The New Testament is the foundation of Christianity. These books define the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and what it means to be a Christian. Following are the 27 books of the New Testament with summaries of their content:
Matthew:
“Matthew records the birth and life of Jesus, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.This Gospel sets forth the distinction between law and grace. Jesus is the eternal High Priest and gives Himself as the spotless, perfect blood sacrifice for all sinners, once for all time. Matthew tells us of conflicts between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities, and he records five great discourses by Jesus, including the Sermon on the Mount.”
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Mark:
“The Gospel of Mark is a fast–moving narrative of the life of Jesus as the Servant King and His divine authority over illness, demon activity, and the created world as evidenced by twenty–one miracles! Mark gives us an account of God’s Servant, Jesus Christ, atoning for our sins by His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Mark concludes with the great commandment of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, to His followers to be His witnesses throughout the world (16:15).”
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Luke:
“Luke was a physician and a gentile who recorded the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Luke tells us of Jesus the Messiah, who provides redemption for all believers. Prayer and praise dominate the Gospel of Luke, and twenty–seven parables spoken by Jesus are recorded. ”
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John:
“John was an eye–witness of Jesus Christ throughout His earthly ministry, and he rejoiced to see the risen Christ the very day of the resurrection. The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus Christ as God. Its purpose is to bring people to faith in Christ as Savior and Lord so that they will have eternal life. John records nine discourses given by Jesus and eight miracles. John wants us to know that Jesus is God, the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the True Vine.”
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Acts:
“The Book of Acts is the record by Luke the physician of the power of the Holy Spirit and His work through the apostles of Jesus. Luke was an eye–witness of many of the events, and he provides details about the activities of key leaders in the early church and emphasizes the supernatural character of the Christian faith. The Book of Acts provides the historic background for ten of Paul’s letters and documents nine sermons each by Peter and Paul. It reveals God’s leadership of His church through His chosen servants, the apostles.”
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Romans:
“The righteousness of God is revealed in Romans by the Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Romans is the key to understanding Paul’s teachings throughout the New Testament. The first man, Adam, sinned by disobeying God and the result is that all men are sinners, doomed to eternal death. But God provides salvation by His grace (unmerited favor) through faith alone; it cannot be earned by human effort of any kind. Justification and righteousness (right standing before God) are provided in and through Christ to all who accept Him as Lord and Savior. Paul emphasizes that salvation is directly available to all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. He also discusses various responsibilities of those who accept and believe in Christ Jesus: they are to be subject to civil authorities, they are to serve one another, and in general are to become like Christ in their values and personal conduct.”
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1st Corinthians:
“First Corinthians: The Apostle Paul addresses divisions and dissension in the church, problems of immorality, unethical behavior, and more. The wisdom of God is contrasted with the wisdom of the world. Paul answers several questions about marriage and teaches the proper use of Christian liberty. He describes worship that honors the Lord, teaches the proper use of spiritual gifts, and gives instruction on the resurrection and the collection for needy believers in Jerusalem.”
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2nd Corinthians:
“The Apostle Paul again deals with the continuing tension, divisions, and strife in the Church at Corinth. False teachers had crept in, and some of the members were refusing to repent of sinful behavior. Also, Paul’s personal integrity and authority as an apostle were being challenged by his opponents. He writes this letter in part to defend his apostleship, while at the same time showing his concern and love for the readers. Paul explains his ministry in detail, and describes his feelings, desires, obligations, and responsibilities to the church.”
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Galatians:
“The Apostle Paul again proclaims the gospel to the church at Galatia. Jewish Christians erroneously insisted that the Gentile converts to Christianity abide by certain Old Testament laws and rituals, especially circumcision. But Paul sternly corrects his readers and explains again that a person is saved solely by the grace of God (God’s unmerited favor) through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Believers are to be led by the Holy Spirit, not by the law, and the leading of the Spirit will be evidenced by good attitudes and behavior towards others.”
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Ephesians:
“The Apostle Paul writes this letter to the church in Ephesus while imprisoned in Rome. Paul proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by good deeds, not by being a good person. There is to be unity among believers, made possible by the Holy Spirit. The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head of the church. Believers are to be imitators of God and to live in love under control of the Holy Spirit. In that regard, Paul provides a number of admonitions and offers encouragement for setting a good Christian example in a variety of challenging situations.”
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Philippians:
“Paul speaks of unity among Christians and reminds them that God’s abundant grace brings Christians joy even in the midst of adversity and suffering. The ultimate example of the joy of service is that of Christ’s own humility and exaltation (2:1–11). Paul tells of salvation’s joy for believers, cautions about those who advocate good works as a substitute for righteousness received through faith in Christ, and reveals the source of peace and serenity.”
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Colossians: “Paul warns his readers of heresy and gives the Biblical view of the person and work of Christ as refutation of it. Paul teaches that understanding the grace of God motivates Christians to allow Christ first place in all things. He explains how this principle should be applied at home, work, prayer, and with unbelievers.”
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1st Thessalonians:
“In this book Paul offers his readers encouragement and hope for dealing with the loss of departed loved ones who have died believing in Christ. He also instructs them to practice moral purity, brotherly love, good work ethics, and to comfort those who have deceased loved ones. He assures believers of deliverance from the coming judgment of the Day of the Lord, and urges them to be watchful and orderly at all times.”
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2nd Thessalonians:
“Paul reveals some of the signs and events leading to the Day of the Lord, the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. There will be persecution of believers, increased lawlessness, and apostasy (denunciation of the faith). The man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, will be revealed and worshiped; he will enter the temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God. But Christians need not fear. The Lord Jesus is in control and He will destroy the Antichrist. Paul encourages his readers not to get tired of doing good, and to discipline those among them who become rebellious.”
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1st Timothy:
“Paul extols fighting the good fight (1:18), keeping faith, and maintaining a good conscience. He urges prayers, petitions to God, and giving thanks on behalf of all men. He gives instructions for public worship and sets forth qualifications for overseers and deacons. Paul warns against heretics and those who see ministry as a source of financial gain.”
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2nd Timothy:
“The Apostle Paul was awaiting his execution by the Romans when he wrote this letter to Timothy. In the letter, he tells Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and to suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ. He warns that difficult times will come and orders Timothy to “preach the word.” In closing, Paul states, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (4:7).”
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Titus:
“God desires that Christians be a credit to their faith in Christ in the church, at home, and in the world. Paul writes to Titus the Greek, who ministers on the island of Crete. Paul instructs him how to appoint the right kind of leaders in the church. He is to teach Christians, regardless of age or status, how to demonstrate their faith in the home and family. Titus is to warn the believers about those beliefs and behaviors that detract from their Christian testimony to the world.”
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Philemon:
“This brief letter is a masterpiece in Christian diplomacy, setting the example in how to deal with a serious conflict between brothers in Christ.”
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Hebrews:
“The people to whom Hebrews was written were steeped in Jewish law and tradition, but they had heard the gospel and had witnessed miracles. While they had grasped basic spiritual principles, their deficiencies included an unresponsive attitude to sound teaching and a reluctance to practice what they knew to be right. There were some committed Christians, including converted Jewish priests, who endured suffering for their faith. Others had been intellectually persuaded about Christianity but remained uncommitted in terms of their personal relationships with Christ, and some were not yet convinced of the truth of the gospel. This letter of exhortation reminds the Jewish converts and others of God’s provision of a perfect priest and sacrifice for sin, in Jesus Christ.”
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James:
“This letter by the half–brother of our Lord Jesus is a handbook of practical Christianity. It is a lesson in contrasts, like genuine and counterfeit wisdom, and true and false faith. The challenge to all Christians, is “If you possess genuine faith in Christ for salvation, demonstrate it!” Christians are to endure suffering with joy and to render service as a natural result of their faith. The best evidence of genuine faith is found in the way one lives.”
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1st Peter:
“The Apostle Peter describes people as living in spiritual ignorance and darkness until they accept Jesus as the Christ, High Priest, and Lord. God is the source of confidence to every believer who experiences trials and suffering. The proper conduct for a believer is illustrated by the suffering of Christ. Christians are to love and serve one another by using their spiritual gifts.Spiritual leaders are to edify those in their care, and all believers are to be vigilant in the fight against the devil.”
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2nd Peter:
“In this letter the Apostle Peter is admonishing Christians who are being bombarded with false teaching in contrast to the truth. Peter warns them that false teachers promise counterfeit freedom and are motivated by personal gain. The antidote for false teaching is full and true spiritual knowledge. The divine realities of the Christian faith are highlighted for the instruction of the readers. Peter wishes for all his readers to continue growing both in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.”
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1st John:
“The Apostle John speaks to Christians as children in the family of God. John wants them to know that they really are in God’s family, so he outlines several confirmations of the new birth. He also warns them that false prophets and opponents of Christ have joined forces to deceive Christians and draw them away from the truth. Love is an important aspect of John’s teaching, and it is mentioned over fifty times in this short letter.”
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2nd John:
“In this letter, the Apostle John states the essentials of Christian conduct for the believer in Christ, and gives further warning about false teachers and heresies. As in John’s day, believers always need to be wary of spiritual leaders who attempt to modify sound Biblical teaching.”
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3rd John:
“This letter condemns a man named Diotrephes, who had repudiated the Apostle John’s authority by rejecting his letter to the church in which Diotrephes was a leader. Not only had he maligned John; he also refused to receive workers approved by John, and removed those who did receive them from the church. This brief letter encourages all believers to show hospitality to their fellow servants of Christ.”
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Jude:
“The letter of Jude warns us about false teachers who creep in among those who truly believe in Jesus Christ. Jude characterizes ungodly leaders so that they can be identified and confronted. There is need for the renewal of spiritual fervor for the faith, and for rescue of those who are falling prey to ungodliness.”
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Revelation:
“The apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos in the Mediterranean (Agean) Sea. While there, he received divine visions of things past, things present, and things future. Among other things, the book of Revelation tells us of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (as King and Judge), the great tribulation, the millennium (a thousand years), the battle of Armageddon, the great white throne of judgment, and the New Jerusalem. Revelation was written in response to the direct command of the Lord, and there is a promise of blessing to all who read or hear its words.”
Excerpt From: Just1word, Inc. “NASB Bible.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/nasb-bible/id775224170
Bible Insights helps you to understand the lessons in these books and how they apply to your life.