Holy Bible - New Testament Books

A list of all the books of the New Testament
with a brief explanation of each of the book's contents.

History Books

The word gospel means "good news." Almost half of the New Testament consists of four accounts of the life of Jesus and the good news he brought to earth. Each of these four books, or Gospels, has a different focus and a different audience; taken together, they give a complete picture of Jesus' life and teaching. About a third of their pages are devoted the events of his last week on earth, including the crucifixion and resurrection. Acts continues the history into the period after Jesus left earth.

Matthew: Written to a Jewish audience, this Gospel links the Old and the New Testaments. It presents Jesus as the Messiah and King promised in the Old Testament. Matthew emphasizes Jesus' authority and power.

Mark: Mark probably had pragmatic Roman readers in mind. His Gospel stresses action and gives a straightforward, blow-by-blow account of Jesus' work on earth. 

(*Pragmatic [adjective] (1): of or relating to practical affairs (2): concerned with the practical consequences of actions or beliefs.)

Luke: A doctor, Luke was also a fine writer. His Gospel provides many details of human interest, especially in Jesus' treatment of the poor and needy. A joyful tone characterizes Luke's book.

John: John has a different, more reflective style than the other Gospels. Its author selected seven signs that pointed to Jesus as the Son of God and wove together everything else to underscore that point.

Acts: Acts tells what happened to Jesus' followers after he left them. Peter and Paul soon emerged as leaders of the rapidly spreading church.

The Letters

The young church was nourished spiritually by apostles who set down their beliefs and messages in a series of letters. The first 13 such letters (Romans though Philemon) were written by the apostle Paul, who led the advance of Christianity to non-Jewish people.

Paul's Letters:

Romans: Written for a sophisticated audience, Romans sets forth theology in a logical, organized form.

1st Corinthians: A very practical book, 1st Corinthians takes up the problems of a tumultuous church in Corinth: marriage, factions, immorality, public worship, and lawsuits.

2nd Corinthians: Paul wrote this follow-up letter to defend himself against a rebellion led by certain false apostles.

Galatians: A short version of the message of Romans, this book addresses legalism. It shows how Christ came to bring freedom, not bondage to a set of laws.

Ephesians: Although written in jail, This letter is Paul's most optimistic and encouraging. It tells of the advantages a believer has in Christ.

Philippians: The church at Philippi ranked among Paul's favorites. This friendly letter stresses that joy can be found in any situation.

Colossians: Written to oppose certain cults, Colossians tells how faith in Christ is complete. Nothing needs to be added to what Christ did.

1st Thessalonians: Composed early in Paul's ministry, this letter gives a capsule history of one church, as well as Paul's direct advice about specific problems.

2nd Thessalonians: Stronger in tone than his first letter to the Thessalonians, the sequel goes over the same topics, especially the church's questions about Christ's second coming.

1st Timothy: As Paul neared the end of his life, he chose young men such as Timothy to carry on his work. His two letters to Timothy form a leadership manual for a young pastor.

2nd Timothy: Written just before Paul's death, 2nd Timothy offers Paul's final words to his young assistant.

Titus: Titus was left in Crete, a notoriously difficult place to nurture a Church. Paul's letter gave practical advice on how to go about it.

Philemon: Paul urged Philemon, owner of runaway slave Onesimus, to forgive his slave and accept him as a brother in Christ.

Other Letters:

Hebrews: No one knows who wrote Hebrews, but it probably first went to Christians in danger of slipping back into Judaism. It interprets the Old Testament, explaining many Jewish practices as symbols that prepared the way for Christ.

James: James, a man of action, emphasized the right kind of behavior for a believer. Someone who calls himself or herself a Christian ought to act like it, James believed, and his letter spells out the specifics.

1st Peter: Early Christians often met violent opposition, and Peter's letter comforted and encourage Christians who were being persecuted for their faith.

2nd Peter: In contrast to Peter's first letter, This one focused on problems that sprang up from the inside. It warns against false teachers.

1st John: John could fill simple words - light, love, life - with deep meaning, and in this letter, he elegantly explains basic truths about the Christian life.

2nd John: Warning against false teachers, John counseled churches on how to respond to them.

3rd John: Balancing 2nd John, this companion letter mentions the need to be hospitable to true teachers.

Jude: Jude gives a brief but fiery expose of heretics.

Revelation: A book of visions and symbols, Revelation is the only New Testament book that concentrates on prophecy. It completes the story, begun in Genesis, of the cosmic battle between good and evil being waged on earth. It ends with a picture of a new heaven and new earth.