Home > SparkNotes > Literature Study Guides > The New Testament >

sparknotes

The New Testament


Get this SparkNote to go!

Key Facts

author

 ·  Matthew: Circulated anonymously until the second century a.d., when it was attributed to Matthew
 ·  Mark: John Mark, a close interpreter of Peter
 ·  Luke, Acts: An anonymous Gentile Christian
 ·  John: Unknown
 ·  Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians: Paul of Tarsus
 ·  Revelation: A man named John from the island of Patmos

type of work

 ·  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts: Gospel, historical narrative
 ·  Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians: Epistle, letter
 ·  Revelation: Written record of a vision

language  · Greek

time and place written

 ·  Matthew: 8590 a.d. in Antioch of Syria
 ·  Mark: Around 70 a.d. in Syria or Rome
 ·  Luke, Acts: 80125 a.d.
 ·  Romans: 5556 a.d.
 ·  1 and 2 Corinthians: 5354 a.d. in Ephesus
 ·  Revelation: 8196 a.d. in Asia Minor

major conflict

 ·  Matthew: Israel’s rejection of Jesus
 ·  Mark, Luke, Acts: The public doubt of Jesus’s role as the Son of God
 ·  Romans: The difficulty of incorporating both Jews and Gentiles into the early church
 ·  1 and 2 Corinthians: The disunity caused by Corinth’s extreme religious piety

themes · The New Testament’s relation to the Old Testament; salvation for social outcasts; salvation through faith in Christ

motif · Geography

symbols  · The kingdom of heaven; the Good Samaritan; water, bread, and light; the olive tree; the body