INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

 New Testament is Good News of saving life of Jesus Christ, his death, resurrection,
ascension and the continuation of His work in the world which is explained and applied
by the Apostles whom He choose and sent into the world.
 It is also a fulfilment of the Old Testament.
 New Testament = is Good News comes in = because there was promise of Messiah.
 New Testament = we talk of Jesus Christ; Life
Death Spoken in the Gospel.
Ascension
 When we talk of Jesus work(Act 1: 8-9) – you will be my witness
Church was established in Acts of Apostle + St Paul letters.

1.0. ORIGIN AND MEANING OF THE WORD NEW TESTAMENT

 O. T = Latin – Testamentum.
Testament means = Hebrew – Berit. The 3 words refers to ‘The
N. T = Greek – Diathike. Will’

 Therefore will is written and people has to follow written will.

 Biblically the word ‘will’ or ‘testament’ is misleading the best word is covenant
{Exodus 24}
Old Covenant = it’s between God + Israelites – fulfilled in Mosaic Law.
New Covenant = it’s between Jesus + Humanity – fulfilled in the death of Jesus.
 The word O.T & N.T is ONLY a topic but inside the Bible you get covenant. In
fact even in Kiswahili and our mother tongue translation is about covenant.
 New Testament is anticipated in Jeremiah 31: 31 and instituted by Jesus in 1 Cor 11:25.
For example;
LORD SUPPER {New & Old Covenant} – Mass in the Bible.
 Jesus Christ made sure that all 12 disciples were there during the inauguration of
the New Testament in the supper as Moses did when he was giving sacrifice at
Mount Sinai with the 12 stone under the altar that were representing the 12 tribes.
 12 disciples represent all humanity while 12 stones also represented 12 tribes of
Israel. Jesus Christ becomes the new Moses. Now is not the blood of the bull that
Moses sacrificed {old covenant} but the blood of Jesus Christ {new covenant}.
 The message of the New Covenant /Testament is Jesus who gave himself for the
remission of sins. It concentrates with the church{people}, who received salvation. The
central theme of New Testament is SALVATION.

1
1.1. PREPARATION OF THE NEW COVENANT/TESTAMENT THROUGH
JEWISH TRADITION.
Exodus 19: 5-6 – The Election of the New Nation {Israel}.
Genesis 12:1-3 – Promises of the Election.
 The O.T is full of Christ and anticipated his coming as a suffering and glorified saviour.
 Thou Israel were disobedient and taken to captivity as a punishment. God nevertheless
brought the remnant back after 70 years.
 In the prophecy of Israel the details of messiah are well given, who will give birth to
Him, his linage, his life etc. For example;
Contamination of the scripture
i. Malachi 3:1 –now I will send a messenger….. and
Mark 1:1 – as it was written in the Isaiah the prophet ‘behold am sending a
messenger …..
ii. Behold the Lamb of God, behold who takes away the sin of world – from the
book John.
Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the lord – from the book of
Revelation.

 NOTE: Jesus genealogy

Mathew 1: 1- 17 – Mathew is taking us back to Abraham. Why Abraham? –
Because Abraham is the father of faith.
Luke 3: 23 – 37 – Luke is taking us back to Adam. Why Adam? – Because Adam
is the father of humanity.

 NOTE: Between Malachi and New Testament;

- It took 400 years. After captivity N.T was not written immediately.
- It was called silent years. There were no prophecies or something
written these years.
- It is in this time that the deuterocanonical books were written still in
captivity. They are inter-Testamental books because they are between
Old Testament and New Testament. They are books of advice.

2
1.2. THE LANGUAGE OF NEW TESTAMENT

Hebrew – the language of the Jews. {the language that wrote first books i.e. Pentateuch and
books of prophets.}

Greek – language during captivity. Jews in diaspora were speaking this language.
{Deuterocanonical books were written in Greek because they were in Greek world.}

Aramaic – it’s a mixture of Hebrew and Greek born in captivity. When Jesus Christ was born
Greek and Aramaic were dominant but Aramaic was more dominant.

Latin – When the Israelites came back from captivity, the Romans took over and they came with
their language i.e. Latin.

HEBREW GREEK LATIN

 First books and books of prophet were written in Hebrew the original language of Jews.
 They were translated into Greek for those Israelites in captivity to understand.
 Then it was translated into Latin for the remnants that remained after exile to understand.
 This why Jesus on the cross the writings were written in three languages for all people to
understand.
 The gospel of mark was the first to be written.

1.3. THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON

 The N.T is divided into 4 main parts – Gospels, Acts, Letters and Apocalyptic.
A. The 4 Gospels
 These are Good News about Jesus Christ.
 The authorship attributed to the four evangelists.
 The synoptic gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke.
 The fourth gospel is John.

B. Acts of Apostles
 The narrative account of the growth of early church. A continuous of Luke
gospel containing historical materials but is not a complete history of
apostolic Christianity.

C. 21 letters

3
  Written by or attributed to early Christian leaders known as Apostles.
a) 13 letters attributed to Paul.
 The real letters written by Paul or associated to him to a particular
communities or individuals concerning local problem and issues.
 Letters sent to Christians or communities in various cities. – Romans, I
Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, I Thessalonians, and II Thessalonians.
 Letters written to an individual – I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus and
Philemon.
 I Timothy, II Timothy and Titus are called pastoral letters.
 Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon are called captivity
letters – because Paul wrote them during his persecution in prison. {Eph
3:1, 4:1, Philippians 1:7, 13-14, Philemon 9:10 and Colossians 4:3}.
 Romans, 1 Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians and I Thessalonians are
called the undisputed letters. – most scholars agree they were written by
Paul himself.
 Ephesians, Colossians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy and Titus
are Deutro - Pauline letters most scholars believe they were written by
followers of Paul after his death. {I Timothy 1:1 – it is seen as Paul is
addressing Timothy but in chapter 3 it talks of the structure of the church
and during Paul’s time there was no bishops[elder in-charge] or structure
of the church.}
 We have one Biblical letter called Hebrew. We see Hebrew as a homily or
sermon. Its placed between Philemon and James because Philemon is the
last letter of Paul, so it has no place. The letter of Hebrew interprets Jesus
in the Old Testaments. Sometimes Hebrew is attributed to Paul but neither
the author nor the audience is mentioned. {Hebrew 1:1}. Paul’s letters
always starts I Paul…. Then they have destination I Paul write to God’s
people in Ephesus.

b) 7 Catholic Letters or General Letters

 The authorship of this letters is attributed to other apostles {from whom they are
named}i.e. James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John and Jude.
 Most not written to the individual community but to border audience {I Peter 1:1-2 – he
is speaking to the diaspora people to the universe[catholic], I John 1:1 – writing to
you[second person] i.e. general believers, Jude 1:1 – writing to those who are called}.

D. Apocalyptic

4
  We have only one Apocalyptic book a highly symbolic narrative that interprets a
historical crisis and provide hope for future – i.e. the book of Revelation.

1.4. WHY THE PROCESS OF CANONIZATION OF NEW TESTAMENT TOOK

LONG TIME AND COMPLEX.
i. Heresy
 Almost all apostles wrote a gospel e.g. gospel of Barnabs, Gospel of Thomas {was
exaggerated that Christ would create birds and fly them this why it was canonized.}.
 Pauline letters were also many but only 13 letters.

ii. Persecution
 The Christian church experienced a great persecution from its in conception to edit of
Milan during time of Constantine in 313. This prohibited them from meeting for general
council to agree on the canonicity. The great persecution was in 303 by Diocletian when
they tried to destroy all copy of Christian scriptures.

iii. Long distances from Ecclesial

 It made communication between bishops and the church very difficult. It would take
many months for a Christian messenger to arrive just from one seat to another. In
addiction each trip means signified economic expense.

1.5. WHY PROTESTANTS DID NOT ACCEPT DEUTRO-CANONICAL

BOOKS
2. The protestant did not accept any book that was written outside Palestine. Those that
were written in diaspora were not accepted.
3. Language- any book that was not written in Hebrew they did not accept. Yet these
Deutro-canonical books were written in Greek.
4. Written in wrong time- they were written in the 400 yrs. The silent years when there was
no prophecy or prophet that came at this time.

5
 I.6. CRITERIA USED TO CANONIZE THE 27 BOOKS IN NEW TESTAMENT
II. Apostolicity – a person who wrote this book was he an apostle or a close partner. Is he an
eye witness?
Why Paul and he was not an eye witness and his letters were canonized?
He explains the way he was chosen through experience to Damascus {Acts 22:1-13,
9:15-19} he was chosen and baptised by Ananias after being directed by God.
How does Hebrew qualify thou has no apostolicity?
Scholars say that probably it was written by the associate of Paul i.e. Luke or Barnabas
they were eye witness of what Paul was teaching.
III. Orthodoxy – Non contradiction with Old Testament and Apostolic Tradition.
IV. Catholicity – is it universally accepted, acknowledged by all major Christian
communities in meditation world?
V. Liturgical use/ Spirituality – does this book build someone’s spirituality. Does the book
have high Christian morals and can it inspire Christians. Is the book transformative – that
can change someone?
VI. Consistent message – message containing theological ideas convertible with other
Christian writings. Consistence with that book and also connection with other books.

1.7. 10 STAGES OF NEW TESTAMENT FORMATION AND

TRANSMISSION
2. Historical Jesus
 Jesus who lived on earth.
 Words he spoke and deeds he performed.
 When He was on earth there, are people who saw him and heard what He said.

3. Oral Traditions
 Some people told others what they saw in Jesus Christ.
 Scriptures defer with oral explanation.

4. Written sources
 They wrote what they heard from oral traditions.
 We have different transcripts because they gathered information from different people
and one was told the other one was not told especially in gospels.
 In written sources we speak of all books in New Testament they had not been
categorized. i.e. Gospel, letters

6
5. Written texts.
 We will have individual letters, full gospel etc. written with particular messages for
particular reasons.
 They had no topics{Matthew, John, Philippians, Romans} it was the work of the
compliers to name them.
 It was also the work of the compiler to categories them, i.e. gospel, letters etc.

6. Distribution of the text.

 Some writings are copied and shared with other Christians communities throughout
Mediterranean.

7. Collection.
 Certain Christians began collecting letters of Paul and gathering together several gospels.

8. Canonization.
 The four gospels, several collection of letters and other text are accepted as authoritative
text.

9. Translation.
 Biblical text are translated into ever more ancient and modern languages e.g. Latin, King
James was the first English translation bible.

10. Interpretation
 The meaning of scripture is investigated in various levels – spiritual, historical, social.

11. Application
 Communities and individuals used New Testament for practical purpose – liturgical,
sacramental, and theological.

7
2.0. POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS DURING THE TIME OF JESUS.
I. PHARISEES
 They came from Maccabean family. Maccabean family was the custodian of the Jewish
law.
 Pharisees came to existence during the time of Maccabean revolt around 100BC.
Book of Maccabees talks of laws and regulations.
Chapter 7 of 2nd Maccabees
A mother and her seven sons were being forced to eat pork because Jews were being
influenced to embrace Greek culture. But they would not break the law.

 Pharisees are divided into two groups depending on the school you went;

a. School of bet Hillel

Hillel interpreters of law were more rebels.

b. School of bet Shammal.

Is known for strict and harsh interpretation of law. Paul came from this group that’s why
he persecuted those who disobeyed the law.

 Pharisees were better and harmful enemies of Jesus Christ. They were around 6000 in the
time of Jesus Christ. The reason they were fighting Jesus was because they were
separated ones. ‘Pharisoi’ in Greek means separated ones. Therefore it means chosen
ones by God to protect the law. They followed law in all aspect of life.
 John the Baptist called the Pharisees – brood of snakes{Matthew 3:7}. Snake in the bible
is used to symbolize ‘canning and tempting poison’
{Fox symbolizes hypocrisy bcoz it is seen as two animals like dog, like leopard.}

 Christ denounced them for letting their traditions negate the power of Good
News{Matthew 15:1-9; 23:1-36} they were insisting traditions and blocking Good News.
Jesus warned his followers about;
- False righteousness {Matthew 5:20}
- False teaching {Matthew 16:11}
- False humility {Luke 18:10-14
Pharisees also condemned Jesus Christ;
- For associating with sinners {Matt 9:11, Lk 7:39, Lk15:2}
- Healing on the Sabbath {Lk 6:7, Lk 14: 1-6}
- Allowing his disciples to work on Sabbath {Matt 12:1 -2}
Pharisees disputed Jesus Christ because he did not follow their traditions. {Matt 15: 1-2}
They also sought to entrust Him on theological issues {Matt 19:3}.
Pharisees believed in resurrection of the body.

8
 NOTE: Nicodemus{john 3:1} and Paul{acts 23:6} were Pharisees by birth and training.

II. SADDUEES.
 Sadducees takes their name from ‘zadok’ a high priest during the reign of King Solomon.
Zadok was appointed by King Solomon. Zadok means priest.
 Sadducees came to prominent at about the same time with Pharisees a century before
Christ.
 Sadducees were Jewish aristocrats of Christ days and held the most seats on Sanhedrin
{acts 5:17}
 High priest and Sadducees are linked in Act 4:1 the priest sat on the table and the
Sadducees appeared together.
 Sadducees and Pharisees were religious brothers. They were the custodian of the law.
 They rejected oral tradition and accepted only the word of scriptures as the authoritative,
 They hold that the soul perishes together with the body. They had nothing to do with the
doctrine of resurrection after death.
 John the Baptist called Sadducees and Pharisees the brood of snakes. Christ also warned
his followers against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. {Matt 16:11, Mk
12:18-27}

III. ESSENES
 Their identity is not clear. Many scholars identify them with one community that lived in
the desert who were governed by hierarchy headed by a priest.
 The community since to have begun when the group of priest left in Jerusalem after
dispute in gyjyjthe temple priesthood. They disagreed on the interpretation of Torah
practised by the priests in Jerusalem especially on law of purity.
 They believed only Zadok should be priests not non Zadok.
 They saw their existing in desert as a fulfilment of prophecy {Isaiah 40:3} they were in
the desert preparing the way for the Lord. They believed in the coming of Messiah. In
New Testament the same passage is found in the lips of John the Baptist{John 1:23}.
Probably John belong to Essenes community {John 1:23, Mark 1:1-4}.
 The Essenes believed they were the only faithful remnant of Israel. They believe their
community represent temple and uncorrupted worship of God.

IV. SCRIBES {EXPARTS IN RELIGIOUS LAW}

 They were men who were trained in writes. They could belong to any group.

9
  They were very influential as interpreters and teachers of law.
 In Mathew 22:35, Luke 7:30 the scribes would be the students, interpreters and the
teachers of Old Testament scriptures.
 Jews had great power in Jews society and they were called to settle dispute.
 They became great enemies of Christ for grouping them with Pharisees and calling them
hypocrites {matt 23:13}. They also refuted the baptism of John the Baptist.
 They tried to entrap Jesus on the issues of;
- adultery {John 8:3-12}
- healing on Sabbath {Lk 6:7}
- demanded that Jesus performed signs {Matthew 12:38}
- condemned him for associating with sinners {Luke 15:2}
 Christ warned his disciples about false righteous of scribes {matt 5:20} and denounced
their tradition for blocking them to get Good News {Mt 16:21, Mt 23:1-36, Mk 12:28-
40}.

V. ZEALOTS
 They were political movement among the Jews who sought to overthrow the Roman
government. Zealots’ means zealous follows.
 In most respect they allied with Pharisees of New Testament period but further believed
that God should be the leader of nation rather than Roman government.
 Zealots are those people who criticize everything. They don’t see good things or things
going on well. {Acts 1:6}
 They even called the Pharisees cowards for paying taxes to the Roman government.
 When the empyrean worship was introduced in Israel the zealots leads a military revolt
against Romans in 66AD. They were successful yet the Romans Later destroyed the city
of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD.
 One of the 12 apostles of Jesus was known as Simon the Zealot {Matt 10:4, Lk 6:15, Acts
1:13}.

VI. PUBLICANS
 They were the officials authorized by Rome to correct taxes from the fellow Jews.
 Taxes collectors are also called the publicans.

10
  Romans did not use their people, they used Jews to collect taxes from their fellow Jews.
So that people will hate the taxes collectors not the government.
 Because of this they were hated by their fellow Jews who associated them with sinners
{Matt 9:11, 11:19, 21:31-32, 18:17, 9:10-11, Lk 15:1-2}
 They were the informers of the Roman government –no government/institution can
survive without them
 The way they gathered taxes was simply; I get what Rome wants, I give what the Rome
wants, and if I get more I keep it. They often overcharged people. {Lk 3:12-13}
 Publicans were associated with the rich people.

VII. HERODIANS
 They were political party who favoured rule by the family of Herod. Though Jews saw
the rule of Herod under Roman oversight and Israel best chance for survival as a nation.
 They were therefore the law and order advocate of the day.
 They regarded Christ as a revolutionary fanatic and in three occasions joined the effort of
Pharisees to silence Him. {Matt 22:16, Mk 3:6, 12:13, 8:15, 12:13-17}
 Herodias were enemy of Christ since birth. Matthew shows Herod as a killer.

Mk 12:13-17; - they wanted to know whether Christ was Herodias or no. They were
protecting their political interest.

VIII. SAMARITANS
 When the Assyrian king Sargon II took the Northern kingdom to the captivity 722 BC. He
followed the Assyrian customs by leaving only the poorest and the most uneducated
Israelites behind and inviting other nations to come in and homestead the land vacated by
those in captivity. This new comers brought with them their pagans religion. {2 kings 17:
24-33}
 When they intermarried they filled the land with separate race neither Jews nor Gentiles.
 The name Samaritan came from Samaria the capital of the North Kingdom.
 In Christ day the name referred to the entire territory between Judea and Galilee.

Samaritans = Jews left on the land + foreigners who came to occupy the vacated land.
{When others went to exile}
The Jews hatred Samaritans because;
- They were not pure Jews.
- They were worshipping idol gods.
 When the Jews came back the Samaritans were put into one village and the Jews stayed
alone in their land.
 Samaritans became the children of God by the faith not by chosen race.
 Samaritans offered to rebuild the temple but their offer was refused {Ezra 4:1-3}. The
refused because the Samaritans had no pure worship.

11
  A century later the Samaritan governor Sanballatt tried to frustrate Nehemiah’s
rebuilding of Jerusalem wall. {Neh 6:1-9}
 A complete break between Jews and Samaritans occurred when the grandson of Eliashib
the high priest married Sanballatt’s daughter yet they had been warned from inter-
marrying with the foreigners. { Neh 13:23-28} Since he refused to divorce this daughter
of Sanballatt he was removed from priesthood and exiled. He returned to Samaria where
Sanballatt build a temple for him.
 There is no priesthood for Samaritans because it is a new race.so when the grandson of
Eliashib went to Samaria, the governor Sanballatt build a temple for him because he was
a priest from the family of high priest.
 This temple was destroyed by John Hyranus in 128BC. Because the Samaritans had
compromised god with paganism by dedicating their temple to Greek gods.
 By the time of the New Testament the hatred between Jews and Samaritans had reached
climax. {John4:9, 8:14}.
 Christ ordered his disciples not to enter in Samaria {Matt 10:5} though for him he
ministered there.{John 4:1-10}
 A Samaritan was a heroes in Christ’s parable {Lk 10:30-37}. The Good Samaritan story-
those who do the will of God will see God despite the religion or race he come from.
 When Christ healed the 10 leapers only the Samaritan came back to say thanks {Lk17:11-
19}
 During the final days of his ministry one village of Samaritans rejected him because of
His plans to go to Jerusalem {Lk 9:51-56}. Just before his ascension Jesus commanded
his disciples to preach to Samaria.{Acts 1:8}

John 4:1-10
Samaritan woman represent the community.
Jesus is bringing together all the people who believed in him.
Verse 3 and 4 - he left Judea and went by Galilee on his way he had to pass through
Samaria.
JUDEA SAMARIA GALILEE

Therefore you had to pass through Samaria while going to Galilee from Judea as Jacob
had to pass through Edom {land of Esau} when he was moving from Laban’s place.

IX. SANHEDRIN/ HIGH COUNCIL

 It was Jewish Supreme Court for both religion and legal matters.

12
  It may have come from the time of Moses {Num 11:16-17} or king Jehoshaphat {II
chronicle 19:8}
 It had 71 members including the high priest as the president, the head of 24 priestly
services, scribes and lawyers, elders representing the laity.
 The word Sanhedrin means ‘coming together’ or ‘sitting place.’ This refers to a good
sitting for a section [cathedral and ex-cathedral has the same root]
 Though the Jews people trusted the Sanhedrin when Jesus stood before them for trail
{Matt 26:57-62; 27:1-2} the trail was unjust in several ways;
- They meet on a semi-circle with the prisoner at the centre to be able to
see all. But for Christ is blinded with a cloth {Matt26:65}.
- Normally 2 clerk were appointed to write the case and count the votes,
the other one to write judgement. But in time of Jesus it was not this
way.
- The argument of ‘aqua to’/ mashitaka was given first. There is no
record for this for Jesus.
- If the vote was for ‘aqua to’ was set free immediately but if not for
him the condemnation was done the following day but for Jesus was
done that day. {Matt 26:66}
2.1. THE PROCULATORS {GOVERNERS} AND KINGS IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT
A) THE GOVERNERS IN THE TIME OF JESUS.

1. PONTIUS PILATE
Lk 23:14 Mt 27:20-21
Lk 23:22 Mk 15:15
Mt 27:19 Mt 27:37
Jn 14:6 Jn 19:38

 He was a Roman governor of Judaea serving under the emperor Tiberius.

 He is mostly known for his involvement in condemning Jesus on a cross {Lk 23:14}
 The first time we see Pilate he was reluctant to arrest Jesus and he declared him not guilty
[Lk 23:22]. He did not find him guilty for death penalty.
 Pilate was already bothering Jesus when his wife sent him a message on Jesus. [Mt27:19]
 In John gospel Jesus acknowledged Himself as a king and claims to speak the truth [Jn
18:37-38]. Pilate responded with famous question; what is the truth?
The question intentionally communicated multiple meaning. Here is where truth was
being compromised in order to condemn the innocent man. Pilate was seeking for the
truth; he asked the truth, way and life [Jn 14: 6]
 Pilate sort a compromise knowing Jesus had been handed over by the religious leaders
out of envy he applied to the congregation who should be set free. The religious leaders
convinced the crowed to cry out for Barabbas [Mt 27:20-21]

13
 In Mark 15:15 Pilate wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. He
had Jesus flock and harder him over to be crucified.
 Mathew 27:37 Pilate heard the charge against Jesus posted on the cross ‘THIS IS JESUS
THE KING OF JEWS’ as soon as Jesus died Joseph Arimathea asked Pilate for the body
and Pilate granted the request. [Jn 19:38]
 The last time we had about Pilate is when he ordered the guards to secure Jesus tomb.
[Matt 27:64-66]
 NOTE; Pilate in the scripture is full of tragedy; he ignored his conscience, and his wife.
He chooses to please the political side and failed to recognize the truth, when the truth
was standing in front of him.

2. GOVERNOR FELIX ANTONUS

Acts 23:35 Acts 24:22
Acts 23:23-24 Acts 24:24
Acts 23:33-35 Acts 24:25
Acts 24:5-6 Acts 24:27
Acts 24:17-21
 He was formerly a slave but was promoted to the office of the governor.
 He was cruel, while in Judea he was attracted to Drusilla a daughter of Herod Agrippa I.
The fact that she was married make no different to Felix. He enticed her away from her
husband, Aziuz, and they later married.
 Felix was the governor of Judea and Samaria when apostle Paul was arrested in
Jerusalem for preaching the Gospel. [Acts 23:35]. A mob was planning to kill Paul before
he could come for trial. The roman commander removed Paul away at night accompanied
by 200 soldiers so that his case would be heard by King Felix [Acts 23:23- 24]. He had to
be heard by the governor of his kingdom.
 Acts 23:33-35 when they brought Paul to Felix, he asked him where he comes from and
told him we must wait for his accusers.
 Five days later a company arrived it included Ananias the high priest, some Jews elders
and hired lawyer named Tatullus. When the proceeding had begun Tatullus and Jews
leader accused Paul of being trouble maker who had attempt to disgrace the temple
[Acts24].
 Felix was well informed about this set of Jesus followers and when he had Paul’s case
involved religious questions. He adjunct the hearing until the Roman Commander who
had arrested Paul could be present [Acts 24:22].
 Paul words intergrade Felix bcoz a few days later he summoned Paul to hear more of his
teaching. Felix and Drusilla listened to Paul as he spoke about Jesus [Acts 24;24]. Felix
putted Paul in jail for two years waiting for appropriate time [Acts 24:25]. In reality Felix
was hoping for the bribe from Paul but never came.

14
 When Felix was replaced as the procurator he left Paul I the jail for his successor Festus
to deal with it. It would be another reason Felix left Paul in jail to pronounce judgement
to innocent man or probably to please his wife or fear of political influence. [Acts 24:27].
 Upon his loss of governorship Felix was summoned in Rome where he was accused of
cruelty and corruption. Felix was found guilty but was spared death penalty.

3. GOVERNOR PORCIUS FESTUS

Acts 25:1 - 12

Acts 25:13 – 27

Acts 26:32

Acts 25:19

Acts 26:24

 Festus succeeds Felix as a governor and Paul’s case is one of his concerns.
 Jews leaders met Festus in Jerusalem and asked him to bring Paul to Caesarea; their
purpose was to kill him on the way.
 Festus has not been to this new home yet and invites by Paul accusers to go with him to
Caesarea and get things squared away.
 Festus would see Paul case as malicious but wanting to have a good relation with this
people, ask Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial. This would benefit Festus into ways;
a) He would get on the good side of leaders and would move the venue of trial to
Caesarea in Jerusalem. So he has nothing to do with the case. [Acts 25:1 – 12].
 After conferring with his advisers Festus accepted to send Paul to Caesarea.
 Before Paul left home King Herod Agrippa II and his sister/lover Bernice came to visit
Festus, the new governor.
 The new governor had no knowledge of Jewish religion like Felix because his wife was a
Jew but in attempt to repair his relationship with the Jews Festus wanted to understand
why the Jews want to kill Paul. He also sees it is bad to send a man to Roman with no
official charges. So he asked Hero Agrippa for advice [Acts 25: 13 – 27]. Festus is very
clever he consults the king. It would be very dangerous if he dealt with it alone.
 Paul gives his testimony to King Herod Agrippa unlike Felix who wanted a bribe or
Festus who doesn’t understand much on what is going on. Agrippa immediately judges
that Paul is completely innocent of wrong doing. He tells Festus this man would have
been set free, if he had not appeal to Caesarea [Acts 26:32]
 Once in Rome Paul spent two years in jail, but is finally in the city where he had longed
to be for years.

15
B) KINGS IN THE NEW TESTAMENTS

1. HEROD THE GREAT.

 The name Herod comes again and again in New Testament from Matthew 2 – Acts 27.
 Herod is a family name of a ruling dynasty. They are 4 Herod in the New Testament as
well as Herod Philip II who is referred to as Philip the Tetrac in the New Testament.
 Herod I came to be known as Herod the Great. He was also called the King of the Jews.
He ruled 36BC to 4BC. He is mentioned in Matthew 2 magi came to Jerusalem looking
for the one who had been born the King of the Jews. Herod called the scribe and
determine that according to prophecy the messiah would be born in Bethlehem [Matt2:8].
 From that text Matt 2:8 Herod I is referred as a hypocrite because his intention was not to
worship Christ but to kill him. Herod I is the one who ordered all baby boys to be killed
[Matt 2:16].
 Herod the great was the son of high ranking official in the Hysamonias which was ruling
Syria as king. He intermarried with the Jews and Herod publically identified himself as a
Jew although he did not fall the law.
 In 41BC Herod the Great followed the governor of Galilee. However the Jews ammonias
dynasty was in conflict with Rome and Herod supported Rome. He was given the title
‘King of the Jews’ by the Roman council and given the responsibility to conquer Judea so
that he would rule as a king.
 Upon Herod the Great death his son was called Archelaus was made a leader to lead
Judea, Samaria and Ignea {he was not given the whole kingdom}. He is mention once
only Matt 2:22 – 23 in the scriptures. [Joseph run away to hide during his time]
 Herod Philip was appointed Tetrac (is a ruler of one quarter) of Trachonitis, he is
mentioned later in the New Testament as the one who lost his wife to his half-brother
Herod Antipas [Matt 14: 3 – 4].

2. HEROD ANTIPAS
 He was the son of Herod the Great and became a Tetrac (is a ruler of one quarter) so he
received a quarter of his father’s kingdom.
 He built the capital city of Tiberius on the sea of Galilee.
 He is the Herod who is most mentioned in the New Testament.

16
 Jesus was sent back to this Herod by Pilate and he was waiting for Jesus to perform
miracles. [Lk 23:6 – 7]
 Jesus called this Herod foxes [Lk 13:32 – 33]
 He married his brother’s Philip wife and divorced his wife.
 He threw John the Baptist to prison and later killed him bcoz He had condemned him for
marrying his brother’s wife. [Matt 14: 3 – 5]
 NOTE: Herod the Great is mentioned in Matt1, Lk 1 & 2, so the other part is Herod
Antipas is mentioned.

3. HEROD AGRIPPA
 He was a king of Judea.
 He was a grandson of Herod the Great and a nephew of Herod Antipas
 He governed Judea as a Roman province over 30 years. He was a great friend of Tiberius
of Rome (emperor) this helped him securer his position. His role was to keep peace.
 He persecuted and killed John and James in order to please the Jews because they saw
Christianity as a threat. Later he jailed Peter. [Acts 12: 1-3]
 He was giving people food because their was famine. He saw himself as a god. He did
not have any regard to God. So he fall and was eaten by worms and died because of
pride. [Acts 12: 20 – 23]

EMPEROR KINGS GOVERNOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS

{Head of Rome} {Kingdom} {Province} Religious Groups

3.0. THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

 The synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
 They are similar to each other in the sense they view Jesus in the same eye.
 They are very different from fourth Gospel i.e. Gospel of John.
 They are similar but at the same time very different.
 The similarities between Mathew, Mark and Luke are so numerous and so cross, not just
in the order of material present but also exact wording in the text. Therefore there must
be some dependence. Some stories are very similar.

3.1. CONTROVERSIES
I. Priority
Which Gospel was written first?
If one text draws from another the source must have been composed first.

17
 II. Successful Dependence
Did each synoptic Gospel draw from each of predecessor. If not the frequent
agreement between the two independent Gospel against the third originate
somewhere.
III. Lost Written Sources
Did any of the Gospel draw from earlier document which has not been preserved.
Did Mathew got a document that Luke did not get.
IV. Oral Source
To what extend do each evangelist draw from personal knowledge, eye witness,
liturgy or other oral traditional to produce an original written account. For
example; oral material – Magnificent, Benedictus.
V. Translation
Jesus and others quoted in the Gospels spoke in Aramaic. But the Gospels
themselves in their oldest available language is Greek. Who performed the
translation and to which point? Jesus preached in Aramaic and Mark wrote in
Greek. {What Mark wrote was the work of Peter and Peter was not learned so his
language was deep.

VI. Reduction
The way you see the Gospels today was not written like that. They were not
arranged as they are today. How did they put this Gospels in order?

3.2. SOURCES
A) THE MARKAN PRIORITY {Matthew and Luke used Mark to write}
i. Mark Shortness

MATTHEW MARK LUKE

18
 VERSES 1068 661 11149
WORDS 18293 11025 19376
 NOTE: Only 132 words [of Mark] have no parallel in Mathew or Luke. 529 are in
Matthew and Luke.
 97% of Mark words is duplicated to Matthew and 98% is found in Luke.
 Less than 60% of Matthew is duplicate in Mark only 47% of Luke is found in
Mark.
 If you remove birth narratives, John the Baptist, sermon on the mountain and
resurrection appearance of Christ, you remain with Mark.

 Matthew and Luke took Mark and expanded

ii. Mark poor Writing Style – The Argument from the Grammar
 The hardest Greek is in Mark Gospel and Galatians.
 Colloquialism and incorrect grammar Mk 2:4 – Matt 9:2
Mark use the word mat and corrected by Matthew and Luke by using word
stretcher.
Mark language is very parochial. Mark is more Ancient so they borrowed
from Mark and modernized it.
Mark was an Aramaic he wrote with Aramaic language.

iii. Aramaic Expression

 Mark 3:17 James and John are called Boernerges sons of Thunder not found
in Luke and Matthew.
Mk 7:11 – Corban not found in Matthew.
Mk 5:31-43 – Talithakum not found in Matthew and Luke.
Mk 7:1-17 – Ephatha not found in Matt and Luke.
Mk 14:36 – Abba not found in Matt and Luke
Mk 15:34- Eloi Eloi not found in Matt and Luke.
 On the above for mark to have added into his Gospel all those Aramaic words
which are not in source are in explainable.
iv. Redundancy
 Meaning not useful/ not valuable/ unnecessary
 Luke and Matthew omit the unnecessary expression of Mark.

v. Mark Handwriting
 There are several passages in Mark that which paint portrait of Jesus or
disciple that can be misunderstood.
 These passages are uttered or omitted in Mathew and Luke. They may affect
the Faith of the people, they are rude.

19
Example 1
Mark 6:5 – He didn’t perform any {he shows Christ as incapable and very
angry}
Matt 13:58 – He didn’t do many {he is portraying Christ unwilling}

Example 2
Mark 1: 32-34 – all who were sick
Matt 8: 16 – many who were sick {he uttered}
Luke 4: 40 – all who were sick {he didn’t change}

Example 3
Mark 10:18 – why do you call me good teacher? {it’s like he is refusing he is
not a good teacher}.
Matt 19:17 – why do you ask me what is good?
Luke 18:19 - why do you ask me what is good?

Example 4
Mark 3:5 – he looked him with anger.
Luke 6:10 – he omits Jesus was angry and heard heart
Matthew – omits the whole verse.

Example 5
Mark 1:12- Jesus was thrown in desert.
Matt 4:1- Jesus was led in the desert by the spirit.
Luke 4:1- Jesus was led in the desert by the spirit.
They use the word led which is the role of the spirit to bring Jesus to desert.

Example 6
Mark 8: 24
The difference the man was healed in stages. This is the only story in synoptic
gospel which required healing twice. This is why Matthew and Luke omitted
it. They saw he is limiting the power of Jesus. Why not instant healing?

Example 7
Mark 3:20-21
In this statement that Jesus brothers and mother had made – he’s gone mad.
Matthew and Luke omitted this verse because it would portray bad image of
Jesus mother and brothers.

20
 B) QUELLE SOURCE
 This is hypothetical document.
 There is no such real text in the existence; we don’t have physical documents of Q.
although some scholar believes this kind of document existed.
 The question is some stories are in Luke and Matthew but they are not in Mark. Now this
where Quelle comes in.
Example
Matt 7:24-29 – The Parable of the two house builders.
Luke 6: 46- 49- The Parable of the two house builders.

This story is not in Mark therefore they had another source that is, Quelle.

FOUR SOURCE THEORY

M MARK Q L

MATHEW LUKE

Q = Quelle hypothetical written source of some saying of Jesus {now lost}

M= var

ious other material {oral or written} found in Matthew.

L= various other material {oral or written} found in Luke.

NOTE: The arrows indicate the direction of influence.

Q consists of material found in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark.

4.0. TEXTUAL CRITICISM

21
4.1. INTRODUCTION
 What is textual criticism?
 Manuscripts – it is a Latin word. Manu – hand, scripts – writings. They were document
written by hands.
 They were 1000s of manuscripts in each book it depends on which the author used to
compose his book.
 Textual criticism means thinking critically about manuscripts and variations in the biblical
text found in those manuscripts, in order to identify the original reading of the Bible.
 For example; 1 Cor 13:3 – If I give my body to be burnt – some versions.[king James]
- If I give my body that I might boast – some versions. [N.V.I]
 The term looks similar in Greek they both make sense in the context.
 This is the task of textual criticism which uses tightly me thods to test variant script that
are in manuscript. The goal is to find the most ancient and more accurate reaching.
 The most prominent methods used by the scholars in the New Testament today is called
Eclectic. It was done as it follows; they look on the word used in the most manuscripts.
Then they look whether it appears in the famous manuscripts or infamous manuscripts. In
this method we have;
a) External Evidence.
 Not all manuscripts are equally importance. Sometimes more is not always the better.
 Quality of manuscripts matter than the quantity.
 In this case the earliest manuscripts evident they support boast, along with several
manuscripts that have proven to be reliable.

b) Internal Evidence.
 This includes a Biblical author’s normal style and sought of mistakes that later copyist
commonly made when they copied the text.
 In the case of I Cor 13:3 Paul never mentioned burning anywhere else but he often speak
of boasting. When it comes to coping tendency, we might ask whether the two words
would be mistaken by some coping manuscript.

How many textual variants exist in New Testament?

22
 Number of variant/ difference is unknown but most variations total range estimate
between 2000 to 5000.
Original bible had no full stop, paragraphs, subtopics, and capital letters.
The task would be practically impossible for a person or group to do manually but
nowadays computers are used for some analysis.
Also every time a new manuscript is discovered there is increase in variants.

4.2. TYPES OF SCRIBBLE ERROR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPT

Scribble errors – errors that have crept in the New Testament in the process of copying
the text of New Testament.

1ST CLASS ERROR

They are categorised into two intentional and unintentional errors.

A) UNINTENTIONAL ERRORS
i) The Error of Eyes
 They are that occurs if the manuscript is copied from one manuscript into another
manuscript.
 This is because most manuscript were copied from hand copy but the source might be of
the poor quality. So the writer may have bad eye sight, poor handwriting any of this
would cause the scribe to mislead the source and make the mistakes in the new copy.
 Errors of the eye where the sight of the copies confuses letters or ending that are similar
in writings.
Example 1

Alpha and labda or T and pai

Example 2
2 Peter 2:13 = deception {African Bible} …….. (Greek words missing)
= deceitful {The Holy Bible}
= pleasure {Jerusalem Bible}
 If letters were written too close to the other the scribe may split words wrongly. Many
early manuscript were written without commas, full stops which was problematic, it was
continues.

Example
GODISNOWHERE = GOD IS NOWHERE Which is which.

23
 = GOD IS NOW HERE

 Fission is incorrectly splitting words so one word in the source manuscript is written as
two word in the copy.
 Fussion is incorrectly combining words so two words in the source manuscript are
written as one word in the copy.
 Dittography is when a scribe accidently copies a letter, word, or phrase twice. E.g.
‘Contex vaticouos’[famous manuscript] Acts 19: 34 has the phrase “great is Artemis of
Ephesians” twice {in African study Bible} while others is once.
 Parablepsis {you see against} the scribe reads a word but will writing it, he misses it yet
it was there in the manuscript. The scribe without noticing can add vowel, consonant or
even remove a letter or a phase.
 Homoceoteleulon this error normally occur especially when there is fatigue {tiredness}
when one is reading. This has caused some errors in sacred writing. It is a repetition of
some word or phrase that ends with identical word.
For example;
In ‘Contex Sinaitus’ (manuscript) the original scribe skipped Lk 10:32 probably because
it ends with the same words as Lk 10:31. In the manuscript omits thinking he is
repeating himself yet it was not repetition.

ii) The Error of the Pen

 This is due miswriting of pen man of what is correctly in mind through carelessness. He
fails rightly to transfer to another copy.

iii) The Error of the Speech

 The person speaking may not pronounce clearly or the scribe would not hear well and it
would case him write down a word incorrectly.
For example; their, there, they are.
Different letters that are pronounced the same this happens mostly in Hebrew.

iv) The Error of Memory

 Having risen from the copyist hold the sequence of letters of which he forgets what he

 saw and he has written down.
For example;
John 5:2 = some say Bethzatha, others Bethesda etc.

24
 v) The Error of Judgement
 John 5:1-4
Some manuscripts had footnote and the scribe is confused whether the quoted footnote is
part of paragraph or is just a footnote.
For example;
John 5:1-4 = verse 4 $ 5 are joined together.
In most manuscript verse 4 is a footnote to explain about the pool.

B) INTENTION ERRORS

These are the errors that writers will make a mistake deliberately {intentional}

i) Adding marginal notes to the text

 Some scribes would add a note to the margin called eloss and a later another scribe
would copy it to the text.
For example;
1 John 5:7-8
King James Version = the father, the son and the Holy Ghost 3 are one
Other versions = the spirit, the water, and the blood and the 3 are one.
[King James saw people do not understand and he decided to explain for the people]
King James Version includes a phrase that talk about Trinity. But other version does not
include the phrase.

ii) Clarification
 Adding or re-arranging the word to remove ambiguity.
 There are 4 variants in Greek manuscript at the end of Acts 8:16 – the Bible will say “in
the name of lord Jesus Christ” because they add Christ to remove ambiguity.

iii) Eumphunistic changes

 Eumphinistim words or phrase that considered misappropriate or offensive were changed
to acceptable words.
For example;
John 11:11 – our friend is a sleep {running away from the word dead}
1 Thess 4:14 – fallen a sleep
1 Thess 5:10 – awake or a sleep

25
iv) Theological Changes
 This occurred because God or other biblical person was displayed in unfavourable
manner.
For example;
Genesis 18:22 – originally stated that “God remained standing before Abraham.” The
image of standing before someone had come to denote a role of substitute to that person.
Therefore the statement was rearranged “Abraham still stood before the Lord”
Matthew 24:36 – King James omits Son.

2ND CLASS ERRORS

26