Meaning of New Testament (What is, Concept and Definition) - Meanings

Meaning of New Testament

What is New Testament:

New Testament is the name given to the second part of the Christian Bible, in which the life and message of Jesus Christ are condensed, the stories of the first Christian communities, the pastoral letters of the apostles who forged the guiding lines, and, therefore, Lastly, the visions.

The word "testament" in the Hebrew language ( berith ) has the meaning of 'covenant', therefore, the new testament means 'new covenant', as opposed to the Old Testament, which means the 'old covenant'.

For Christianity, the Old Testament is interpreted as the "story of creation", since it collects the stories of the creation of the world, the history of the patriarchs and kings, and the evolution of Jewish law until before the birth of Jesus. Instead, the New Testament is considered as "salvation history" or "new covenant". This is because, from the Christian point of view, Jesus is the incarnation of the living God who has come to save human beings from sin and eternal death.

New Testament books

As is well known, the Bible is a book of books. Each of the two parts that make it up, contains in turn a compendium of books. In the case of the New Testament, we find 27 books, which are:

Gospels:

The word gospel means 'good news'. With this word, it is intended to announce the arrival of the kingdom of God, based on mercy, forgiveness, and love.

The gospels are the pivotal center of the entire New Testament. They were written at least 70 years after the death of Jesus, and the oldest of them is Mark.

Each of the canonical (official) gospels was written at different times and for different communities, which explains the differences between them. These are:

• Gospel according to Saint Matthew.
• Gospel according to Saint Mark.
• Gospel according to Saint Luke.
• Gospel according to Saint John.

Books on the formation of the early Church and pastoral letters:

The essential features of the formation of the early Church are explained in the book of The Acts of the Apostles, written by Saint Luke, the only one of the evangelists who did not know Jesus before his passion.

In addition to this, during this period, the apostles spread throughout the known world and spread the gospel in different communities. From time to time, Peter, James, John, Judas brother of James and, most especially, Paul, wrote pastoral letters to the communities that they founded, in order to guide them in the faith and resolve the vicissitudes.

These letters, of a very high theological level, were summarized in this section of the New Testament, together with the book of Acts. They are the following:

• Acts of the Apostles.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
• Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
• The second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.
• Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.
• The second letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.
• Paul's first letter to Timothy.
• The second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
• Letter from Saint Paul to Titus.
• Letter from Saint Paul to Philemon.
• Letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
• Santiago letter.
• The first letter of Saint Peter.
• The second letter of Saint Peter.
• The first letter of Saint John.
• The second letter of Saint John.
• The third letter of Saint John.
• Letter of Saint Jude.

prophecies

The New Testament culminates with a controversial book, which has been the subject of all kinds of analysis and interpretation. The most widespread considers it a prophetic book that still awaits its time of fulfillment.

Other authors affirm that it is a book written in symbols in order to codify John's messages regarding the dominant power of his time, the Roman Empire. This book has been attributed to the apostle John the Evangelist, the only one of the apostles who was not martyred.

• Apocalypse of Saint John.

 

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