What is The New Testament?

Discover the books of The New Testament. But first, learn the different ways Christians, Jews, and critical scholars view this ancient library.

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From a Christian perspective

The New Testament is the second major section of the Christian Bible, which documents the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the early history of the Christian church. It consists of 27 books, including four gospels that provide accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, as well as letters, or epistles, from early Christian leaders to various communities of believers. Christians believe that the New Testament is divinely inspired and provides a foundation for understanding the Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God and the savior of humanity. The New Testament also emphasizes the importance of love, forgiveness, and the establishment of a community of believers united in their faith in Jesus Christ.

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From a Jewish perspective

The New Testament is not considered a sacred text in Judaism, as it focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is not recognized as a messiah or divine figure in Jewish tradition. Some Jewish scholars may view the New Testament as a historical or literary text that provides insight into the beliefs and practices of early Christianity, but it is not considered to have religious or spiritual significance within Jewish tradition.

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From a Critical Scholar perspective

From a critical scholar perspective, the New Testament is a collection of early Christian writings that were produced over a period of several decades by various authors and communities of believers. These texts reflect the diversity of early Christianity and its cultural and historical context, and have been subject to extensive analysis and interpretation by scholars. Critical scholars have used a variety of methods, such as source criticism and redaction criticism, to identify the various sources and layers within the New Testament and to understand the historical and theological perspectives of its authors. They recognize that the New Testament was written in a complex and multilingual cultural context, and that the texts have been subject to numerous translations, revisions, and adaptations over time. Overall, critical scholars view the New Testament as a valuable source of information about the history of early Christianity and its theological development, but they also recognize the need for careful analysis and interpretation in order to understand its significance within its historical and cultural context.

Canonical Lists

The below canonical lists represent the most well-known and widely recognized Old Testament canons within Judaism and Christianity.

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Christian Canons

Marcion's Canon (c. 140 AD): Marcion, an early Christian theologian, compiled a limited canon that included only a modified version of the Gospel of Luke and ten of Paul's letters. He rejected the Old Testament entirely, as well as other New Testament writings. His views were considered heretical and eventually led to his excommunication.

Muratorian Fragment (c. 170-200 AD): This is the oldest known list of New Testament books, although it is incomplete due to its fragmentary nature. The surviving portion of the list includes the four Gospels, Acts, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Romans, Philemon, Titus, 1 & 2 Timothy, 1 & 2 John, Jude, and Revelation. The fragment also mentions the Apocalypse of Peter and the Wisdom of Solomon, although it is unclear if these texts were considered canonical.

Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-340 AD): In his work "Ecclesiastical History," Eusebius divided the New Testament writings into three categories: universally accepted books, disputed books, and rejected books. The universally accepted books included the four Gospels, Acts, Paul's letters, 1 John, 1 Peter, and Revelation. The disputed books included Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, and Jude. Rejected books, considered heretical, included the Gospel of Peter, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Acts of Paul.

Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296-373 AD): In his 39th Festal Letter (367 AD), Athanasius provided a list of the 27 books now considered the New Testament canon, marking the first time this specific collection of books was explicitly identified.

Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD): These councils, attended by Augustine of Hippo, confirmed the 27-book canon that Athanasius proposed, which has since been accepted by most Christian denominations.

Eastern Orthodox Canon: While the Eastern Orthodox Church agrees on the 27 books of the New Testament, there has been some debate historically over the inclusion of Revelation. However, in modern times, Revelation is generally accepted as part of the Eastern Orthodox New Testament canon.

More about The New Testament

What is The New Testament?

Canonical Lists