Introduction
The New Testament is the second part of the Bible. It contains 27 books written in the first century, in Greek: four Gospels that tell the life of Jesus, the book of Acts, twenty-one letters and Revelation. Its central message is the new covenant that God offers through Jesus, who died and was raised.
If you want to discover who Jesus is and what Christians believe, the New Testament is the right place. It is much shorter than the Old Testament and reads like a series of stories, letters and visions. This page presents its books, its guiding thread and practical advice for approaching this reading without getting lost.
What Is the New Testament?
The New Testament is the collection of 27 Christian books written after the birth of Jesus, between about the years 50 and 100. They were composed in Greek, the common language of the time, by eyewitnesses or by their close collaborators.
The word testament means covenant, a commitment between God and human beings. The adjective new indicates that this commitment finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Christians do not reject the first covenant: they believe it is brought to its goal by the one it foretold.
From the earliest centuries, Christian communities recognized these writings as authoritative. Together with the Old Testament, they form the Christian Bible, whose two parts shed light on each other.
The Gospels and Acts: The Story of Jesus and His Disciples
The four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, tell the life of Jesus: his birth, his teaching, his healings, his death on a cross and his resurrection. Gospel means good news. Each author tells the story with his own sensitivity, which offers four complementary views of the same person.
The book of Acts continues Luke's account. It shows how a small group of disciples, strengthened by the Spirit of God, made Jesus known from Jerusalem all the way to Rome. It describes the first communities, their joys, their persecutions and their debates.
The Letters and Revelation: Living and Hoping
Twenty-one letters, also called epistles, follow Acts. Thirteen bear the name of Paul, a former opponent turned messenger of Jesus. The others come from Peter, John, James, Jude and an anonymous author. They answer concrete questions: how to live in community, how to forgive, how to get through trials?
The last book, Revelation, is written as visions full of images. Its name means revelation. It is not first of all a calendar of disasters, but a message of encouragement addressed to persecuted Christians: evil will not have the last word, and God will make all things new.
The Thread That Runs Through It: Jesus, Dead and Risen
Despite the variety of authors, one thread runs through these 27 books: Jesus, God come among human beings, died to forgive sins, and then was raised. The following verses trace this path, from the ancient promise to the final hope.
Jeremiah 31:31
"Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"
This Old Testament prophet announces a new covenant, centuries before Jesus. He shows that the New Testament does not come out of nowhere: it answers a promise. Read all of Jeremiah 31.
Luke 22:20
"Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
At his last meal with his disciples, Jesus speaks of the new covenant. He links what he is about to go through to Jeremiah's promise, which grounds the act that Christians still repeat. Read all of Luke 22.
John 1:14
"The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth."
John sums up the incarnation, the idea that God took on a human body. Jesus is not merely a wise teacher: he makes God known in person. Read all of John 1.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
This famous verse condenses the message: the initiative comes from God's love, and the expected response is trust. It is addressed to the whole world, without exception. Read all of John 3.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"
Paul passes on here the heart of the Christian proclamation: death, burial, resurrection. He specifies that these events correspond to what the Scriptures already said. Read all of 1 Corinthians 15.
John 20:31
"but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
The author explains why he wrote his book: to give reasons to believe. The New Testament reads as a testimony that invites an encounter, not as a simple manual. Read all of John 20.
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."
Before leaving his disciples, Jesus promises them power and sends them to the whole world. This verse sums up the plan of Acts and explains the rapid spread of the message. Read all of Acts 1.
Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."
The last book ends on a promise: a world without tears, without mourning and without death. It is the horizon toward which the whole New Testament looks. Read all of Revelation 21.
Where to Begin Reading the New Testament?
Start with the Gospel of Mark: it is the shortest and most direct, and you can read it in an hour or two. Continue with John, which explains simply who Jesus is, or with Luke if you enjoy detailed accounts.
Then read Acts, then a short letter such as Philippians or 1 John, before tackling denser texts such as Romans or Hebrews. Save Revelation for the end, once you have learned to recognize the images the Bible uses.
Read a few verses a day rather than long passages, and note what strikes you. If a word resists you, look up its meaning in a modern translation or an accessible commentary. The essential thing is to read simply and with honest questions.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books does the New Testament have?
It has 27 books: four Gospels, the book of Acts, twenty-one letters and Revelation. This number is the same in all the major Christian traditions, unlike the Old Testament, whose total varies from one Bible to another.
Who wrote the New Testament?
About ten authors, eyewitnesses of Jesus or people close to his witnesses, including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude. They wrote in the first century, in different places, and their texts agree on what is essential.
What is the difference between the Old and the New Testament?
The Old Testament tells of God's covenant with Israel and announces a savior. The New Testament tells of the coming of Jesus and the beginnings of the Church. Together they form one story, the second part fulfilling the first.
Should you read the New Testament before the Old?
You can start with the New Testament, which introduces Jesus directly. Many beginning readers prefer this order, then return to the Old Testament to understand its roots. There is no obligation: each person goes at their own pace.