English Bible - NT Flashcards
To attain to a high degree of familiarity with the content of the English Bible (New Testament), including canonical divisions, book outlines, textual locations of key passages and characters, and historical dates.
Name the general divisions of the New Testament, and the books in each.
419-481
(4) Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
(1) History - Acts
(9/4) Pauline Epistles (4 Pastoral) - Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
(8) Other/General/Catholic Epistles - Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude
(1) Prophetic/Apocalyptic - Revelation
Which are the “Prison Epistles?”
Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon
Which are the “Pastoral Epistles?”
1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
Which are the “Catholic/General Epistles?”
James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude
What are the distinctive features of Matthew’s Gospel?
Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes Christ’s kingship (initially Davidic, and progressively universal) and bears a Jewish character, indicating that the Jews were Matthew’s initial audience. Consider the following unique traits: the Jewish genealogy; lack of explanation for ceremonial washings; emphasis on the Kingdom, but a favoring of the term Kingdom of Heaven (33 times) over Kingdom of God (4 times); Jesus was called the Son of David 9 times in Matthew, versus 3 in Mark and Luke, and 0 in John; numerous (65) quotes or allusions to the Old Testament.
What are the distinctive features of Mark’s Gospel?
The shortest of the Gospels, Mark emphasizes Christ’s humanity. Christ’s activity is prominent (the word “immediately” is used 40 times), particularly his service and suffering. Also, Mark gives special attention to Christ’s emotions: compassion, severity, anger, sorrow, tenderness, and love.
What are the distinctive features of Luke’s Gospel?
Luke’s Gospel is the longest Gospel (and longest book in the New Testament). Luke is the most comprehensive of the four Gospels: Luke provides fuller information on Christ’s infancy and childhood, his genealogy goes all the way back to Adam, and there is an account of the Ascension (not in the other Synoptic Gospels). He emphasizes prayer (11 of Christ’s 15 prayers are in Luke). He emphasizes the ministry of the Holy Spirit: Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and led into the wilderness (4:1); Jesus was anointed for His work by the Holy Spirit (4:14, 17-21); Jesus offered prayer while rejoicing in the Holy Spirit (10:21-22); Jesus instructed his disciples to wait for power from on high from the Holy Spirit (24:49).
What are the distinctive features of John’s Gospel?
John’s Gospel is the one non-Synoptic Gospel. It records a total of about 20 days of Christ’s life (chapters 13-19 narrate a single day). John emphasizes Christ’s Incarnate Deity: John begins in chapter 1 with Christ’s preexistent state and incarnation; John utilizes many abstract concepts (light/darkness, life, truth); John frequently uses the titles “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” or just Son; John records Jesus’ “I Am” statements (I Am the Bread of Life; I Am the Living Bread; I Am the Light of the World; I Am the Door of the Sheep; I Am the Good Shepherd; I Am the Resurrection and the Life; I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; I Am the True Vine; and “Before Abraham was, I Am.”
Outline the Life of Christ.
- Spoken of before His birth; Annunciations - Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1
- Birth and childhood - Matthew 2, Luke 2
- Baptism - Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3
- Temptation in the Wilderness - Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4
- First five Disciples (Andrew, Peter, James, John, and Philip) chosen, and Nathaniel believes - John 1
- First miracle of turning water into wine - John 2
- Early Judean Ministry - John 2-4
- Great Galilean Ministry - Matthew 4-15, Mark 1-7, Luke 4-9, John 4-6
- Retirement/Withdrawn Ministry to the 12 - Matthew 15-18, Mark 7-9, Luke 9
- Later Judean Ministry - Luke 9-13, John 7-10
- Perean Ministry - Matthew 19-20, Mark 10, Luke 13-19, John 10-12
- The Triumphal Entry to the Garden of Gethsemane - Matthew 21-26, Mark 11-14, Luke 19-22, John 12-18
- Passion Week (Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, Burial) - Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-23, John 18-19
- The Resurrection - Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21
- The Ascension - Mark 16, Luke 24, Acts 1
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Sower and the Seeds.
Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8
A sower sows seed and some seed falls on the path (wayside) with no soil, some on rocky ground with little soil, and some on soil which contained thorns. In these cases the seed is taken away or fails to produce a crop, but when it falls on good soil it grows, yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. Jesus explains to His disciples that the seed represents the Gospel (the sower being anyone who proclaims it), and the various soils represent people’s responses to it (the first three representing rejection while the last represents acceptance).
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
Matthew 13 (exclusive to Matthew) The field in the parable stands for the world (not the church); the wheat are the sons of the Kingdom and the tares are the “sons of the evil one.” God permits both to coexist and grow “until the harvest” (13:30). Only at the end - not prematurely - will the Kingdom come and the wicked be separated from the righteous, when the Son of Man will send out his angels to separate the wheat and cast it into the fiery furnace.
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Matthew 13
The end resultant expanse of the Kingdom of Heaven is contrasted with its modest beginnings. It will grow to such an extent that it will be a blessing in the earth. The emphasis is on the size of its beginning (like a mustard seed) in comparison to its full potential or zenith (the mustard tree).
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Yeast and Leaven.
Matthew 13
Christ’s kingdom will grow gradually, increasingly, and thoroughly, until the end.
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.
Matthew 13
The parable illustrates the great value of the Kingdom of Heaven (either the Gospel or the church). It is worth giving everything up to secure.
Locate and briefly discuss the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.
Matthew 13
This parable is generally interpreted as illustrating the great value of the Kingdom of Heaven (i.e. the Gospel) to the regenerate man. Alternatively, a less common interpretation of the parable is that the merchant represents Jesus, and the pearl represents the Christian Church.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the Dragnet.
Matthew 13
The dragnet stands for the Kingdom of God, which collects both believers and unbelievers into its visible expression. Not until the Day of the Lord will God finalize his judgment on men, casting enchurched unbelievers into Hell, and welcoming enchurched believers into glory.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the House Owner.
Matthew 13
After sharing a series of parables related to the Kingdom, Jesus says that a Scribe in the Kingdom of Heaven is like the head of a household, who has both old and new treasures to put to use. The function of the pastor-scholar, or New Covenant Scribe, is one of provision and leadership.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the House Built Upon the Rock
Matthew 7 and Luke 6
Christ presents His authoritative teaching and Person, for He alone can declare the full meaning of the law because He is its Author. He alone is the only sure ground upon which to build one’s life. Any other foundation will crumble in the storms of trial and judgment.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.
Matthew 21, Mark 12, and Luke 20
This parable exposed the long history of failure of Israel’s shepherds to care for God’s vineyard (His people), and revealed the plot of the Jewish leaders to murder Christ. Further, it showed that God would turn these wicked men out and give the vineyard over to others (namely, the Gentiles).
Locate and discuss the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10
This parable exposed the hypocrisy of Jewish religious externalists, who know what is right (in the parable, to come to the aid of a man who has suffered ill-treatment), but refuse to do what is right. To drive home His point, Jesus tells of a despised Samaritan man who practices true religion.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the Rich Fool.
Luke 12
The context of this parable is that of contentment and covetousness. The main point of the parable is that it is far better to be rich toward God than to be rich with the things of this world, which we cannot take with us.
Locate and discuss the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son.
Luke 15
Each of these parables illustrate God’s valuation ofHis Elect. God is the Seeker of that/those which is/are lost. In the Parable of the Lost Son, there is the added dimension of the “faithful” son who scorns his brother, and suffers rebuke/reproach from the magnanimous father.
Locate and discuss the Parable of the Unjust Steward.
Luke 16
From Matthew Henry: “The lord referred to in this parable commended not the fraud, but the policy of the steward. In that respect alone is it so noticed. Worldly men, in the choice of their object, are foolish; but in their activity, and perseverance, they are often wiser than believers. The unjust steward is not set before us as an example in cheating his master, or to justify any dishonesty, but to point out the careful ways of worldly men. It would be well if the children of light would learn wisdom from the men of the world, and would as earnestly pursue their better object.”
Locate and discuss the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Luke 16
The point in this parable is to warn the worldly minded to think on their eternal destiny, to comfort the poor in spirit, and to anticipate the Resurrection as a proof of Christ’s Messiahship.