New Testament Survey - Module 1: Introductory Material

Hi everyone, and welcome to the first module of the New Testament Survey Course. In this section, we'll be working through some preliminary information to give you introduction to some background issues that will hopefully help you better learn and understand later material.

This module will help you to put the New Testament into its historical background - to understand a bit about the world and society in which the New Testament was written, to understand the historical events that led up to the historical events described in the New Testament, and to understand the worldview and ideas that led up to the worldview and ideas expressed in the New Testament. This will highlight the connection with the Old Testament, and all that God had been doing with His people Israel in preparation for the revelation of Jesus in the New Testament.

This module will also give you an introduction to the geography in which the New Testament took place, and the actual literary documents that make up the New Testament. But this course will begin with a brief introduction why and how to read and study the New Testament most profitably.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Favorably consider the necessity of and the means to study the New Testament.
  • Articulate the 'Big-Picture' history and the 'Big-Idea' themes of the New Testament.
  • Place the major historical events and people of the Intertestamental Period in a general chronology.
  • Articulate the connectedness of the Old Testament to the New Testament.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the literary divisions of the New Testament Scriptures.

Course Documents

In this section, you'll find links to important and supplemental documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. The first group contains documents that explain and give instruction for all the course activities in this module. The second group is a set of blank lecture notes which you may use as a companion for the video lectures. And the last group contains overview and supplemental documents for some of the topics covered in this module.

Instruction Guides


Lecture Notes


Supplemental Documents


Lecture Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for all the introductory course material module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each thumbnail to open access to each video. There are also links with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

1: Why Study the New Testament?

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1: Why Study the New Testament?
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2: How to Study the New Testament

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2: How to Study the New Testament
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3: The Old Testament Background

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3: The Old Testament Background
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4: The Intertestamental Background

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4: The Intertestamental Background
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5: The Social Background

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5: The Social Background
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6: The Kingdom of God Background

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6: The Kingdom of God Background
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7: NT History Overview

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7: NT History Overview
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8: NT Themes

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9: NT Geography

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10: NT Literature

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10: NT Literature
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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 1. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 1. By clicking the link, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

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Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


According to the course textbook, which of these is NOT a reason to study the New Testament?

It is of ultimate personal significance

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 1

It gives detailed guidance for personal decisions

Well Done

It mediates God's presence and truth

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 1

It is foundational to cultural literacy

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 1
The dispersion of Jewish people outsied the promised land before Christ aided the spread of Christianity after Christ.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 05
Some Jews in New Testament times collaborated with the Romans while others resisted.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 05
Which of these is NOT an OT epoch given in the survey of the Old Testament History?

Prehistory

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Patriarchs

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Exodus-Conquest

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Monarchy

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Exile-Return

Sorry, see Lecture 03

Apostolic Age

Good Job
Jesus fulfilled their expectations about the Kingdom of God in ways they did not expect, and so He had to correct their expectations.

True

Well done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 06
"Disciple" means "learner" or "student" and refers to Jesus's followers.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 07
The Old Testament prophets made a lot of promises about the Kingdom of God, even if they did not use the term "the Kingdom of God."

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 06
We can know God's big picture plan for the universe, because He has made it known

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 01
Which of these is NOT a Major division of the New Testament literature?

General Epistles

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Historical Books

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Prophets

Well Done

Revelation

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Pauline Epistles

Sorry, see Lecture 10
After Alexander the Great's empire broke up after his death, the promised land became the battle ground between two of the empires.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Which was NOT a huge influence on life in New Testament times?

Greek Culture

Sorry, see Lecture 05

Egyptian Oppression

Good Job

Roman Political Power

Sorry, see Lecture 05

Old Testament Religion

Sorry, see Lecture 05
In the time of Jesus, Judea was controlled directly by Rome, under Roman governors

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
The Old Testament is overall, a history of humanity's failure to live up to our side of the covenant with God, and to show the need for salvation that does not come from humanity.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 03
The Jews won political independence for a time during the intertestamental period.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Which of these is not a part of the New Testament History summary?

Expansion

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Jesus

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Consummation

Sorry, see Lecture 07

Persecution

Good Job

Disciples

Sorry, see Lecture 07
The New Testament is actually a collection of 27 individual writings gathered into one library

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 10
First Corinthians and Second Corinthians were written to two different churches in the same city.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 10

False

Well Done
Which is NOT a reason given to study the NT?

To know God's plan

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To know yourself

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To bring about the Kingdom of God

Good Job

To grow as a disciple

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To know Jesus

Sorry, see Lecture 01

To know eternal life

Sorry, see Lecture 01
Which of these is NOT an empire that ruled during the intertestamental period?

Babylonian

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Greek

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Roman

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Egyptian

Correct

Medio-Persian

Sorry, see Lecture 04
The territory of Samaria was usually avoided by Jews from Judea and Galilee.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
The Gospel writers purposely connect Jesus with the OT

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 03
Which of these is NOT part of the nature of the Bible?

It is the Word of God

Sorry, see Lecture 02

It becomes the Word of God as we read and believe it

Well done, It is the Word of God even before we read it

It comes to us in history

Sorry, see Lecture 02

It comes to us in human words

Sorry, see Lecture 02
Which of these is NOT a key aspect of the Judaism that arose in the intertestamental period?

Focus on the Law

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Rejection of all tradition beside the Bible

Well Done

Synagogue

Sorry, see Lecture 04

Rulership by a Priestly caste

Sorry, see Lecture 04
Which of these does NOT contribute to the expectations about the Kingdom of God?

The continuation of David's descendents as kings over Israel

Well Done

The promises and predictions of the prophets

Sorry, see Lecture 06

The promises and expectation of the Messiah

Sorry, see Lecture 06

The concept of the "Day of the Lord"

Sorry, see Lecture 06
The NT continues the OT idea of sin and punishment, but also continues the OT idea of atonement and forgiveness.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 08
The Old Testament ends with a mixture of hopeful expectancy and disappointment.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 03
Part of the expansion of the early church was to gather believers in Christ into local congregations.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 07
It is a problem and a danger to try to hear the Word of God while ignoring His words to us in history.

True

Good job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 02
Which of these, according to the textbook, was NOT a cause of the Jewish revolt?

Religious unrest

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 2

Groups of bandits

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 2

Unfair taxes

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 2

Romans trespassing in the Temple

Correct

Government corruption

Sorry, see Textbook ch. 2
Which of these is NOT a General Epistle?

Hebrews

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Second Peter

Sorry, see Lecture 10

First John

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Jude

Sorry, see Lecture 10

First Timothy

Good Job

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 1. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. These questions are chosen randomly from a larger bank of questions, so you can refresh the page for more options. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.

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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. How did the expectations of the people in New Testament times about the Kingdom of God influence their understanding and reception of Jesus? How did He fulfill their expectations? How did He correct their expectations?
  2. Describe the Old Testament concept of SCRuB. How does it prepare for the New Testament? How is it fulfilled in the New Testament?
  3. List and describe two major themes and ideas found in the NT? How do these ideas contribute to the message of the NT?
  4. Describe in general what you have learned about the background and nature of the New Testament. How will this knowledge help you to understand the New Testament better?
  5. Describe the Old Testament expectation of the "Day of the Lord." How does this help us understand the New Testament?

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the first module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 2.