Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

52 | Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

General Facts Concerning the New Testament

A Comparative Chart of the Four Gospels

Robert H. Gundry. A Survey of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.

Probable Date of Writing

Probable Place of Writing

First Intended Audience

Theme and Focus

Mark

50s

Rome

Gentiles in Rome

Jesus’s redemptive activity

Jesus the Jewish Messiah, and the disciples as the new people of God

Matthew

50s or 60s

Antioch in Syria

Jews in Palestine

Interested Gentile seekers

The historical certainty of the Gospel account

Luke

60s

Rome

General Population in Asia Minor

Believing in Jesus as the Messiah for eternal life

John

80s or 90s

Ephesus

Old Testament Apocrypha

Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament . Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.

Roman Catholics and some Eastern Orthodox churches recognize the writings listed below as Scripture. Protestants acknowledge their literary value and historical significance but do not view them as possessing spiritual authority

Additions to Esther Baruch Bel and the Dragon Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach)

Judith Letter of Jeremiah 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees 4 Maccabees Prayer of Azariah

Prayer of Manasseh Psalm 151 Song of the Three Jews Susanna Tobit Wisdom of Solomon

1 Esdras 2 Esdras