Chronological order of the New Testament

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#22
Yes, a great idea.

But as humans we need reminding daily that we need to love and how to love others God's way. Our natural tendency is trust in self. The longer we go without looking into the road map of God's word the more off track we get.

That's why study is important.
But,

You're wrong.

Study will count for nothing on Judgment Day.

Give up 'study', 'learning', 'questions', and all their friends.

and, instead, be nothing, and love...

and you will look down at your feet,
and see they stand firmly in the Kingdom of God.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,234
6,530
113
#23
They werent lost. God knew where they were.
It well could be that the so-called lost where simply held in abeyance until they would be best recognized. After all it was man who canonized various writings making up the Bible. They did a very good job, but being creatures and not the Creator, they probably made a few errors.

I know I relly love the Gospel of Thomas and that of Mary. The more I read the more I do feel I am doing the right thing. Again, I know the Holy Spirit will teach me from them just as He has in the common writings.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
7,585
3,169
113
#24
But,

You're wrong.

Study will count for nothing on Judgment Day.

Give up 'study', 'learning', 'questions', and all their friends.

and, instead, be nothing, and love...

and you will look down at your feet,
and see they stand firmly in the Kingdom of God.
If you can love God and your neighbor and walk in a way that pleases God without reading/studying the scriptures, then by all means don't let me interfere. As for myself, I need a little help.
 
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#25
If you can love God and your neighbor and walk in a way that pleases God without reading/studying the scriptures, then by all means don't let me interfere. As for myself, I need a little help.
Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
2,968
1,396
113
Midwest
#26
Study will count for nothing on Judgment Day.
Precious friend, The Bible Says: "STUDY To shew thyself Approved Unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of
Truth!" (
2 Timothy 2:15 KJB!)

Why would God have all these "study rules" In His Word Of Truth?

Should "count for something" On Judgment Day, Correct?

Be Blessed!
 

DeanM

Well-known member
May 4, 2021
549
315
63
#27
Sometimes I have to check and make sure im not on facebook. Even people in agreement will find a way to disagree.
 
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#28
Precious friend, The Bible Says: "STUDY To shew thyself Approved Unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of
Truth!" (
2 Timothy 2:15 KJB!)

Why would God have all these "study rules" In His Word Of Truth?

Should "count for something" On Judgment Day, Correct?

Be Blessed!
No

you're wrong.

we study so that we know.

and, when we know, there is nothing left to study.
 

DeanM

Well-known member
May 4, 2021
549
315
63
#29
No

you're wrong.

we study so that we know.

and, when we know, there is nothing left to study.
I guess your good to go then. As for myself I find things revealed I hadnt seen before.
 
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#31
there will always ALWAYS be more things to be revealed.

but what has that got to do with taking more than you NEED, and loving your neighbor as yourself?

I feel so sad how ALL the Christian I have met think its OK to have money that could help others stored up for themselves.
 

DeanM

Well-known member
May 4, 2021
549
315
63
#32
there will always ALWAYS be more things to be revealed.

but what has that got to do with taking more than you NEED, and loving your neighbor as yourself?

I feel so sad how ALL the Christian I have met think its OK to have money that could help others stored up for themselves.
How much should the "rich" Christians give you? Half? All of it?
 
Feb 24, 2019
256
167
43
#33
If you're rich, you aren't a Christian.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#34
I've been investigating this for quite awhile now and the only thing that's consistent is inconsistency. Opinions vary from minor differences to wildy different.

Is there any way to reach a more certain knowledge of the exact order?
We must realize the difference between how we think of time and how time is for God. God's time is eternal, God sees the past, future and present at once. Scripture tells us to God, one day is as 1000 years and 1000 years are as one day
 

Artios1

Born again to serve
Dec 11, 2020
668
400
63
#35
I've been investigating this for quite awhile now and the only thing that's consistent is inconsistency. Opinions vary from minor differences to wildy different.

Is there any way to reach a more certain knowledge of the exact order?


If I understand your post correctly you are wondering the “why” of the order…maybe this will help.... on some of it.

I have taken snippets from something I designed called the Quick Start, which I give to new believers …to give them a brief synopsis of the Bible.

I placed the gospels last due to the addition of the Branch, which I added Just to explain to explain my labeling of them.

If this helps …great! ….if you disagree …that’s fine.



…..GOSPELS WOULD BE HERE …..​



The book of ACTS….. Is the fulcrum point between the Old and New Testament. It shows the rise and expansion of the First Century Church of Grace…starting with the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. It basically gives a synopsis of how the age of Grace evolved….



ROMANS, 1&2 CORINTHIANS, GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, COLISSIANS, and 1&2 THESSALONIANS

The seven Church epistles in the New Testament, are addressed DIRECTLY to those of us who are born again in this age of Grace.
Although there is a portion in Romans, between Chapter 9 and 12 that Paul (by revelation) is addressing Israel, and then to the Gentiles in chapter 11.


ROMANS, EPHESIANS and THESSALONIANS are Doctrinal” Epistles = right or correct believing….. written for the walk of the believers in the Body of Christ.

CORINTHIANS & PHILIPPIANS are Reproof” Epistles to show believers where they are off from the doctoral revelation.

GALATIANS & COLISSIANS are Correction” Epistles to get the believers back to the right believing of the doctrine.

**Notice the layout - Romans doctrine, Corinthians reproof, Galatians correction, Ephesians doctrine, Philippians reproof, Colossians correction. The book of Thessalonians stands alone as a doctrinal epistle.

Thessalonians although doctrinal epistles somewhat stands alone as they deal primarily with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ FOR the Church of the Body ….and in II Thessalonians touches on the return (second part of the Parousia) of Christ WITH his saints (the Body of Christ) when He returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

**Although Thessalonians were the first epistles written so that the believers had the hope before them due to the mental pressure and persecution they endured. They are the last of the Church epistles as it is the culmination of the grace administration.

1&2 TIMOTHY, TITUS and I will include PHILEMON {although there is some disagreement with this} are called the Pastoral Epistles. These are written to the Church…. but are directed towards leadership within of the Body of Christ.
.
HEBREWS is not addressed to the church in the sense that we know the Church established on Pentecost. It is addressed to born again believers, but those who have never walked in the freedom of the new birth……. those who are still zealous for the law.

JAMES Much like Hebrews was written to the Christian Jews of the dispersion, “the twelve tribes scattered abroad”. Those born again who seem to want to put themselves under the law. 1&2 PETER, 1,2&3 JOHN and JUDE closely align themselves to this category also. The reason so much of this seems applicable to many of us …is that we find ourselves not adhering to the doctrinal Epistles of Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians.

**I can understand why the pastoral epistles were placed after the Church epistles, but as to the sequence of Hebrews -Jude …I do not know.



REVELATION….

**For obvious reasons is the last book in the Bible.



THE FOUR GOSPELS give the account, of the life and walk of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from four different perspectives. MATTHEW as the “King”, MARK as the “Servant”, LUKE as the “Man”, and JOHN as the “Son

The gospels although printed in the New Testament are figuratively the binding or the cohesive bond of the Bible; they stand alone, being neither in the Old nor the New.


**As for the order the gospels are placed I can see no other sequence other than chronological …..best guess.


==============================================================================================================

The Branch – Jesus Christ



The gospels were designed to show the four different aspects of Jesus Christ ministry ….as the prophets of old foretold them in regard to the BRANCH in the Old Testament.

Matthew - as King.

Mark - as Servant.

Luke – as Man.

John – as Son of God.


KING

One quality of the coming BRANCH prophesied by Jeremiah would be that of a King descended from David.

In order for Jesus to be the Messiah He would have to be a descendant of David inherit the right to the throne and come as King to Israel.

Jeremiah 23:5 & 33:15
23:5
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

Only in the book of Matthew do you find the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” and it’s used 32 times.

There are 10 parables unique to Matthew which relate to a King. Plus the royal genealogy chap 1, and the phrase son of David occurs more in Matthew than any other gospel.



SERVANT

As the promised BRANCH one of the aspects of Jesus Christ ministry would be the role of a Servant.

Zachariah 3:8
3:8
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

The gospel of Mark emphasizes Jesus as a Servant. There is no genealogy as a position gained by descendant. The word “lord” or “sir” Greek ( kurios) is used only 3 times of Jesus in Mark….. whereas it is used 73 times in the other three gospels.

There is a great emphasis in Mark on Jesus’s actions and responsibility in serving and helping others.



MAN

Another characteristic of the promised BRANCH is Jesus’s humanity …in other words, the Branch would be a man.

Zechariah 6:12
6:12
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:


Luke clearly emphasizes Jesus Christ as a man. Luke 3:23-38 is the genealogy tracing Jesus’ legal ancestry …through Joseph (who adopted him) back to Adam the first man.

There are 11 parables particular to Luke which emphasize the human aspect of his walk. The entire gospel emphasizes His relationship with common man, including publicans and sinners…..It shows Jesus to be a full of human tenderness and compassion as the perfect man.



SON OF GOD

Isaiah 4:2
4:2
In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Jesus Christ was the Branch …the offspring of the Lord God. The gospel which clearly depicts and emphasizes Jesus as the son of God is John as seen in the following verses.

John 1:14, 18 & 34 - 3:16 & 20:31

1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.


While every gospel encompasses all of these characteristics of Jesus Christ, each gospel specifically emphasizes one of them.
 
Jun 9, 2021
1,871
425
83
#36
With exception to the Book of Revelation, Papyrus Dating and Church Father accounts claim the Apostle John wrote his Gospel and I/II/III John when he was a very old man before his death in Ephesus. If this is true, then the Gospel of John and I/II/III John are not in Chronological order and Revelation was not the last Book written in 95 A.D.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,656
3,537
113
#37
I've been investigating this for quite awhile now and the only thing that's consistent is inconsistency. Opinions vary from minor differences to wildy different.

Is there any way to reach a more certain knowledge of the exact order?
There are two types of chronology:
1. In order in which the books were written according to date.
2. In order in which the books play out according to human history.

Which are you investigating?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,656
3,537
113
#38
I've been investigating this for quite awhile now and the only thing that's consistent is inconsistency. Opinions vary from minor differences to wildy different.

Is there any way to reach a more certain knowledge of the exact order?
The order in which the books are arranged is the exact order in which they play out in human history. For example, the book of James was written before Paul's epistles, but as human history plays out, the book of James belongs after Paul's epistles to the body of Christ.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,234
6,530
113
#40
About the rich, as a child growing up in Long Beach, Ca., I was very blessed to attend schools in the wealthiest public school system at that time in the US. LA harbor is actually in Long beach, lots of tax revenues. Signal Hil is a city within Long Beach plumb full of oil and oil wells. More revenue for Long Beach. Off-shore drilling was very active at that time. Terminal Island Naval Base ..more revenue.
The list goes on.
In those days sthe taxes for HEW, health, education and welfare hit their target squarely. Everyone was prospering, well everyone by my family
By the time I was in High School, we were doig much better family finance-wise, but still we were not wealthy by any means. No one noticed my state of mal-nutrition until that point when one day, on the way to High School I fell over from malnourishment.
Not to worry, cause it did not worry me none, nohow...
At school, Polytechinc HS, i paled around with jusst about everyone in myu classes. It took me some time to realize some of my school mates were from very wealthy families, but very. I had a good friend whose family would bry each member a new car each year, all had to be the same color, wow, was that a shock. The y had da lawsuit against them by the US Government, and they won, receiving a bank in the winnings.
One of my classmateses was picked up by the family limo and shauffer every day. She was very embarrasted at the whole thing.
My point is this, I had great sympathy for all of these people because at their age, they all had exstreme responsibility, which I never had to worry abou. I even felt sorry for Prince Charles in the newreels when I wa younger because I could see he had not real freedom
Folks, do not think for a spilt second that the wealthy people of this age have it easy. Yes, some more each day it seems, are just downright wicked, but do not fault all, for they are very dear folks. I know, and I love all of them, even them baddies.No one should think wealthy people never make it to heaven. The good Lord knows just who He has doing what, and when it is for Him, it is not wicked.