Introduction to the New Testament

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to offer an introduction to the New Testament suitable to High School age youth. This lesson, by definition, gives a basic understanding of several concepts which the youth, most probably, were not exposed to before. This introduction is put so it creates a challenging environment and to help the youth understand the mind of the Church in regards to the New Testament.

INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

Reading the Old Testament, one can easily get a sense of the covenantal relationship between God and His people, Israel.

The word "Testament" is vastly, if not solely, used to refer to the new set of books (biblia) in the Holy Scriptures. The word "Testament" is derived from a Latin word meaning "evidence" or "testimony". The Old Testament books were called "the old covenant" books, hence the new set of books should have been called "The New Covenant" books, but due to translation from Greek into Latin, the word was rendered to "Testament". But also, because the early church used the "new books" to provide evidence and answers against the early heresies, hence "Testament". Although this term "testament" might imply a "legal" understanding of the relationship between God and His people, the church, nonetheless, one ought not to forget that the essence of the relationship is covenantal. The point here is not the difference in language expression, but to highlight the difference in meaning.

A covenant is a sacred agreement, the first covenant was made with Abraham Gen 12, and Gen 17, "and all the people on earth will be blessed through you" (Gen 12), "Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers" (Gen 17).

The Old Covenant was only a type, simply said--a symbol, to the New Covenant made by the blood of the Lord and revealed in Last Supper and His crucifixion.

Many, mistakenly, see this sectional division between the OT vs. NT to imply almost a new covenant, this is wrong and isn't the Orthodox Church's understanding of the Holy Scripture. It is one and the same covenant in the OT and the NT, it is only revealed and fulfilled in the New Testament. This covenant is completely revealed in the Incarnation of the Son of God and fulfilled by His death, and resurrection, "I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Mat 5:17-20).

This same New Covenant is also lived daily in Eucharist/Communion "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the bremission of sins" (Mat 26:28). Of course, the New Covenant is a "better covenant" (Heb 7:22) because it is the revelation and fulfillment of the Old.

The New Testament Background - 15 Minutes

Although this will be covered much more in Unit-2, it is important to know that NT wasn't given in a void, that it was given in a certain context. This doesn't mean it is only suitable for use within this specific context, but that it was given to certain people, living in a certain geographical area, under a certain government system, and who had a very clear understanding of this new revelation. Reading the NT without its background could easily lead us to a misunderstanding.

How to read the New Testament

It is important to read with a mind open to studying these books, to give proper time to spend, and with a heart willing to submit and a mind ready to change. This is very evident from the biblical text itself, "Search the Scriptures..." (John 5:39). To just hold an electronic device at the end of the day while laying down on the bed or the couch and read a few random verses isn't the intended method of reading by the authors, but their intentions were that these writings be studied carefully and analytically while submitting oneself to it.

Writing of the New Testament

During the first century, an eyewitness telling his/her experience with an event or a person was much more credible than a written story, so why did the Apostles write? Mainly for two reasons:

Many of the first eyewitnesses of the risen Lord were getting old and were either dying of age or of persecution and so they needed to record their testimony
To combat heresies through their first-hand encounter with the Incarnate Word

The purpose of their writing could be articulated by the following verse (Time should be given here to go through the references below and analyze them and lead the youth to extract every bit of information given by the apostles):

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31)
"that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3-4)
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim 1:15).

Although the New Testament is looked at as one unit, nonetheless, it is important to distinguish between the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament, mainly the epistles.

The Gospels: The Message or Story

The Good News proclamation was mainly that Jesus of Nazareth has risen and that He conquered death (1 Cor 15:1-8), notice the declaration and the deliverance of the Gospel.
The apostolic preaching initially was that Jesus of Nazareth is the awaited Messiah who fulfills the prophecies, this is evident from St. Peter's sermon Acts 2, and St. Stephen's sermon Acts 7.
- The Gospels are written in a sublime and demanding voice. The Gospels are written to demand a response from the readers. A first-time reader had to make a conscious decision about who Jesus is, and how does this decision alter one's life.
Advanced information: It is left to the discretion of the servant how and if he/she wants to relay this point. The Gospels were not written as the events recorded in the Gospels were taking place in the life of the Lord, but rather, they were written many years later. During this time, the disciples led by the Holy Spirit had the time to search the Scriptures and have a better understanding of who the Lord really is, and how to present Him in their writings. Today's search for the historical Jesus, as what did He exactly say, and what did He exactly do, wasn't intended by the Gospel writers nor was it received this way by the first audience. In other words, the bible is the record of the revelation, not the revelation itself.

The Epistles

Of a different nature than the Gospels
Mostly written to a specific group of people
To address specific circumstances that were important to the recipients or to answer certain questions the audience were concerned about
Although each Epistle was written for specific time and circumstance, the truth within the Epistle still holds true and applicable today

The Church's Understanding of the Bible Being inspired

Unlike other religions we do not believe the Bible was dictated by an angel or by God. We believe that just as God was incarnate in the flesh, so also is He incarnate in the scripture. He took what was humanly and raised it up, just as He did with our nature.

A normal human was writing or reflecting and may or may have not even known when the Holy Spirit was inspiring their writing. God was working through men and some women in their own state as they were.

So what occurs is: A person writes and the Holy Spirit invisibility guides the person and works through them, but the people writing were simply being themselves but they were not in a trance

This is why we say the Bible is Divinely inspired but humanly expressed. So although a human can make a mistake, God cannot make a mistake which is why the Bible when we speak of its infallibility, we are specifically referring to its Spiritual infallibility or Divine inspirational infallibility.
So when we read the Bible we do so to understand the Spirit and Mind of God and to understand the history of the relationship between God and man. Which in turn allows us to know Him better and how He deals with us and how we should know Him.
We have to understand that the Bible is one of the main places God speaks to us and very personally. When read consistently, with an open mind of trying to Know the Person's of God, we will be able to hear His voice.

The Gospels' Geography - 10 Minutes

Spend some time with the youth going over the very simple map attached below. It will immensely help them while reading the Gospels on their own. Please help them to identify Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Identify these areas with certain Gospel stories, and miracles.

DISCUSSION: The Gospels and the Epistles - 10 minutes

One of the points made above was the distinction between the Gospels and the Epistles. Take some time to discuss the fact that some of the Epistles (Romans, Galatians, 1 John) contain the message of the Gospel in and of themselves.

Discuss how to read the NT with the spirit of obedience (see Attachment below).

APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

Try not to dictate what the life lesson from this unit is, but help them to make some commitment to read the NT on a daily basis. Although this may sound like a broken record, your role here is to help them with practical tools to stay on track. Make sure you don't over-commit but at the same time challenge them to the task.

A Bible schedule (how much and how often) can be provided within the prayer rule dictated by your father of confession.

Comments/Notes to Servants:

If you feel the information is too much to discuss in one setting, please move the Gospel's geography to another week or teach it at a different time, but it is important to be covered at some point. Knowing where certain places are, would help the youth to read because they will feel familiar with the names and the areas.

Depending on the ability of the youth, you might choose to actually play a fun game with them to remember the map, and even draw it on their own (this is very possible and has been tested with a group of youth).

SERVANT RESOURCES

Harakas, Stanley Samuel. Orthodox Christian Beliefs About the Bible: Real Answers to Real Questions from Real People. Minneapolis: Minnesota: Light & Life Publishing Company, 2003.
Stylianopoulos, Theodore G. The New Testament An Orthodox Perspective: Scripture, Tradition, Hermeneutics. Brookline, Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1996.