly articulate the beliefs, practices and teachings of the apostolic Christian faith, derived primarily from the canonical writings of the New Testament as they expound God’s salvation in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. -J. Hernando

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Why Study New Testament Theology?

NT Theology is specialized because believers are under the New Covenant as found in the NT -Hebrews 8:13

The Church must have foundation truths for doctrine, correction, reproof and instruction - 2 Timothy 3:16

Godly living for the believer today is based upon NT teaching – Titus 2:11-13

We must be able to discern between false doctrine and true doctrine - Titus 2:1

Christian ethics must be derived from a synthesis of NT teachings - 1 John 3:16-20

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Why Study New Testament Theology?

Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high …

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Why a Theological Approach to the NT?

Because each NT author had his own unique perspective at times

Because no NT book is exhaustive of truth on any one doctrine

Because each NT book addresses and reflects its own unique set of historical circumstances

Discuss: Compare the four Gospels in just how they tell the story of Jesus Christ – If we did not have the Gospel of John, what would we have missed?

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OT Background to NT Theology

The promise of one born of a woman who would crush the head of Satan – Genesis 3:15

The promise of the birth of a male child who would be the Mighty God – Isaiah 9:6

The promise of a final sacrifice for sin – Isaiah 53:6

The promise of a New Covenant – Jer 31:31-34 The promise of a coming kingdom – Obadiah

1:21 The promise of the pouring out of God’s Spirit

– Joel 2:28-32

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Foundation of New Testament Theology: The Inspiration of the Books

The Canon: 39 Old Testament books, 27 New Testament books – 66 Books of the Bible

The words canon and canonical are used to describe books that are recognized as inspired by God and to be included as part of our Bible.

The word canon comes from the Greek word that means “measuring rule” therefore signifying a rule or standard.

The key problem is that there were many books which were written that claimed to be inspired but were excluded from our Bible.

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Definition of the Canon

Canonization is the dynamic historical process whereby the Church is led by the Spirit to recognize the content and character of the inspired New Testament writings with collateral authority alongside Old Testament writings.

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The Development of the New Testament Canon

After the ascension of Christ, the church did not have any books of the NT for at least 15 years until James was written in AD 45-50.

The writing of the NT book, Revelation, was written about AD 90, a period of 60 years from the ascension of Christ.

It is important to realize that the early church had to rely on the OT and oral teachings until books were written and circulated.

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Several things promoted the formation of a NT canon: Spurious writings which claimed to be written by an

apostle were circulated, and true writings were discredited.

NT books whose content and authorship were recognized as inspired by many, were collected and circulated.

Apostolic writings were seen as inspired, therefore it was necessary to determine apostolic authorship.

In AD 303 Emperor Diocletian decreed all sacred books be burned which resulted in the NT collection.

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The Process of Recognition of the NT Canon Books deemed to be inspired were widely

circulated and gained acceptance. Christian leaders began to formulate lists of

books considered inspired. By the 4th century the 27 books of the NT

were universally affirmed to be the canon of the NT. The Council of Hippo in AD 393 and the Council in Carthage in AD 397 recognized the 27 books as canonical.

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The Test for Canonicity Does the book give internal

evidence of being inspired?Does it reflect God’s nature and plan?Does it promote godliness?Is it doctrinally accurate? Does it reflect the work of the Holy

Spirit?

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The Development of the New Testament Cannon

The Test for Canonicity Was the book written by an apostle

or does it have apostolic endorsement? Mark was not an apostle but was

written under Peter’s support.Luke was not an apostle but was a

close associate of the apostle Paul.

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The Test for Canonicity Was the book universally

recognized by the Church at large? Some books had the endorsement of a

few, but were rejected. Books where the authorship was

questioned, were later accepted because of universal approval.

i.e. – Hebrews

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The Uniqueness of the Process of NT Canonization

Its development was spontaneous and difficult to trace.

No official group or spokesperson conferred canonical status on a particular writing.

The Church was used (by God) to recognize the NT canon, not to create it.

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The Uniqueness of the Process of NT Canonization

Despite regional and local differences, the vast majority of churches recognized and accepted most of the 27 books that make up our NT by the end of the second century.

Church councils affirmed what had already been accepted as the 27 canonical books of the NT.

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The Reliability of the NT Documents The existence of 5,300 known

Greek manuscripts of the NT NT documents exist from the 4th

and 5th century. Papyri fragments exist dating as

early as AD 135.

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JOHN 18:31-33 ΟΙ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙ ΗΜΙΝ ΟΥΚ ΕΞΕΣΤΙΝ ΑΠΟΚΤΕΙΝΑΙOYΔΕΝΑ ΙΝΑ Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΠΛΗΡΩΘΗ ΟΝ ΕΙ-ΠΕΝ ΣHΜΑΙΝΩΝ ΠΟΙΩ ΘΑΝΑΤΩ ΗΜΕΛΛΕΝ ΑΠΟ-ΘΝHΣΚΕΙΝ ΕΙΣΗΛΘΕΝ ΟΥΝ ΠΑΛΙΝ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΠΡΑΙΤΩ-ΡΙΟΝ Ο ΠIΛΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΦΩΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΙΗΣΟΥΝΚΑΙ ΕΙΠΕΝ ΑΥΤΩ ΣΥ ΕΙ O ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΙΟΥ-ΔAΙΩN... THE JEWS, "FOR US IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO KILLANYONE," SO THAT THE WORD OF JESUS MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH HESPOKE SIGNIFYING WHAT KIND OF DEATH HE WAS GOING TOTO DIE. ENTERED THEREFORE AGAIN INTO THE PRAETO-RIUM PILATE AND SUMMONED JESUSAND HE SAID TO HIM, "THOU ART KING OF THEJEWS?“

Rylands Papyrus – P 52 117-138 A.D.

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Theologically Liberal Perspective of NT Theology

The NT has no final authority in faith. Anti-supernatural – seeks to interpret NT

in light of naturalism. i.e. “demythologize” Treats the NT as any other piece of

religious literature. NT gives us a history of religion, not a

theology. The Jesus of history must be separated

from the Christ of faith – i.e. “Jesus Seminar”

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The Jesus Seminar

The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 biblical scholars and laymen founded in 1985 by Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan under the auspices of the Westar Institute. The seminar uses votes with colored beads to decide their collective view of the historicity of the deeds and sayings of Jesus of Nazareth.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar

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The Jesus Seminar

The seminar treats the canonical Gospels as historical sources that represent Jesus' actual words and deeds as well as elaborations of the early Christian community and of the gospel authors. The fellows placed the burden of proof on those who advocate any passage's historicity. Unconcerned with canonical boundaries, they asserted that the Gospel of Thomas may have more authentic material than the Gospel of John. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar

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Demythologizing – Rudolph Bultmann

An Example And the significance of Jesus is not to

be found in his supposed placating of a wrathful God but in the fact that through him “our authentic life becomes a possibility in fact for us only when we are freed from ourselves” (Bultmann 1984, 30).

http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/mwt/dictionary/mwt_themes_760_bultmann.htm

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Categorization of the NT - Literature

GospelsSynopticsJohn

Acts Epistles

PaulineGeneral

Revelation

Categorization of the NT: Authorship

JohnJohn, 1,2,3 John

Revelation Luke

Luke, Acts Peter

1 & 2 Peter Others

Matthew, Mark, Hebrews, James, Jude

PaulRomans, 1,2 Corinthians

GalatiansEphesians Philippians Colossians

1,2 Thessalonians1,2 Timothy Titus Philemon

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Categorization of the NTGeneral Subjects

Gospels and ActsWhat Jesus did, what Jesus said, how the

early church obeyed His commands Pauline Epistles

Instructions to specific churches and their leaders

Development of Doctrine of Christology General Epistles

Instructions to the churches in general Revelation

The future of the Church

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Categorization of the NTKey Theological Truths

KingdomNow and not yet

Christology Salvation, justification, redemption,

propitiation, adoption, etc. Sanctification

Spiritual Growth: Sins to put off, qualities to put on

Pneumatology Baptism, Filling, Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eschatology When He comes

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Foundational Truths for NT Theology

NT Canon is the source. Focus is on systematic unity. Accepts progressive revelation

i.e. development of Christology Recognizes the “occasional” nature

of NT writings Understands diversity in NT authors Seeks to harmonize convergent

texts

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Centrality of Jesus Christ in NT Theology

The Gospels give us the life and teachings of Jesus Christ – Acts 1:1

Acts records how the early church obeyed His Great Commission in gathering followers of Jesus Christ – Acts 1:8

The Epistles develop the doctrine of Christology and what it means to be a follower of Christ. They also develop how the Church is to make mature followers of Jesus Christ – Romans 1:1-5

Revelation prepares believers for the return of Jesus Christ and how to live in light of that return – Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 2-3.