Help with New Testament

[awfulthings9]

Hey all,
I’m asking for some insight into what may be a silly and impossible task, but as I study the New Testament, I’ve found that my mind works best if I categorize the epistles in some way to help remember where to look for certain concepts. For instance, I always think of Ephesians as the “Marriage of Christ and the Church” book. I know that the epistles often change to new topics as the authors addressed different concerns, and I know that many themes overlap, but I’m looking for help. As you think through the NT, except for the Gospels and Acts, how would you distinctly summarize the “theme” or themes of each book? If possible, limiting this to a sentence or two a book would be ideal. So, am I being silly, or partially silly? It just helps me when approaching a new section.
Thanks.

 

[Christy_Beth]

I’ve never actually thought about it that way. I usually don’t classify the epistles in any way. Except for, perhaps, Romans. To me it’s the MAIN THEOLOGY book. In it, Paul covers a lot of ground. And he gives a good basis for the faith.

Romans 2:1 “Therefore you are inexcusable, o man, whoever you are who judge, for in whaeve you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same thing.”

This referrs back to, I believe, Matthew. There, Christ said that we are not to judge.

Romans 8:1 “There us therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

People can’t condemn us. We are saved in Christ. During my years as a protestant, I was in several churches that had a real problem with these two verses. I was usually on the outside looking in. I wasn’t “good” enough. I was unloveable and all of that. But here Paul points out that what people think doesn’t necessarily matter.

Of course, we do need to listen if someone comes to us with real concerns about our actions. And I do mean REAL. If we are caught flirty with someone when we are already married, that’s a problem. If this is pointed out to us, we need to put a stop to it.

I hope all of this makes sense. I sometimes confuse even myself at times like this. :yup:

 

[awalt]

Christy Beth, I also feel that way about Romans, but also about John. If someone wants Biblical guidance about Jesus I say “Read John, then read Romans”. They seem to cover just about all of it between them!

 

[BayCityRickL]

I, too, have never simplified the NT writings as such. It seems that reducing them to two sentences would not do justice to God’s word.

But, sure, it might help some, but for what purpose?

As they are written, they don’t help a reader anticipate much what is ahead in the book. For any proposed summary, you’d get ten exceptions to it. Then, we’re not discussing scripture, but some non-inspired summary of it.

But, then, maybe I’m too dull to really understand what this is all about.

 

[awfulthings9]

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut so far. Rick, I think you might be reading too much into my request, probably my fault for not explaning too well. Philippians is often called the “epistle of joy”. Does this completely summarize or prevent all exceptions? I don’t think so, but it helps to keep that particular book and its content separate in my mind since I’m not able to categorically remember the chapter and verse for everything I’ve found or want to reflect on (when a Bible is not handy). I’m not looking for Scripture in a nut shell - but just, as a intellectual experiment, if you were to assign a thematic title to these books, what would it be? I would never presume to replace so much valuable wisdom with cliches, but thematic statements help me keep them sorted out in my mind. For example, the Navarre Bible separates the New Testament Epistles into the Catholic Epistles, the Captivity Epistles, and the Pastoral Epistles (as well as individual, stand alone books). I don’t see any real harm or insult to God’s word to do this, and it helps me to remember which books were written in, say, that Pastoral style. I’m only asking for help in doing this on a more specific, book by book level. Please don’t read more into my intentions than is really there. Just looking to get a better mental view of the entire NT. Thanks to all who’ve contributed.