Understanding the Background of the New Testament - Paper Example

Introduction

The books of the New Testament were composed in the 1st and 2nd centuries by various writers and in different genres. Studying the background of these books in the New Testament, therefore, is essential because, in it, Christians see the fulfillment of the promises in the old testament. I learned that understanding the background of the New Testament helps in interpreting the new covenant between God and the followers of Jesus, which is presented in the life and death of the Messiah.

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By studying the background of the New Testament, I also learned that Roman rule was the primary historical era that set a foundation for the New Testament. The Roman territory was fast taking over other empires and eventually entered into the holy city of Jerusalem, a land where the beliefs of the people were different from that of the Romans. Conflict arose on what powers Jesus had as claimed by the Jews and those of Caesar the master of the Romans; this the point that the New Testament gained more popularity because it was the document used to explain about Jesus Christ. Thus, the Books in the New Testament were not written with the aim of satisfying historical curiosity of the many events during the ear rather bear a witness to a faith of God's deeds.

Studying the New Testament also helped me understand that it serves as a foundation for authoritative teaching, individual guidance, and Christian worship. In the past, the prophets such as Isaiah used to teach about Christ and the person that he was but, in these times that there are no such prophecies about the son of God who intends to die on the cross, we instead learn it from the text of the New Testament written to us. Therefore, as Christians, we base our foundation on the prophecies of the past and the authority given to us through the apostles when he ascended in the New Testament. Studying the background of the New Testament helped me understand that the collected books reveal essential questions and concerns such as authority and guidance in the daily lives of Christian believers.

How to view my View of the NT and how to interpret it has expanded/changed due to the materials learned in this class

Growing up in a Christian family, we concentrated so much on the old testament and read a little about the commandments in the New Testament. I did not dive deep into the New Testament. Thus, the materials I learned in a class taught me that the New Testament is a living story of the life that Jesus Christ lived. There is a wealth of information about Jesus' teachings, his life, and death. For Instance, Apostle Paul, in his books, writes about the difference that exists between what is of flesh, what is of spirit (Romans 8:4-13, Galatians 5: 16-26; 6:8). When I studied the old testament, I had a high expectation of more and more of what was to happen. God through prophet Malachi said

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1 NKJV).

I understood that the messenger was the prophet Elijah and so I expected to learn more about the coming of Jesus. My interpretation changed when I learned in the gospel of John that the prophet that was to come before the Messiah was Elijah, but he came in the form of John the Baptist; and also Jesus confirmed this in Mathew 171:10-13. At this point, I understood the connection that existed between the old and the New Testament.

Additionally, in the New Testament, I learn that we are given authority while we still live on earth. Though at first, I interpreted that the authority was only given to the apostles who were his disciples, my view changed after reading. We are all given absolute authority because when we choose to follow Jesus, we become his disciples. By understanding the whole story, I learned patterns to lead my life and stick to the bible’s perspective.

Issues that I found difficult and/or troubling when studying NT backgrounds?

In trying to understand the New Testament background, the chronology of events proved to be challenging to understand. Mathew tries to explain the knowledge of Jesus from the great old generation in the old testament to his time of birth. This history was confusing, but with much research, I got the idea. I got to comprehend most of the issues affecting Jesus' generation by first considering what the bible really meant to its original audience.

Also, when reading the NT, I found it had to place passages in their specific cultural contexts because of different stories based on a variety of cultures. For example, it takes a cultural understanding to learn that what Jesus did by talking to the Samaritan who was not even accepted by her people was considered a big taboo. In the 21st century, we may not understand how adverse an action was in the old times. However, when one understands the historical context well, then they are able to know the reasons why Jesus crossed the taboo boundaries; He is Love and doesn’t choose. No matter how difficult understanding the cultures seemed, I learned that they were written to be used to teach a lesson.

How the materials learned in this class have challenged my earlier ideas of how to read and study the Bible.

Yes, the material I have learned has had an impact on my earlier views. Before this thorough study of the bible, I viewed the bible as an ordinary book. However, from the many passages I read in class, and my own time, I am now sure that the bible is a living word, and one gets power by it through consistent study. The bible contains the word of truth, and doubt about Christ's existence can only be removed through this word. I used to read the bible randomly, and this made it hard to understand it, however, after this class, I now know that it addresses different situations that we face in life; for instance, Anger Ephesians 4: 26, Fear in Psalms 1 Peter 5:7, and faith in Romans 10:9, among many others.

Implications of this class for my life and ministry?

Firstly, this class helped increase my urge to study and dig deeper into the word of God. The bible is essential in life since it is centered on historical events, and the power of God still manifests in our present life. Secondly, studying the bible in class has helped me to prepare for decision making in ministry and service as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16–17. The Apostle Paul taught how the scriptures bless our lives. Thirdly, this class has helped in transforming my life from just mere worshiper to a convert of his word. I learned that Paul spent a lot of time in second Corinthians trying to explain what his ministry entailed and his motive. Thus, his teachings and the ministry of Jesus have helped shape the nature and purpose of my life and ministry.

Bibliography

Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament (Encountering Biblical Studies): A Historical and Theological Survey. Baker Books, 2013.

Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A historical, literary, and theological survey. Baker Books, 2018.