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.
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
Click the Thumbnail to view this Lecture Video
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.
Click the Thumbnail to begin the Quiz.
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.
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.
Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.
The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:
- 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?
- Describe the ways that God had prepared the world for the coming of Christ and the spread of Christianity. Describe how these things may have aided the spread of Christianity.
- Describe the impact Herod the Great and his descendants had on the events of the New Testament?
- 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?
- Describe the Old Testament concept of SCRuB. How does it prepare for the New Testament? How is it fulfilled in 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.

