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NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY BTH 532 MISSIO UNIVERSITY

TRAINING LEADERS TO TRANSFORM NATIONS

PowerPoint #1

Dr. J. Lee Simmons Dean

Types of Theology
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Systematic Theology

Seeks a coherent and unified understanding of what the Scriptures teach on a particular doctrine

Dogmatic Theology

Examines what the Church has taught in its authoritative creeds and doctrinal statements
Examines what the Church has taught over the centuries of its existence Seeks to develop and understand the teaching of Scripture and its application to the work and ministry of the Church

Historical Theology

Practical Theology

What is New Testament Theology?

A specific approach to the NT only for theological truths Systematic theology is focused on doctrinal truths of the entire Bible. The purpose of NT theology is to harmonize and systematize theological truth from the different NT authors who had different purposes for writing. Practically, systematic theology is too broad of a subject to be covered in one class.

What is New Testament Theology?

That discipline that works to clearly articulate the beliefs, practices and teachings of the apostolic Christian faith, derived primarily from the canonical writings of the New Testament as they expound Gods salvation in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. -J. Hernando

Why Study New Testament Theology?

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NT Theology is specialized because believers are under the New Covenant as found in the NT -Hebrews 8:13 The Church must have foundation truths for doctrine, correction, reproof and instruction - 2 Timothy 3:16 Godly living for the believer today is based upon NT teaching Titus 2:11-13 We must be able to discern between false doctrine and true doctrine - Titus 2:1 Christian ethics must be derived from a synthesis of NT teachings - 1 John 3:16-20

Why Study New Testament Theology?

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Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Why a Theological Approach to the NT?

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Because each NT author had his own unique perspective at times Because no NT book is exhaustive of truth on any one doctrine Because each NT book addresses and reflects its own unique set of historical circumstances Discuss: Compare the four Gospels in just how they tell the story of Jesus Christ If we did not have the Gospel of John, what would we have missed?

OT Background to NT Theology
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The promise of one born of a woman who would crush the head of Satan Genesis 3:15 The promise of the birth of a male child who would be the Mighty God Isaiah 9:6 The promise of a final sacrifice for sin Isaiah 53:6 The promise of a New Covenant Jer 31:3134 The promise of a coming kingdom Obadiah 1:21

Foundation of New Testament Theology: The Inspiration of the Books

The Canon: 39 Old Testament books, 27 New Testament books 66 Books of the Bible The words canon and canonical are used to describe books that are recognized as inspired by God and to be included as part of our Bible. The word canon comes from the Greek word that means measuring rule therefore signifying a rule or standard. The key problem is that there were many books which were written that claimed to be inspired but were excluded from our Bible.

Definition of the Canon

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Canonization is the dynamic historical process whereby the Church is led by the Spirit to recognize the content and character of the inspired New Testament writings with collateral authority alongside Old Testament writings.

The Development of the New Testament Canon

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After the ascension of Christ, the church did not have any books of the NT for at least 15 years until James was written in AD 45-50. The writing of the NT book, Revelation, was written about AD 90, a period of 60 years from the ascension of Christ. It is important to realize that the early church had to rely on the OT and oral teachings until books were written and circulated.

The Development of the New Testament Canon

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Several things promoted the formation of a NT canon:

Spurious writings which claimed to be written by an apostle were circulated, and true writings were discredited. NT books whose content and authorship were recognized as inspired by many, were collected and circulated. Apostolic writings were seen as inspired, therefore it was necessary to determine apostolic authorship. In AD 303 Emperor Diocletian decreed all sacred books be burned which resulted in the NT collection.

The Development of the New Testament Canon

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The Process of Recognition of the NT Canon

Books

deemed to be inspired were widely circulated and gained acceptance. Christian leaders began to formulate lists of books considered inspired. By the 4th century the 27 books of the NT were universally affirmed to be the canon of the NT. The Council of Hippo in AD 393 and the Council in Carthage in AD 397 recognized the 27 books as canonical.

The Development of the New Testament Canon

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The Test for Canonicity

Does the book give internal evidence of being inspired?

Does

it reflect Gods nature and plan? Does it promote godliness? Is it doctrinally accurate? Does it reflect the work of the Holy Spirit?

The Development of the New Testament Cannon

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The Test for Canonicity

Was

the book written by an apostle or does it have apostolic endorsement?

Mark

was not an apostle but was written under Peters support. Luke was not an apostle but was a close associate of the apostle Paul.

The Development of the New Testament Cannon

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The Test for Canonicity

Was

the book universally recognized by the Church at large?

Some

books had the endorsement of a few, but were rejected. Books where the authorship was questioned, were later accepted because of universal approval. i.e. Hebrews

The Uniqueness of the Process of NT Canonization

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Its development was spontaneous and difficult to trace. No official group or spokesperson conferred canonical status on a particular writing. The Church was used (by God) to recognize the NT canon, not to create it.

The Uniqueness of the Process of NT Canonization

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Despite regional and local differences, the vast majority of churches recognized and accepted most of the 27 books that make up our NT by the end of the second century. Church councils affirmed what had already been accepted as the 27 canonical books of the NT.

The Development of the New Testament Cannon

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The Reliability of the NT Documents

The existence of 5,300 known Greek manuscripts of the NT NT documents exist from the 4th and 5th century. Papyri fragments exist dating as early as AD 135.

JOHN 18:31-33 20 OY H H I O AN ... THE JEWS, "FOR US IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO KILL ANYONE," SO THAT THE WORD OF JESUS MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH HE SPOKE SIGNIFYING WHAT KIND OF DEATH HE WAS GOING TO TO DIE. ENTERED THEREFORE AGAIN INTO THE PRAETORIUM PILATE AND SUMMONED JESUS AND HE SAID TO HIM, "THOU ART KING OF THE JEWS?

Rylands Papyrus P 52

117-138 A.D.

Theologically Liberal Perspective of NT Theology

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The NT has no final authority in faith. Anti-supernatural seeks to interpret NT in light of naturalism. i.e. demythologize Treats the NT as any other piece of religious literature. NT gives us a history of religion, not a theology. The Jesus of history must be separated from the Christ of faith i.e. Jesus Seminar

The Jesus Seminar

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The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 biblical scholars and laymen founded in 1985 by Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan under the auspices of the Westar Institute. The seminar uses votes with colored beads to decide their collective view of the historicity of the deeds and sayings of Jesus of Nazareth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Semin ar

The Jesus Seminar

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The seminar treats the canonical Gospels as historical sources that represent Jesus' actual words and deeds as well as elaborations of the early Christian community and of the gospel authors. The fellows placed the burden of proof on those who advocate any passage's historicity. Unconcerned with canonical boundaries, they asserted that the Gospel of Thomas may have more authentic material than the Gospel of

Demythologizing Rudolph Bultmann

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An Example And the significance of Jesus is not to be found in his supposed placating of a wrathful God but in the fact that through him our authentic life becomes a possibility in fact for us only when we are freed from ourselves (Bultmann 1984, 30). http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/Weird WildWeb/courses/mwt/dictionary/mwt _themes_760_bultmann.htm

Categorization of the NT Literature

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Gospels
Synoptics John

Acts Epistles

Pauline

General

Revelation

Categorization of the NT: Authorship

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John
John,

Paul
Romans,

1,2,3 John Revelation

Luke Luke, Acts Peter

1

& 2 Peter

Others
Matthew,

Mark, Hebrews, James, Jude

1,2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1,2 Thessalonians 1,2 Timothy Titus Philemon

Categorization of the NT General Subjects

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Gospels
What

and Acts

Jesus did, what Jesus said, how the early church obeyed His commands

Pauline

Epistles
to specific churches and their

Instructions

leaders Development of Doctrine of Christology

General

Epistles
to the churches in general

Instructions

Revelation

Categorization of the NT Key Theological Truths

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Kingdom
Now

and not yet

Christology Salvation, justification,

redemption, propitiation, adoption, etc. Sins to put off, qualities to put on

Sanctification Spiritual Growth:

Pneumatology
Baptism, When

Filling, Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eschatology
He comes

Foundational Truths for NT Theology

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NT Canon is the source. Focus is on systematic unity. Accepts progressive revelation

i.e.

development of Christology

Recognizes the occasional nature of NT writings Understands diversity in NT authors Seeks to harmonize convergent texts

Centrality of Jesus Christ in NT Theology

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The

Gospels give us the life and teachings of Jesus Christ Acts 1:1 Acts records how the early church obeyed His Great Commission in gathering followers of Jesus Christ Acts 1:8 The Epistles develop the doctrine of Christology and what it means to be a follower of Christ. They also develop how the Church is to make mature followers of Jesus Christ Romans 1:1-5 Revelation prepares believers for the return of Jesus Christ and how to live in