Last Name

(Your Name) CPO ???

New Testament Survey, (Your Section)
Dr. Marty
2-19-08

Reading Report #1 – Part 1 - Chapter Titles

I have read and/or listened to ALL of the assigned reading (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John) in BOTH the ‘translation of your choice’ and the ‘translation of your choice’.

Matthew
Chapter 1 - A chapter title between 4 and 8 words
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
etc…

Mark

Luke

John
 2

(Your Name) CPO ???

New Testament Survey, (Your Section)
Dr. Marty
2-19-08

Reading Report #1 – Part 2 - Summary

The Period of Preparation (Intertestamental Period)

The Period of Expectation - The Life of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Intertestamental Period
The period between the Testaments covers approximately 400 years from Malachi
to birth of Jesus Christ (430 B.C. to 5 B.C.). When John the Baptist came as a “voice
crying in the wilderness,” he broke four hundred years of prophetic silence. Though God,
however, had not spoken through a prophet since Malachi, he had been at work through
history. The Intertestamental Period provides essential background for understanding the
life of Christ and the beginning of Christianity.
The Intertestamental Period can be subdivided into four periods
Persian (539-331 B.C.)
Greek (331-143 B.C.)
Jewish (Hashomean) (143-63 B.C.)
Roman 963 B.C.-5 B.C.)

Persian Period
Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C. In contrast to most ancient despots,
Cyrus was both humane and wise. He issued a degree that reversed the policy of the
Babylonians. He permitted the Jews, who were in exile, to return to Judah. Isaiah refers
to Cyrus as “the Lord’s anointed” (Isa. 45:1).
Zerubbabel organized the first group of returnees, and led about 50,000
courageous and nationalists Jews on a thousand mile journey from Babylonia to Judah.
Once in the land, they dedicated themselves to the difficult task of rebuilding their
devastated country and the temple.
Etc.

Greek Period
You get the jist…
Hasmonean Period
Same deal
Roman Period
And again…

Background of the 4 Gospels

Matthew
Good things to include might be:
Author:
Date:
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Place of Writing:
Audience:
Arrangement and Theme:
Purpose:
Brief summary of content:
The author of the first gospel was a tax collector before Jesus called him an IRS
agent of heaven. One of the things that Matthew did was throw a huge party for his
friends and co-workers. Jesus was the honored guest. Etc.
Matthew can be divided into five main sections, plus and introduction and
conclusion.
In the first section, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus came in fulfillment of
prophecy. He begins with a genealogy tracing Jesus’ ancestry to David and Abraham.
Jesus is qualified to be Israel’s Messiah because he is descendant of David, but he is also
the Savior of the world, fulfilling the universal promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Etc.

Mark

Luke

John

Survey of the Life of Christ

According to a world renown scholar, the life of Christ can be summarized in ten
thematic periods. They are—

Birth and Childhood

Both Matthew and Luke give Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah King of Israel and
the Savior of the world. Mathew gives Jesus’ royal genealogy tracing his ancestry to
David and Abraham. Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry to Adam identifying Jesus as the Savior
of the world. Exactly as Micah had prophesied, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1
and Matthew 2:1). Etc.

Preparation
Baptism… Temptation… Etc
Early Galilean
Write stuff here…
Early Judean
Write stuff here…
Samaritan
Write stuff here…
Great Galilean
This should be a big section, hence the word “Great”…
Later Judean
Write stuff here…
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Perean
Write stuff here…
Passion
Write stuff here…
Resurrection and Ascension
Write stuff here…
5 Eternal Truths

(for example) Luke 10:41-42 Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and
upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.
This circumstance takes place when Martha is getting frustrated at her sister Mary for not
doing any housework while Jesus is there. Martha is rushing around trying to accomplish
all the preparations and was distracted by them. Mary knew what was of greater value.
She was spending time with Jesus and not getting choked by all the worries of worldly
life. This still holds true for today. We need to focus on Jesus and listen to His Word
without getting distracted in the busyness of life. I’ll sometimes get so caught up in
“doing” ministry that I’ll forget to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what He has to tell
me.

4 more eternal truths…

(you may write an eternal truth from the intertestamental period such as “God is
sovereign, and He controls history to accomplish His plans and purposes” but if you just
want to use the gospels, that is fine)
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Works Cited

Elwell, Walter and Robert Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Books, 1998.

Marty, William H. Surveying the New Testament. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt

Publishing Company, 2005.

NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002.