Sacred Text Religion

New Testament
Years Written Original Language
1st–2nd centuries CE Koine Greek

SYMBOLS

Christianity The New Testament is a library of 27 religious books originally written in Greek.
Gospels, letters, histories, and prophetic visions recorded by a number of authors
Emerges recount the lives of Jesus and early Christians, revealing important questions and
concerns the first Christ-believers faced as they formed communities.

Cross

Represents Jesus’s death by public

execution; becomes an image of
triumph over sin and death

Shepherd & Sheep

Symbolize Jesus as the guide and

protector of his followers, the sheep

Fruit & Fruitfulness

Stand for flourishing and well-being

that take place when believers are
in relationship with God

Context

Location

Jesus and his first followers lived in

the Roman province of Judea.

Time

Jesus lived, died, and was

resurrected during the early
first century CE.

Culture

New Testament believers lived alongside

Jewish religious leaders and Roman
authorities in a time of cultural upheaval.

Key Figures

Jesus

Religious teacher and Son of

Evangelists God who gained thousands of Paul
followers during his lifetime;
People who record Apostle and letter-writer;
crucified and resurrected
stories of Jesus’s life important early follower
and influence of Jesus

The Twelve Christ-Believers

Jesus’s closest followers; Members of the community of

learn from Jesus and faithful followers of Jesus
participate in his mission of
religious teaching and healing

Key Terms
New Testament
by the Numbers

Parousia

Greek term meaning “arrival”;

applied to the second coming 7
of the resurrected Jesus, when
he returns from heaven to judge Churches addressed in
human beings at the end of time the book of Revelation

405 CE
Year Jerome finished
the Latin translation
Disciple of the Bible so more
people could read it
Student who follows a leader’s
teachings; a follower of Jesus

1
Rank of the Bible in the
“best-selling book of
Salvation non-fiction” category
for the Guinness World
Can refer to being saved from Records in 2017
earthly difficulties or from sin
and eternal punishment, often
through faith in Jesus
~3,300
Languages into which
parts of the Bible
have been translated

o therefore and make disciples of all nations.

Jesus, Matthew 28:19

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Guinness World Records, Wycliffe

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