Richard G.

Pazcoguin UST IR

"And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.'" (Luke 22:20)

This is the new covenant in my blood During the Last Supper, Christ proclaimed the New Covenant. This agreement between humanity and God, unlike the old covenant, is everlasting, for it is engraved not on stone but in the hearts of men. While Jesus did not abolish the Old Covenant, he enhanced it and fulfilled it with a new one: the covenant that is sealed by his blood. The shedding of his blood, once and for all, reconciled sinful humanity with GOD.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the Central Event of the New Testament. The teachings of the Christian Scriptures are all in the light of the truth that Christ rose from the dead:
Through the Resurrection of Christ, God gives us an assurance that the effects of sin had been conquered. Since Christ is risen, then he is present in our midst. The resurrection of Jesus gives us a sense of hope that after all our struggles in life, there is vindication in the end. The resurrection of Jesus is a pledge of future glory for us all.

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of promises, prefigurations , and prophecies in the Old Testament. He is Israels awaited MESSIAH that the prophets spoke about.

The New Testament, therefore, can only be understood in the light of the Old.
The New Testament was hidden in the Old while the Old is unveiled in the New. St. Augustine

The Early Church was a Preaching Church rather than a Writing Church. The life and teachings of Jesus was preserved through the preaching of the Apostles. Writing was not so much of the concern because during those days, the Christians thought the Second Coming of Christ was imminent, therefore written doctrines were not necessary. Realizing that Christ wasnt coming back in their lifetime, the Early Christians wrote their oral tradition so that it can be handed over to the next generation.

preach

51 P A U L

63 preaches Writes his letters

Jesus lives at Nazareth as a Good Jew practicing the spirituality of the Pharisees

celebrate

teach

Council 50

The Disciples reread the life of Jesus on the basis of their life, in the light of the resurrection

Official Judaism rejects the Christians

First Stage: JESUS OF NAZARETH

Born during the reign of Herod around 6BC Lived in Nazareth, educated by the Pharisees Baptized by John c.27-28, proclaimed the Kingdom of God Condemned by Religious Authorities and Crucified by the Romans almost certainly on April 7,30.

Second Stage: THE COMMUNITIES

c 30-70 AD The disciples proclaimed the risen Christ first to the Jews then to the Gentiles The disciples celebrated the Risen Lord, in the Liturgy, above all in the Eucharist The disciples taught the newly baptized, and in order to do so recalled the actions and words of Jesus. c 36AD Paul was converted and preached in Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. c 50AD Council of Jerusalem, Jewish law need not apply to the Gentiles c 51-63AD Paul preached and wrote his letters. Christians were excommunicated from Judaism. 70 Romans destroyed Jerusalem

MARK

at Rome? about 70?

JOHN

in Asia Minor? about 95-100?

LUKE

At Antioch? About 80 90?

MATTHEW

in Syria Palestine? About 80 90?

At Jabneh (Jamnia) Judaism has a new beginning

Third Stage: REDACTION (EDITING) OF THE WRITINGS

Mark c. 70; contains the preaching of Peter in Rome Luke c. 80-90 Antioch; wrote a Gospel, and a second volume- The Acts of the Apostles Matthew c. 80-90; written for Jewish Converts John c. 95-100; profound meditation on Jesus as the Word of God The Book of Revelation was written depicting Jesus as the goal of history The Catholic Epistles were written during this period

THE GOSPELS THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES THE PAULINE LETTERS THE CATHOLIC EPISTLES THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The Gospels , though they are attributed to the four evangelists, were a product of the collaborative work of the early Christians who compiled their faith accounts, particularly those regarding their experiences of the RISEN LORD and the message of salvation which Jesus proclaimed through His words and actions.

The Acts of the Apostles was written also by St. Luke. This book describes the life of the early church- from its birth in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost to its flourishing to different parts of the known world through the missionary journeys of the Apostles, particularly St. Paul, of whom St. Luke was a disciple.

The Pauline Epistles are writings attributed to St. Paul. Some of these writings were not really written by him but by Christians who used St. Pauls teachings as their source. These letters contains teachings, instruction, exhortations, and admonitions that are addressed to particular persons or Christian Communities.

GENUINE WRITINGS OF PAUL:

1 Thessalonians
Galatians Philippians 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Romans Philemon

DOUBTFULLY GENUINE WRITINGS OF PAUL: 2 Thessalonians Colossians Ephesians

NOT WRITTEN BY PAUL: Titus

1Timothy
2 Timothy Hebrews

CATHOLIC means UNIVERSAL. The contents of these letters are more or less similar in nature to the Pauline epistles. The difference is that these letters are addressed to all Christians, unlike the Pauline letters which are addressed to particular communities.

The Book of Revelation is attributed to St. John (though many scholars contest that this John is not John the apostle). This book is also called Apocalypse since it is a visionary book containing a lot of mystical revelations.

The Old Covenant was written on stone tablets. Its service brought death and condemnation. The covenant made with Moses had come to an end.

The New Covenant is engraved in our hearts. Its service leads to life and frees one from being condemned. The Covenant in Jesus is to last forever.

"'Behold, days are coming' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,' declares the Lord. 'But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' declares the Lord, 'I will put my law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, "know the Lord," for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' declares the Lord, 'for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.'" Jeremiah 31:31-34

Theo Aerts and Bernard Hurault THE CATHOLIC BIBLE Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 2001 Fr. Ian Knox, C.S.Sp THEOLOGY FOR TEACHERS Ottawa: Novalis Press, 1994

Fr. Etienne Charpentier HOW TO READ THE NEW TESTAMENT Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 1997 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH