Survey of the New Testament

Explore the literature, history, theology, and enduring significance of the New Testament through a comprehensive introduction to the writings that stand at the center of Christian faith. Survey of the New Testament guides learners through the major divisions of the New Testament while examining how its diverse books contribute to the unfolding witness of Scripture. The course introduces the historical settings, literary forms, theological themes, and interpretive questions that shape responsible study of these texts. Students will encounter the New Testament both as a collection of distinct writings and as a unified canonical witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ, the life of the early Church, and the hope of God’s coming kingdom.

Learners will study the world of Second Temple Judaism and the broader Greco-Roman context in order to understand the political, cultural, and religious environment in which the New Testament emerged. The course examines the Gospels, Acts, the Pauline Epistles, the General Epistles, and Revelation with attention to the purposes and distinctive features of each body of literature. Students will explore central themes such as the kingdom of God, discipleship, covenant fulfillment, salvation, faith, grace, holiness, the Church, mission, suffering, perseverance, and new creation while tracing their development across the New Testament. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between the ministry of Jesus, the apostolic witness, and the formation of early Christian communities.

Designed for serious independent learners, this course encourages careful engagement with important questions in New Testament study. Students will consider matters of authorship, audience, historical context, literary structure, genre, and canonical placement while learning to distinguish responsible scholarship from unsupported speculation. The course also introduces major interpretive debates without reducing complex issues to simplistic conclusions. Learners will examine how the New Testament relates to the Old Testament, how its books address the needs of particular communities, and how Christians can read these writings faithfully while respecting their historical and literary contexts.

Survey of the New Testament provides essential preparation for further study in biblical theology, hermeneutics, exegesis, early Christianity, and individual books of the New Testament. By the end of the course, learners will have a stronger framework for understanding the structure and content of the New Testament, recognizing connections among its books, and tracing major theological themes across different authors and settings. Students will also be better equipped to interpret New Testament passages within their historical and literary contexts, engage scholarly resources responsibly, and understand why the New Testament remains indispensable for Christian theology, biblical interpretation, discipleship, and a mature understanding of the story of Scripture.