Story of the NT

Question 0

What audience was the Gospel of Matthew written to?

Answer 0

Jewish Christians or Jews considering faith in Christ.

Question 1

What was the occupation of the writer who wrote the Gospel of Matthew?

Answer 1

Jewish tax collector

Question 2

When was the Gospel of Matthew written?

Answer 2

In the 70s-80s AD, soon after destruction of the temple.

Question 3

What is the main theme/purpose of the Gospel of Matthew?

Answer 3

To prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the “King of the Jews”.

Question 4

What makes the Gospel of Matthew a great book to be the connecting link between the Old and New Testament?

Answer 4

It is filled with 129 references to the OT (53 quotes, 76 references), with an emphasis on the fulfillment of prophecy.

Question 5

What’s so significant about Matthew leaving his tax collector job?

Answer 5

• guaranteed himself unemployment. (For other disciples there was fishing to return to, but there was no turning back for him).
• he knew how much it would cost to follow Jesus.
• responded immediately to Jesus’ call.
• Matthew immediately tried to bring others in contact with Jesus.

Question 6

State the full first name of the writer of the Gospel of Mark, an interesting fact, and what disciple was he close to?

Answer 6

• John Mark
• he was not one of the 12 disciples
• he was close to Peter
• probably young man who fled in panic naked when Jesus was arrested.
• occupation was missionary-in-training.
• left Paul and Barnabas for unknown reasons during 1st missionary journey.
• was assistant and traveling companion to 3 of the greatest early missionaries.

Question 7

What audience was the Gospel of Mark written to?

Answer 7

Gentile Christians in Rome who were suffering persecution.

Question 8

What is the main theme/purpose of the Gospel of Mark?

Answer 8

To reveal Jesus is the “Suffering Servant of God”.

Question 9

How do we know that Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not write their Gospels in isolation from one another?

Answer 9

97% of Mark’s words are in Matthew.
88% of Mark’s words are in Luke.

Perhaps, Mark was the primary source for Matthew and Luke?

Question 10

How much of the Gospel of Mark was devoted to events in the last week of Jesus’ life?

Answer 10

Almost half.

Question 11

What was the occupation of the writer who wrote the Gospel of Luke?

Answer 11

Gentile physician, historian, and companion of Paul.

Question 12

Who specifically and what audience was the Gospel of Luke written to?

Answer 12

Specifically Theophilus, for the Gentile Christians.

Question 13

What is the main theme/purpose of the Gospel of Luke?

Answer 13

Jesus is the “Son of Man”, who brings salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

Question 14

In the Gospel of Luke, there are 3 frequent stresses to what subjects?

Answer 14

• Jesus’ compassion for people
• Prayer
• Money

Question 15

What so significant about Luke 9:51-18:35?

Answer 15

Most of it is not found in any other Gospel.

Question 16

What do we know about the writer of the Gospel of John?

Answer 16

• son of Zebedee, brother James, called “Son of Thunder”.
• occupation: fisherman.
• before following Jesus, was one of John the Baptist’s disciples.
• along with his brother James, he shared a tendency to outbursts of selfishness and anger.
• referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved”, and the central theme of his Gospel was Jesus’ love in words and actions to people.

Question 17

What other 4 books of the Bible did John write, besides the Gospel of John?

Answer 17

1,2,3 John, and Revelation.

Question 18

What audience was the Gospel of John written to?

Answer 18

To the world (New Christians and searching non-Christians).

Question 19

What is the main theme/purpose of the Gospel of John?

Answer 19

Jesus is the eternal “Som of God”.

Question 20

What are the the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus, in the Gospel of John?

Answer 20

• Bread of Life
• Light of the World
• Door of the Sheep
• Good Shepherd
• Resurrection and the Life
• The Way, the Truth, and the Life
• The True Vine

Question 21

What percentage of the Gospel of John is unique to his Gospel?

Answer 21

90%.

• no genealogy
• no record of Jesus’ birth, childhood, temptation, or transfiguration
• no appointment of disciples
• no parables
• no ascension
• no Great Commission

Question 22

How many miracles are recorded in the Gospel of John, and how many are unique to his Gospel?

Answer 22

7 miracles recorded, 6 are unique.

• Changing water into wine (2:1-11)
• Healing nobleman’s son (4:46-54)
• Healing the paralytic (5:1-9)
• Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14) (in other Gospels too)
• Calming the storm (6:16-21)
• Healing the blind man (9:1-7)
• Raising of Lazarus (11:38-45)

In other Gospels

Question 23

What book was written as “Part Two” of Luke’s Gospel?

Answer 23

Acts

Question 24

What is the theme/purpose of the book of Acts?

Answer 24

To show how the Gospel spreads universally through the church in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Question 25

What was the overall geographical structure of the witness of the church in the book of Acts?

Answer 25

Witness of the church:
• Jerusalem (1-7)
• Judea and Samaria (8-9)
• Ends of the Earth (10-28)

Question 26

Who specifically was the book of Acts written to?

Answer 26

Theophilus