The Four Gospels [[Matthew Mark, Luke and John recall the events in the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.
The first three are called the Synoptic Gospels, in that they set forth a “common viewpoint” of the chronology of events and the message of Christ in His life and ministry.
Matthew addresses his gospel primarily to fellow Jews.
Mark is likely the first gospel to be written, and speaks of Christ as servant of all (Mark 10#45). Luke, himself a physician, reveals the Incarnate Christ and His earthly ancestry.
This Son of Man saves and heals the fallen race.
John, the last of the four gospels to be written, emphasises the divinity of Christ, the eternal Son and Word of God, who became Man. John’s gospel further reveals seven miracles of Christ, not all of them in chronological order.
Acts
Written by St. Luke, these are the Acts (or accomplishments) of the Apostles, but mainly of Peter (chapters 1—12) and Paul (chapters 13—28). Acts chronicles the earliest history of the Church from Pentecost through approximately AD 65.
The Letters of Saint Paul (or Epistles)
The first nine of Paul’s letters are written to churches. Romans, which begins this section, was the only letter Paul wrote to a community he had not previously visited. Thus, the implication is that much of what he wrote to the church at Rome he preached in other places.
Most prominent of the cities of first century Greece was Corinth, a center of commerce, immorality and false religion. Predictably, this fledgling church would have to deal with these same matters.
1 Corinthians is therefore a corrective epistle calling for unity, virtue, forbearance, Eucharistic order and proper use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In contrast 2 Corinthians recognises the repentance within the church on the part of many, and St. Paul defends his apostolic authority.
In Galatians, Paul addresses several churches in Asia Minor, defending his apostleship and calling the faithful to live their lives in the strength of the Holy Spirit instead of in submission to the laws of the old covenant.
Ephesians is a marvellous discourse on how the Church should conduct itself. This community is rich in dedication to Christ. Yet just a few decades later the Lord tells them, “you have left your first love” ([[Revelations 2#4]]).
Philippians is the epistle of joy. Paul writes from a Roman prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Php 4:4).
Colossians presents Christ as “the head of the body, the church . . .” (Col 1:18), preeminent in all things.
1 Thessalonians, the first letter St. Paul penned, was written to the believers at Thessalonica, a beautiful coastal city of Greece in about AD 51, shortly after Paul planted that Church. This is a letter of encouragement. 2 Thessalonians acknowledges persecution and warns of lawlessness, urging the Christians to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught . . .” (2Th 2:15).
##### Next, Paul addresses the following letters to individuals.
In 1 Timothy the aging apostle speaks to his youthful understudy about effective oversight of the church.
In Second Timothy, the last letter St. Paul wrote (see 2Ti 4:6–8), he encourages Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2Ti 2:1). Paul is already in prison in Rome (1:8) awaiting martyrdom.
Titus 1 is sent by Paul to Crete to set the church “in order,” and “appoint elders in every city” (Tts 1:5). If this sounds like the work of a bishop, it is (Tts 1:7, 8), and Titus is consistently named in early Church records as the first bishop of Crete.
Philemon 1 - Philemon is a Christian slave-holder, and Paul writes him to receive back Onesimus (Phm 10—16), his runaway slave, who has become a Christian with Paul in Rome.
Hebrews is the last of the epistles attributed to St. Paul, but with little evidence it was actually written by Paul. It is a general letter to Jewish believers in Christ to continue on in the Faith. It assures them that Christ, the great High Priest in the heavenlies (Heb 8:1), is their once for all sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:10) and victor over death (Heb 12:1, 2).
#### The General Epistles
James , the brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, writes to fellow Jews, “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1#1). His message? *“Faith without works is dead”* (James 1#20).
Christianity is a belief that behaves.
1 Peter, written by the first among the apostles, urges obedience to God and man, willingness to suffer for Christ’s sake, and effective pastoring of the flock.
In 2 Peter, the apostle discusses divine power for the faithful (deification), divine judgment for false teachers and the Day of the Lord.
Next, Saint John the Theologian offers three general epistles.
1 John is a stirring personal testimonial to God’s forgiveness, His love for His children and His gift of eternal life.
In 2 John, he addresses an “elect lady and her children” (v. 1), urging them to obey the Lord’s commands and beware of deceivers. 3 John commends Gaius and Demetrius, and warns against Diotrephes.
Finally, Jude, the Lord’s brother, writes a short letter exhorting the faithful to contend for the truth and to beware of the devil’s servants. He finishes with a stunning benediction.
#### Revelation
Written by Saint John the Theologian, he entitles his book *“The Revelation of Jesus Christ”* (1:1). What the book of Daniel is to the Old Testament, Revelation is to the New Testament. Another title is the Apocalypse, which is a transliteration of the Greek word for “revelation” or “unveiling.
”The book speaks prophetically both to current and future events, to judgment and salvation, and ends with the glorious New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven “as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2).