The Biblical Authors (New Testament) Flashcards
The writer of the first book of the NT. This book is one of the four gospels in the bible which tell of the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. He was a tax collector for Rome, then he became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He is otherwise known as Levi.
Matthew
This author was not a disciple of Jesus, but early church tradition teaches us that this author wrote down “Peter’s stories of Jesus” or “Peter’s version of the gospel”. He wrote one of the four gospels in the NT. He is first mentioned in the book of Acts. He accompanied paul and barnabas on their first missionary journey.
John Mark (book: The Gospel According to Mark)
The writer of the third book of the NT which is one of the four gospels. Also credited to be the writer of the book of Acts. He was a gentile physician and a companion of the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys. He was writing for a man named Theophilus, who was believed to be a patron for this author and supporter of his writings.
Luke
*trivia: in all of the NT, Luke has given the most in writing (even more than Paul the Apostle)!
He’s another member of the 12 apostles, a former fisherman from Galilee who follows Jesus. The Lord gives him and his brother James the nickname “Sons of Thunder” (Mk 3:17).
After the resurrection, this author becomes a pillar of the early church. He writes a persuasive account of Jesus (i.e., one of the four gospels in the NT), and then writes four letters; three named after him and one with many apocalyptic visions. According to tradition, John becomes an elder at the church at Ephesus. He is eventually exiled to the Isle of Patmos.
John
Fun fact: of all the epistles in the New Testament, John writes the longest (Revelation) and the shortest (3 John). In fact, 3 John is the shortest book of the Bible.
This author’s previous name was Saul. He was a persecutore of the Christian church, but after a supernatural encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he becomes born again. He spreads the gospel to many Jews AND Gentiles, plants churches and faces persecution because of this cause.
His 13 letters/ epistles to the Christians that spread across the world make up his contribution to the Bible. Some of these letters were written to churches he had planted, others were to churches he hoped to visit someday. he also wrote to specific leaders in the local churches, like Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. among all biblical writers, he wrote the most individual documents in the bible. (Bonus: name those epistles)
Paul
Paul’s epistles: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
This author was the younger brother of Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph. He didn’t believe in Jesus while the Lord was going about his earthly ministry (Jn 7:5). But that all changes after Jesus rises from the dead. Jesus specifically appears to him, and afterward he becomes one of the main leaders in the early church.
Later, he writes a letter to the Christian Jews scattered across the world, encouraging them to keep working out their faith
James / James the Just
This author was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. A former fisherman, he is featured alot in the gospels and is known for happenings such as walking on water to Jesus, proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ, denying Jesus three times, and later on becoming one of the pillars of the early church, preaching the gospel as the Holy Spirit had come down on the people.
He wrote two books of the bible, both named after him.
Peter
this author was Jesus’ and James’ brother. Like James, he didn’t believe in Jesus during Jesus’ ministry on earth, but after the resurrection, he became a Christian.
He writes one book of the Bible consisting of only one chapter: a letter urging believers to “contend for the faith”.
Jude
