The New Testament was written over a much shorter period. Probably all within 70 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Paul’s letters were generally the earliest writings and date from about AD 50.

Despite the short time period of composition of the NT documents, it was not until the late 4^th Century that the wider Church agreed consistently what to include. However, most had been widely used and circulated since at least the 2^nd Century. The documents were judged on three grounds: the history of their use, analysis of their contents and their authorship (they were all thought to have ‘apostolic authorship’). There were other writings which were, and are, highly valued, which Christians were encouraged to read, but not given the exclusive recognition of what we now know as the New Testament.

Inevitably, there were other documents not considered worthy of this level of approval, or were considered positively misleading or ‘heretical’. There’s really no evidence that alternative gospel histories were suppressed by the early Church, but that sort of story does sell books!

THE GOSPELS. In the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we have four different accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching, his death and resurrection. Mark is usually thought to be the first written down, in mid to late 60s AD, then Matthew and Luke and finally John’s Gospel, maybe in the 90s. Undoubtedly earlier documents existed which were incorporated into the Gospels we now have, but we can’t now identify those sources.

Writing down and recording the many stories about Jesus was not a concern immediately after his death, but it became vital because a) The people who knew Jesus first-hand were dying out, so their memories had to be gathered and written down and b) the early Christians expected Jesus to return soon and when this didn’t happen it became clear that future generations would need his life and teaching recording.

Though styles and emphasis are different, the first three in particular have much common content and are usually referred to as the Synoptic (meaning ‘one view’) Gospels because they present a similar or united view of Jesus: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

John is generally thought to be the last written, with much greater differences in style and content. Many stories are only told in John’s account. One explanation is that John’s followers (the Johannine Community) had at least Mark’s Gospel as a source so, far from wanting to repeat it, they focused on what they knew was different and important to them. But we might still ask why a story so extraordinary and important as Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead Is not included in any of the other three Gospels.

What is indisputable is that the four Gospels only contain a small portion of the things done and the words spoken by Jesus in public or to his disciples. The last verse of John’s Gospel says that the world couldn’t contain all the books needed to record everything Jesus did (John 21:25).

It’s obvious that stories about Jesus were told and re-told repeatedly among his early followers. Some may have been written down soon after his death, some much later. I am sure that sometimes we are very close to the actual words of Jesus, and sometimes we are reading a summary very much influenced by the authors of the Gospels. Luke’s Gospel begins by making it clear he has carefully gathered information from stories handed down over the years.

I find this human process immensely freeing when I come to understanding and interpreting the Gospel accounts, and the whole thing is much more credible because the accounts vary a bit, and the details are sometimes hard to reconcile. I’ve never been troubled by such variations.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. A history of the early Church, this is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel by the same author. Luke’s Gospel tells the story of what Jesus said and did in the power of the Holy Spirit, and Acts is the story of how the Church carried on the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s the story of the Gospel spreading out from Jerusalem across the world, and particularly to Rome, the centre of the Roman empire. Non-Jews are welcomed as circumcision and other Jewish rites and regulations are agreed to be no longer necessary (although this remained a major point of contention).

THE LETTERS OF PAUL. It’s hard to overestimate the immense contribution St Paul has made through his missionary journeys preaching, teaching and starting Christian communities around Asia Minor, and the theological foundation he has given the Christian faith through his letters to the new Christian communities in their own contexts. They are not theological treatises but address real situations which we can sometimes discern by what Paul writes. The Epistle to the Romans is an exception in that it appears to be laying out Paul’s theology quite systematically. It was probably conceived as a letter of introduction, laying out his beliefs and his credentials in anticipation of his plan to travel to Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire.

With occasional help from James and the early Church in Jerusalem, Paul steered the early Church through extremely stormy waters, not least in determining what Jews should keep, and non-Jews take on board, from the OT Law when they start to follow Jesus. He gave firm founding principles which have continued to light the way for Christians across many times and cultures.

Even within Paul’s writing, the situations change from early writings to later writings over the 15-20 years he writes. His theology can be seen both to develop as the early Church develops and vary in emphasis according to the issues raised by the Christian community he is writing to. The order of his letters in the NT is basically on length (like prophets in the OT)and certainly not on which was written first.

There is disagreement about the authorship of some of Paul’s letters: as to whether they are genuinely from Paul or written by someone under his direction or by someone claiming the authority of Paul’s name, believing they are writing in the spirit of Paul.

HEBREWS. Written for Jewish Christians by an unknown author, it’s more a sermon than a letter. There is much use of Old Testament scripture, some of which is creative! It focuses on the supremacy of Christ and of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant.  Acceptance as a part of the NT was questioned, because of two issues.  1) the letter had been attributed to Paul but significant leaders in the early Church (correctly) doubted this and 2) because one short passage (6:4-6) states that repentance is no longer possible for one who sins after coming to know Christ. Not many accepted this harsh teaching.

GENERAL EPISTLES.  James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2 &3 John, Jude. 

JAMES. Author said to be James, traditionally the brother of Jesus, but many dispute this. He focuses on living out the Christian life in a practical way, stressing Love and Wisdom. As in wisdom literature, there are stark warnings – especially about controlling the tongue. JAMES is thought by some to conflict with Pauline theology because it stresses works and conduct rather than faith.

1 PETER. Author may have been the apostle Peter from Rome in mid-60s AD. He has much to say about suffering and identity to scattered Churches in Asia Minor (Turkey). It is sometimes thought to be a sermon for newly baptised believers.

2 PETER. Most scholars think it was written well after Peter died (so after 65 AD), by followers of Peter writing in his name. Probably the most questioned document before being included in the NT collection.

1 JOHN. Likely to have been written by a community of Christians following John the apostle: known as the ‘Johannine’ community. It is a strong sermon against wrong teaching, moral failings and lack of love, with an inspiring opening and a wonderful passage about love which is often used as a wedding reading (4:7-21). It’s interesting to compare it with John’s Gospel which is confident in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but here Christian communities are exhorted to be united in what they believe and to reject deviations from the universally agreed faith.

JUDE. A letter attributed to James’ brother Jude, but few accept that he was the actual author. It is a diatribe against ‘godless men’ guilty of immorality and refusing to accept authority.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION. The author is John, exiled to the island of Patmos. Exactly which ‘John’ is not clear. REVELATION is unique in the NT. Similar writing of the time is known outside the Bible, but in the Bible only the second half of the OT Book of Daniel is like it. Both are ‘Apocalyptic’ writing – meaning the revealing (revelation) of secret things.

Revelation lifts the veil and we read about amazing beasts and learn about heaven and hell and angels and suffering in the battle between good and evil. About God’s shaping of history in the past, present and future. Its main purpose is probably to give encouragement to Christians in very difficult times when they may be wondering if God is in control, especially against the might of human empires, and Rome in particular. Fear of the Romans and persecution may well be one reason why this widely circulated subversive document is written almost in code.

We will, even more than the original audience, struggle to understand many of the allusions. But amidst the mystery, perhaps we’re not expected to do much more than glimpse and trust the truth that God is in control, and through Christ evil will be punished, faith and goodness rewarded and all suffering finally ended when he comes again to make everything new.

In addition to the apocalyptic stories, there are some much more straightforward sections at the beginning and end of the book. The letters to the Churches are great food for thought at the start, and the concluding two chapters are totally inspirational as we envisage the glorious end of this age: suffering and death defeated and the kingdom of God fulfilled.