The great majority of the NT books were penned between A.D. 50 and 100. The writers were apostles and associates and were men specially fitted and commissioned to convey to mankind the Word of God as revealed in the acts and teachings of the Lord Jesus.

We have a NT of 27 books in which we find 5 narrative books, 21 letters and a single book of quite a different character, aptly called the Apocalypse or Revelation; and in them we acknowledge the supreme and complete guide for Christian doctrine and faith.

FORMATION OF THE NT

A.        Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

1. Historical Book – Acts of Apostles
2. Pauline Epistles – 13
3. General Epistles – 8
4. Revelation of Apocalypse’ – 1

NT STATISTICS

Number of Books – 27

Verses – 7957

Middle book – II Thessalonians

Middle Verse – Acts 27;17

Longest Verse – Rev. 20:4

Longest Book – Luke

Chapter – 260

Words – 180,552

Middle Chapter – Romans 8 & 9

Smallest Book – 3 John

Longest Book – Luke 1

20 CONTRASTS OF THE OT & NT

                 OLD TESTAMENT —- NEW TESTAMENT

First Covenant – 2 Cor. 3:14 —- Second Covenant – 2 Cor3:6

Came by Moses – John 1:17 —- Came by Christ – Heb 8:6; 9: 15

Law of the Flesh – Rom 7:5-6 —- Law of the Spirit – Rom 8:2

A Shadow – Co12:14 -17 —- The Reality – Heb 10: 1-8

Powerless to Save – Heb 9:9 —– Saves to uttermost – Heb 7:25

Yearly atonement – Heb 10 : 3 —- Eternal Atonement – Heb 7:25

Animal Sacrifices’ – Heb 9 :12 —- Human Sacrifice – Heb 9:14 – 28

Sinful Mediator – Gal 3 :19 —- Sinless Mediator – I Tim 2:15

Abolishment predicted – Hos. 2:11 —- Establishment predicted – Heb 9:14-28

Daily Programme – Heb7:27 —— Finished Programme – Heb 10: 10-18

Exposes Sin – Gal 3: 19 —- Covered sin – 4:1-8

Many Priests – Heb7:23 —- One Priest – Heb 7:24 -28

No Personal access to God -Heb 9:7 —- Personal access to God – Heb 4 :14-16

Fault – Heb 8 :7 —- Perfect – James l :25

Remembers sins – Heb 10:3 —- Forget Sins – Heb 8 :12;10:17

Could not redeem – Heb 10:4 —- Redeems – Gal. 3:13

No Salvation – Heb 10:28 —- Complete Salvation – Heb8:12

Made at Sinai – Gal 4:24 —- Made at Calvary – Mat. 26:28

No Mercy – Heb 10:28 —- Complete Mercy – Heb 8: 12

For Israel only – Dt.4:7-8; Dt 5:3 —- For all Man -Mat 26:28; Jn3:16.

The provisions of OT are’ not enough for our salvation. Therefore God gave us His Son to open the way for us.          

Under the NT, God’s law is inside us, no longer external set of rules and obligations. ‘Holy Spirit reminds us Christ’s Word, activates our conscience, influences our motives and desires and makes us, want to obey God.

-gabriel ajibade