A few summaries from the New Testament

John
The book of John is one of four gospels in the New Testament.  John was a close companion of Jesus.  His purpose for writing this gospel was to proclaim Jesus as the Savior and Redeemer of the world by presenting convincing proofs of His identity as God, man, and Messiah.  John is an evangelistic gospel, persuading people to trust in Christ for salvation.  He emphasizes the word believe, more than any other gospel.  He includes many titles of Jesus such as Son of God, Son of Man, King, and Messiah or Christ.  John demonstrates that Jesus has the attributes of deity, including omniscience, omnipresence and preexistence.  John also provided miracles that Jesus performed to further illustrate His divine identity.  Some highlighted events include: Jesus’ incarnation, Jesus’ public ministry (this includes His miracles and His prediction of His death, believers turning to Him, and even the rejection He was subject to).  John includes Jesus’ private ministry to His disciples, as well as Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. 

 

Acts
The Book of Acts is of narrative and gospel genre.  The book begins with a recount of Jesus’ life right before and right after His crucifixion.  Through prayer, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as a disciple.  The day of the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the apostles.  Peter addresses the crowd, and they devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles.  Peter heals a crippled beggar and then speaks to the onlookers regarding the God of Abraham.  While speaking, Peter and John were arrested for their disturbance.  Peter and John then went before Sanhedrin and warned not to keep teaching and let them go.  They return to their people and share their stories.  The apostles heal many people, but are persecuted by several other people.  The apostles then chose seven men to help mediate among the Jews.  One of the seven, Stephen was seized and brought before the Sanhedrin.  He was stoned to death which caused the church to scatter.  Peter then started to reach the Gentiles since the Jews refused to hear him.  King Herod arrested Peter, but was able to escape.  There are many chapters on the different locations the apostles traveled and preached as the church spread.  The book ends with Paul preaching in Rome while being held by guards.  The book is really a look at the spread of Christianity and God’s work in the church. 

 

1 Corinthians
The Book of 1 Corinthians is one of several of the epistle genres.  Paul writes this letter to the church of Corinth, which was a strategic center in Greece at this time.  He begins with an introduction of greetings of grace and a prayer of thanksgiving.  He then talks about disunity in the church and division.  He encourages them to stop quarrelling and discusses the causes and solutions to the quarrels.  He then talks about immorality, lawsuits among each other and sexual immorality.  He encourages them to stop taking legal action and settle their differences in a Christian matter.  Paul explains to the church what God wants out of a marriage and here he gives his own opinion on marriage.  Paul talks about food sacrificed to idols and gives warnings about Israel’s past.  He addresses worship in the church and Jesus’ resurrection and what that means to be a believer.  He then tells them he will be visiting and ends his letter with personal greetings.     

 

James
The Book of James is another epistle genre.  James is the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church.  James begins his letter by explaining that facing trials develops perseverance.  James talks about a Christian lifestyle.  He explains control of the tongue, submission to God, a right attitude toward money, and patience in the midst of suffering.  He explains that God does not tempt anyone.  James advises that everyone should be quick to listen, and slow to speak.  James addresses his brothers in Christ that favoritism are forbidden and that faith and good deeds go hand and hand.  James warns against boasting and encourages his brothers to be patient and to pray.  In his letter he really address trials and tribulations (no one is exempt) and actively living out your faith and belief no matter what is going on and especially in those times of suffering when prayer and patience is needed the most.

 

Revelation
The Book of Revelation is mainly apocalyptic genre, and is hard to understand.  There has been much debate about the symbolic or literal meanings of the text.  However, John introduces himself and explains his vision.  He addresses seven churches.  Seven is a key number in this book.  John then describes the throne in heaven and gives a description of the sealed scrolls that only the Lamb could break.  John saw the Lamb open the seals one-by-one.  After the sixth seal was broke four angels described the 144,000 that were sealed as servants of God (this is a low number to me as I look at the population counts of today).  The seventh seal opened and seven trumpets start.  Each trumpet represents a catastrophe.  John sees 144,000 sealed with the Father’s name written on their forehead.  He then saw three angels proclaim judgment and then reap the harvest.  Seven angels have seven bowls filled with seven plagues which is God’s wrath.  A lot in the book draws from the OT as well so you should be familiar with the OT visions and prophecies.  Babylon is destroyed and a big celebration happens because the salvation and glory belong to God.  After a thousand years, Satan will wage war and get defeated.  The dead are judged (sad day) and a new heaven, new earth, and a new Jerusalem will exist.  There is no date given as to when this will take place but John ends with a warning that anyone who adds to or takes away from the prophecy will be dealt with.