The following is a brief overview of what I have learned while studying the New Testament history. Starting out with the meanings of Jesus' names and titles of Jesus. Next there was the building of the church and how every tiny detail in movement was significant. Followed by the importance of studying the Johannine literature, which has attracted me to study them more in-depth. Then ending it with Jesus as God the Father and God the Son, which may be overwhelming to retain, but as you grow in faith the picture becomes clearer.
From Genesis to Revelations He is referred to by countless aliases. Matthew points out Jesus identity as the Messiah (Matt 1:18). According to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary, the Messiah is defined as "anointed " (2012, p.73). Matthew was trying "to strengthen Jewish Christians in their suffering of persecution " (Grundy, 2012 p.189). Matthew tried to prove to his Jews audience that Jesus was the Messiah by pointing out all of the way Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. Mark emphasized Jesus' mighty deeds, authority of his teaching and predictive power to counter act the shame of his crucifixion to convert non-Christians in Rome (Grundy, 2012). However, he also presents Jesus as the Servant; "one that serves others " (Mark 10:45).
Luke showed how the Gospel is universal and Jesus broke down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles by highlighting Jesus' interaction with the Gentiles and the Social Outcasts (Grundy, 2012). He pointed out Jesus humanity by the Son of Man in order to appeal to his Gentile audience (Luke 19:10). "When Jesus is referred to as "the Son of Man, " this means He was one of us " (Bickel & Jantz, 1998p.220). The gospel of John is written to the Christians around Ephesus. John points out the significance of believing in Jesus for "deliverance from the power and effect of sin "; Salvation or Savior (John 4:42). Then, in the first chapter of John, he refers to Jesus as "the Word " (meaning the "good new " messenger of salvation) (Bickel & Jantz, 1998).
