What to Know Before Reading the New Testament
A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Last 27 Books of the Bible
Have you ever opened the New Testament and wondered where to begin?
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Maybe you've heard stories about Jesus, recognize names like Matthew and Paul, or know that the New Testament is where Christianity begins to take shape.
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But how does it all fit together?
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Why are there four different books about Jesus? What happened between the Old and New Testaments? And why does so much of the New Testament consist of letters?
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The good news is that you don't need to be a Bible expert to understand it!
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Before you begin reading, there are a few important things that can help you understand the people, events, and messages you'll encounter.
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Let's explore what you should know before diving into the New Testament. ♡
The New Testament Continues the Old Testament Story
It's a New Chapter, Not a Completely New Story!
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One of the most important things to understand about the New Testament is that it doesn't begin an entirely separate story.
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Although your Bible has a division between the Old and New Testaments, the two are deeply connected.
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The Old Testament introduces us to God's creation, humanity's fall into sin, His covenant with Israel, and His promises concerning redemption.
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Throughout the Old Testament, God makes promises to His people, establishes covenants, and speaks through prophets about what is to come.
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The New Testament continues that story by introducing Jesus Christ and revealing how Christians understand many of those earlier promises to be fulfilled through Him.
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For example, the Old Testament contains promises concerning a coming king from David's family (2 Samuel 7:12–16).
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When Matthew begins his Gospel, he introduces Jesus as a descendant of David and Abraham (Matthew 1:1).
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This connection is intentional!
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The New Testament writers frequently refer to Old Testament people, events, and prophecies because they want readers to understand how Jesus fits into the larger biblical story.
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Rather than thinking of the New Testament as a fresh start with no connection to what came before, think of it as the continuation of God's unfolding plan of redemption.
About 400 Years Have Passed
The World Changed Between the Old and New Testaments
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Have you ever noticed how different the world seems when you move from Malachi to Matthew?
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Suddenly, the Romans are in control, new religious groups appear, and the political landscape looks very different.
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That's because several centuries of history separate the closing period of the Old Testament from the events surrounding Jesus' birth.
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This period is often called the intertestamental period, and it is commonly described as lasting approximately 400 years.
During these centuries, major political and cultural changes took place.
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Different empires rose and fell, including the expansion of Greek influence following the conquests of Alexander the Great.
Jewish society also experienced significant changes, including the development of religious groups that would later appear in the New Testament.
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By the time Jesus was born, Rome had become the dominant political power in the region.
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This helps explain why the New Testament introduces Roman governors, soldiers, and rulers who weren't part of the earlier Old Testament narratives.
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It also explains why the religious and political world of Matthew may feel so different from the world described in Malachi.
Understanding that centuries have passed between these periods can make the transition between the Testaments much easier to follow.
The New Testament Isn't Arranged Chronologically
The Books Are Grouped by Type, Not by When Everything Happened
Just like the Old Testament, the New Testament isn't arranged entirely in chronological order.
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Instead, its 27 books are generally grouped according to the type of writing they contain.
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These books fall into four main categories.
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The Four Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
These books describe the life, ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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One Book of History
Acts
The book of Acts describes the growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel following Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
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Twenty-One Letters
Romans through Jude
These letters, also called epistles, were written to churches and individuals to provide instruction, encouragement, correction, and guidance.
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One Book of Prophecy
Revelation
Revelation contains prophetic messages, visions, and symbolic imagery concerning God's judgment, the victory of Christ, and the ultimate fulfillment of His purposes.
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Because the books are grouped this way, reading straight through the New Testament doesn't always mean you're following events in the exact order they happened.
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For example, some of Paul's letters were written during the period of early church history described in Acts.
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Understanding how the New Testament is organized helps you recognize where each book belongs in the larger story.
The Four Gospels Tell the Same Story
Why Are There Four Different Accounts of Jesus?
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When you begin reading the New Testament, you might notice something interesting.
Matthew tells you about Jesus.
Then Mark tells you about Jesus.
Then Luke tells you about Jesus.
And then John tells you about Jesus!
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Why does the Bible include four different accounts of the same person?
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Each Gospel focuses on the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the writers don't always include the exact same details.
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Instead, each Gospel emphasizes particular events, teachings, and truths for its intended audience.
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For example, Matthew frequently connects Jesus to Old Testament prophecies and emphasizes His identity as the promised Messiah.
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Mark often moves quickly through the events of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His actions and authority.
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Luke provides an orderly account of Jesus' life and ministry, including details about His compassion and interactions with people.
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John places particular emphasis on Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the significance of believing in Him.
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Although the accounts sometimes overlap, they also contain unique details.
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Some events appear in multiple Gospels, while others are recorded in only one.
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Rather than viewing the four Gospels as unnecessary repetition, remember that each contributes to our understanding of Jesus.
Together, they provide a fuller picture of His life, teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection.
The Letters Were Written to Real People
Understanding the Original Audience Makes a Big Difference
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Have you ever opened a book like Corinthians, Galatians, or Philippians and wondered why it sounds like someone is having a conversation you're not part of?
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That's because, in a way, you are reading someone else's mail!
Much of the New Testament consists of letters written to actual churches and individuals during the first century.
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These letters weren't originally written as chapters in a modern book.
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They were messages addressing real situations, questions, and challenges faced by early Christians.
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For example, Paul wrote letters to churches in places such as Rome, Corinth, Galatia, and Philippi.
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Some letters addressed disagreements or problems within churches.
Others encouraged believers who were experiencing difficulties, explained important Christian teachings, or provided instructions about living out their faith.
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Several letters were also written to specific individuals, including Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
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Understanding the original audience can make these books much easier to understand.
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Before reading a New Testament letter, it can help to ask a few simple questions.
Who wrote this letter?
Who was supposed to receive it?
What was happening that caused the writer to send it?
What questions or problems was the writer addressing?
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When you understand the circumstances behind a letter, its instructions and encouragement often become much clearer.
The Old Testament Still Matters
You Can't Fully Understand the New Testament Without Its Background
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Sometimes people assume that because the New Testament focuses on Jesus and the early church, the Old Testament is no longer important.
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But the New Testament constantly refers back to the Old Testament!
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Jesus frequently quoted Scripture, and the apostles used Old Testament passages to explain who Jesus was and what His life, death, and resurrection meant.
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The New Testament also builds upon important Old Testament themes, including covenants, sacrifices, the law, the priesthood, and God's promises to Israel.
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For example, the book of Hebrews explains Jesus' role as our great high priest and connects His sacrifice to the sacrificial system described in the Old Testament.
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Without understanding those earlier practices, some of the comparisons in Hebrews can be difficult to follow.
The same is true of Old Testament prophecy.
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The Gospel writers frequently refer to earlier prophetic passages when explaining the significance of Jesus' life and ministry.
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This doesn't mean you have to read and understand the entire Old Testament before beginning the New Testament!
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It simply means that the more familiar you become with the Old Testament, the more connections you'll begin to recognize.
The two Testaments work together to reveal the larger biblical story.
Jesus Is at the Center
The New Testament Is About More Than Rules and Inspiring Stories
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When reading the New Testament, it's easy to focus on individual miracles, parables, instructions, or historical events.
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But at the center of it all is Jesus Christ.
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The New Testament isn't simply a collection of moral lessons or stories about people doing good things.
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It reveals who Jesus is, what He accomplished, and what it means to follow Him.
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The Gospels introduce us to His life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection.
Acts describes how the message about Jesus spread as the early church grew.
The letters explain Christian beliefs and teach believers how to live in light of what Jesus accomplished.
Revelation presents Christ's ultimate victory and the fulfillment of God's purposes.
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Although these books contain different types of writing, they are united by their focus on Jesus and the gospel.
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As you read, try to look beyond the individual stories and ask how each book contributes to your understanding of Christ.
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Doing so can help you recognize the central message that connects the entire New Testament.
