New Testament theology is the study of the message and theology found in the New Testament writings. The New Testament contains 27 books written by nine different authors over the course of approximately 50 years. These books tell the story of Jesus Christ, the early Christian church, and the theological themes and doctrines that developed in the decades following Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
Some key aspects of New Testament theology include:
- Christology – Study of the nature, person, and work of Jesus Christ. Major themes include Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, sacrificial lamb, risen Lord, etc.
- Soteriology – Study of salvation. The New Testament teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
- Ecclesiology – Study of the Christian church. The NT discusses church leadership, ordinances (baptism & Lord’s Supper), unity, gifts, mission, etc.
- Eschatology – Study of end times and last things. There is teaching on Christ’s second coming, resurrection, final judgment, and the arrival of the kingdom of God.
- Pneumatology – Study of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowers believers for ministry and manifests gifts like prophecy, tongues, healing.
Some major themes spanning the New Testament include:
- Fulfillment of Old Testament promises and prophecies
- The kingdom of God
- Sin and the need for repentance
- Jesus as fulfiller of the Law
- Love, grace, and redemption through Christ
- New life and freedom in the Spirit
- Unity and equality in Christ
- Hope in Christ’s return and the resurrection
The Old Testament provides the background and context for the arrival of Jesus and the theological concepts expressed in the New Testament. However, the New Testament authors present Jesus as inaugurating a new covenant and bringing fuller revelation of God’s character and purposes (Hebrews 1:1-2).
There are several important methods and approaches in studying New Testament theology:
- Biblical theology – Tracing theological themes chronologically as they develop through the Bible.
- Systematic theology – Studying doctrine topically by category (Christology, soteriology, etc.).
- Historical theology – Understanding doctrines in their original historical context and development.
- Redaction criticism – Analyzing the particular themes and theology of a specific NT author.
- Narrative criticism – Examining the symbolic world and message communicated through biblical stories and events.
Sound study of New Testament theology requires attention to the cultural and literary context of the original writings, sensitivity to the different genres employed by the biblical authors, and awareness of how one’s own perspective shapes interpretation. Faithful interpretation also looks at individual passages in light of the overall biblical metanarrative.
There are several key sources and tools for studying New Testament theology:
- The Bible itself, especially in the original Greek language
- Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, and commentaries
- Works by scholars on NT theology or specific theological themes
- Bible software programs and online resources
- Knowledge of NT history, culture, and geography
Some important scholars of NT theology through history include F.C. Baur, Rudolf Bultmann, George Eldon Ladd, James D.G. Dunn, and N.T. Wright. Many seminaries also offer courses specifically focused on New Testament theology.
There are several distinct emphases between different NT authors:
- The Gospels focus on narrating the story and teachings of Jesus as the promised Messiah.
- Acts describes the growth of the early church under the Spirit’s direction.
- Paul’s letters concentrate on justification by faith, life in the Spirit, and unity in Christ.
- The General epistles (Hebrews through Jude) address key issues for early Christian living.
- Revelation depicts Christ’s ultimate victory and the consummation of God’s kingdom.
Yet together these writings proclaim the definitive revelation of God in Jesus Christ and the inauguration of a New Covenant in his life, death, resurrection, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church. The New Testament as a whole bears witness to God’s climactic saving work in human history through Jesus.
Studying New Testament theology equips Christians to better understand biblical teachings in their original context, trace key themes throughout Scripture, apply God’s truth relevantly, defend orthodox doctrine, and expound the Bible faithfully. It provides firm foundations for Christian theology rooted in the biblical canon.
As with any area of theology, there are risks of imbalance or misinterpretation. Dangers to avoid include:
- Proof-texting – Misusing isolated verses without concern for context.
- Ignoring historical development – Failing to see theological progression.
- Selectivity – Only focusing on favorite themes and ignoring others.
- Subjectivity – Eisegesis rather than exegesis; reading meaning into texts rather than drawing meaning from them.
- Extrabiblical influences – Allowing non-biblical philosophies and theories to determine interpretation.
Consulting the wider Christian tradition, reading Scripture communally, attention to genre, and awareness of one’s biases help correct such errors. Scripture itself remains the primary source and norm for doing biblical theology faithfully.
New Testament theology engages deeply with questions like:
- What is the central message of each New Testament book and author?
- How does the NT handle themes already present in the Old Testament?
- How did theological concepts progress and develop during NT times?
- What core teachings and doctrines unify the NT writings?
- How does NT theology shape and define the Christian faith?
- What was the original meaning and context of key NT passages?
- How do NT themes apply in today’s world and church context?
- How does NT theology compare with historical and contemporary theological perspectives?
Understanding New Testament theology equips Christians to more faithfully interpret Scripture, discern biblical truth, apply timeless principles, articulate core doctrines, spot heresy, preach and teach the gospel, and participate in theological dialogue. It provides critical foundations for Christian belief, spirituality, ethics, and ministry.
In summary, key points about New Testament theology include:
- It explores the unified theological message within the diverse NT writings.
- It focuses on the definitive revelation of God in Christ.
- It traces the historical development of doctrines like salvation, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology.
- It aims to understand the original context and meaning of NT teachings.
- Faithful interpretation requires awareness of genre, culture, authorship, and trajectory of biblical revelation.
- It equips Christians for doctrinal discernment, apologetics, church ministry, and theologizing.
- Scholars approach it through methods like biblical, systematic, historical, and narrative theology.
- It provides essential foundations for the Christian faith.
The New Testament contains the definitive, inspired witness to Jesus Christ and the beginnings of the Christian church. New Testament theology explores the message within these texts, helping equip believers for doctrinal fidelity, exegetical precision, gospel faithfulness, and wise application of God’s Word in the church today. It serves a vital role in the task of biblical theology and Christian ministry.
