Explanatory notes upon the new testament

Here are some explanatory notes on the New Testament:

Matthew

• The Gospel of Matthew is often referred to as the "Gospel of the Kingdom" because it emphasizes Jesus' teachings about the kingdom of heaven.
• The book is structured around Jesus' life, with five discourses (chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18, and 24-25) that provide a framework for understanding his teachings.
• The genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17 is unique to this Gospel and provides a Jewish perspective on Jesus' lineage.
• The Magi (wise men) in Matthew 2:1-12 are often referred to as "kings" in other translations, but the Greek word used here (magoi) actually means "wise men" or "astrologers".

Mark

• The Gospel of Mark is often referred to as the "Gospel of Action" because it emphasizes Jesus' deeds and miracles.
• Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four, and it is often seen as a more concise and action-packed account of Jesus' life.
• The Gospel of Mark is the only one of the four Gospels that does not include the birth narrative of Jesus.
• The phrase "the kingdom of God" is used 11 times in Mark, emphasizing Jesus' teachings about the kingdom.

Luke

• The Gospel of Luke is often referred to as the "Gospel of Mercy" because it emphasizes Jesus' teachings about love and compassion.
• Luke's Gospel is the longest of the four, and it includes a number of unique stories and parables that are not found in the other Gospels.
• The birth narrative in Luke 1-2 is unique to this Gospel and provides a more detailed account of Jesus' birth.
• The Gospel of Luke is the only one of the four that includes the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

John

• The Gospel of John is often referred to as the "Gospel of the Word" because it emphasizes Jesus' teachings about the Word of God.
• John's Gospel is the most theological of the four, and it includes a number of profound and abstract teachings about Jesus' nature and mission.
• The Gospel of John is the only one of the four that includes the story of the woman at the well (John 4:1-42).
• The phrase "the light of the world" is used 5 times in John, emphasizing Jesus' role as the source of light and life.

Acts

• The book of Acts is often referred to as the "Acts of the Apostles" because it tells the story of the early Christian church and the spread of Christianity.
• Acts is the second part of Luke's two-volume work, which includes the Gospel of Luke.
• The book of Acts is structured around the ministry of Peter and Paul, who are the main characters of the book.
• The phrase "the Holy Spirit" is used 28 times in Acts, emphasizing the role of the Spirit in the early Christian church.

Epistles (Letters)

• The Epistles (letters) of Paul are a collection of letters written by the apostle Paul to early Christian churches.
• The Epistles are often referred to as the "Pauline Epistles" because they were written by Paul.
• The Epistles are structured around specific issues and concerns that Paul faced in his ministry.
• The phrase "in Christ" is used 14 times in the Epistles, emphasizing the believer's union with Christ.

Hebrews

• The book of Hebrews is often referred to as the "Epistle to the Hebrews" because it was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling to maintain their faith.
• Hebrews is a unique book in the New Testament because it is written in a more formal and philosophical style than the other Epistles.
• The book of Hebrews emphasizes the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Testament sacrifices and priests.
• The phrase "the better covenant" is used 3 times in Hebrews, emphasizing the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant.

James

• The Epistle of James is often referred to as the "Epistle of James" because it was written by James, the brother of Jesus.
• James is a unique book in the New Testament because it emphasizes the importance of works and deeds in the Christian life.
• The book of James is structured around the theme of the relationship between faith and works.
• The phrase "faith without works is dead" is used in James 2:26, emphasizing the importance of deeds in the Christian life.

Peter

• The Epistles of Peter are a collection of letters written by the apostle Peter to early Christian churches.
• The Epistles are often referred to as the "Petra Epistles" because they were written by Peter.
• The Epistles are structured around specific issues and concerns that Peter faced in his ministry.
• The phrase "the blood of Christ" is used 2 times in the Epistles, emphasizing the sacrifice of Christ.

John

• The Epistles of John are a collection of letters written by John, the apostle of Jesus Christ.
• The Epistles are often referred to as the "Johannine Epistles" because they were written by John.
• The Epistles are structured around specific issues and concerns that John faced in his ministry.
• The phrase "the love of God" is used 3 times in the Epistles, emphasizing the importance of love in the Christian life.

Jude

• The Epistle of Jude is often referred to as the "Epistle of Jude" because it was written by Jude, the brother of James.
• Jude is a unique book in the New Testament because it emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith.
• The book of Jude is structured around the theme of the struggle against false teachers.
• The phrase "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" is used in Jude 3, emphasizing the importance of preserving the faith.

Revelation

• The book of Revelation is often referred to as the "Apocalypse of John" because it is a prophetic book that reveals the future.
• Revelation is the last book of the New Testament and is often seen as a kind of "conclusion" to the entire Bible.
• The book of Revelation is structured around the theme of the ultimate triumph of God over evil.
• The phrase "the Lamb of God" is used 5 times in Revelation, emphasizing Jesus' role as the sacrifice for sin.