Composition of the new testament
The New Testament of the Christian Bible is composed of 27 books, which are divided into four categories: Gospels, Acts, Epistles (letters), and Apocalyptic literature. Here is a breakdown of the composition of the New Testament:
Gospels (4 books)
- Matthew (written by Matthew, a tax collector and one of Jesus' twelve apostles)
- Mark (written by John Mark, a companion of Peter and Paul)
- Luke (written by Luke, a companion of Paul and a physician)
- John (written by John, one of Jesus' twelve apostles and the "beloved disciple")
The Gospels provide an account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Acts (1 book)
- Acts of the Apostles (written by Luke, the same author as the Gospel of Luke)
Acts is a historical account of the early Christian church, focusing on the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the rest of the world.
Epistles (letters) (21 books)
- Pauline Epistles (13 books):
- Romans (written by Paul, a former Pharisee and one of the most influential Christian leaders)
- 1 Corinthians (written by Paul)
- 2 Corinthians (written by Paul)
- Galatians (written by Paul)
- Ephesians (written by Paul)
- Philippians (written by Paul)
- Colossians (written by Paul)
- 1 Thessalonians (written by Paul)
- 2 Thessalonians (written by Paul)
- 1 Timothy (written by Paul)
- 2 Timothy (written by Paul)
- Titus (written by Paul)
- Philemon (written by Paul)
- General Epistles (7 books):
- Hebrews (author unknown, but often attributed to Paul or Apollos)
- James (written by James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian church)
- 1 Peter (written by Peter, one of Jesus' twelve apostles)
- 2 Peter (written by Peter)
- 1 John (written by John, the "beloved disciple")
- 2 John (written by John)
- 3 John (written by John)
- Epistle of Jude (written by Jude, the brother of James and Jesus)
The Epistles provide guidance and instruction to early Christian communities, addressing various issues and challenges they faced.
Apocalyptic literature (1 book)
- Revelation (written by John, the "beloved disciple")
Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is a prophetic book that contains visions of the end times, the final judgment, and the ultimate triumph of God.
It's worth noting that the New Testament was not written all at once, but rather over a period of several decades, with the latest book (Revelation) likely written around 90-100 AD.