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Humanities: Introduction to the New Testament -
Book Selection
Before launching into "Introduction to the New Testament," you must select which biblical books that you will read. The State of Florida does not require students to read the entire New Testament nor does the state specify individual New Testament books as necessary. However, it is very reasonable to accomplish of the entire New Testament over this one-year course. Students must read a sample of each major category of writing.
My goal when teaching a survey of the New Testament is to expose the student to each major style of writing and to books focused upon various segments of New Testament biblical history. Upon completion of a survey, each student should have a broad understanding of the major characters, events, concepts, and literary forms of the New Testament.
The chart below sequences the New Testament books according to a traditional Western table of contents, as is used by Balancing the Sword. I've marked select books as "Primary" if I would certainly include the book if I were teaching you personally. If time permitted, I would add to the primary books those marked as "Secondary." Ideally, you will read the entire New Testament. I gave favoritism towards
- books which include a high percent of unique content,
- books which target transitional periods of history,
- books which covered large spans of history or give clearer historical perspective,
- books which give representation to each literary form and most authors, and
- books which offer major theological concepts.
This prioritizing of the biblical books is somewhat subjective.
|
Book |
BTS Page |
Guidance |
General Literary Form |
|
The Gospels |
|
40 |
Matthew |
360 |
Primary |
Historical Narrative as
Limited Biography |
|
41 |
Mark |
378 |
|
Historical Narrative as Limited Biography |
|
42 |
Luke |
390 |
Secondary |
Historical Narrative as Limited Biography |
|
43 |
John |
410 |
Primary |
Historical Narrative as Private Epistle |
|
|
|
The Early 1st Century History |
|
44 |
The Acts |
421 |
Primary |
Historical Narrative as
Private Epistle |
|
|
|
The Epistles |
|
Paul's Congregational Epistles |
|
45 |
Romans |
441 |
Primary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
46 |
1 Corinthians |
446 |
Primary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
47 |
2 Corinthians |
451 |
Primary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
48 |
Galatians |
455 |
Secondary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
49 |
Ephesians |
458 |
Primary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
50 |
Philippians |
460 |
Secondary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
51 |
Colossians |
462 |
|
Congregational Epistle |
|
52 |
1 Thessalonians |
463 |
Primary |
Congregational Epistle |
|
53 |
2 Thessalonians |
464 |
|
Congregational Epistle |
|
54 |
1 Timothy |
465 |
|
Pastoral Epistle |
|
55 |
2 Timothy |
467 |
|
Pastoral Epistle |
|
56 |
Titus |
468 |
Primary |
Pastoral Epistle |
|
57 |
Philemon |
469 |
Secondary |
Private Epistle |
|
Unknown |
|
58 |
Hebrews |
470 |
Primary |
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
James |
|
59 |
James |
475 |
Primary |
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
Peter |
|
60 |
1 Peter |
477 |
Primary |
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
61 |
2 Peter |
479 |
|
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
John |
|
62 |
1 John |
480 |
Primary |
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
63 |
2 John |
482 |
Primary |
Private Epistle |
|
64 |
3 John |
483 |
|
Private Epistle |
|
Jude |
|
65 |
Jude |
484 |
Primary |
Catholic or General Epistle |
|
|
|
The Prophet |
|
John |
|
66 |
Revelation |
485 |
Primary |
Apocalyptic Congregational Epistle |
|
|
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Create your reading schedule or course itinerary now: BTS Reading Planner software. You may wish to reference the sample reading plan for this course.
How to determine when your school year should start and stop.
Return to Course Description.
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