Chapter 1

1. What are the major divisions of the New Testament? (You should memorize the names of the books of the New Testament in order and know which division each book belongs in.)
2. What other early Christian writings did not come to be included in the New Testament?
3. How did it come about that some of the early Christian writings were collected into the "New Testament?" What motivated Christians to create a "canon" of Scripture? Why were some of the early Christian books included in this canon, but others not? Who made these decisions? On what grounds? When?
4. What does it mean to speak about the "diversity" of the New Testament?
5. What is the difference between a "historical" and a "confessional" approach to the New Testament?
6. Why is it important to recognize the New Testament as a historical artifact?
7. How do the following terms relate to one another? Jewish Scriptures, Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Torah
8. How did early Christian scribes alter the New Testament manuscripts they copied? Do these changes make any difference in interpreting early Christian belief?