How is the New Testament Organised? The New Testament has four parts. They are:
1. The Gospels
These are four books that record the life and teachings of Jesus as remembered by those who knew him. 2. The Acts of the Apostles
This book tells the story of how Christianity spread beyond Palestine.
3. The Epistles These include twenty-one letters written by leading Christians. They clarified important Christian teachings and helped settle disputes between Jesus’s followers.
4. The Book of Revelation
This book explores the struggle between good and evil. It predicts that, in the end, good will triumph over evil.
Searching for Sources Konstantin Tischendorf was an expert authenticator.
Tischendorf put his skills to good use as he travelled across the Middle East looking for ancient manuscripts of the New Testament.
REMEMBER! An authenticator can tell you whether a document is genuine or a fake.
REMEMBER! A manuscript is a handwritten document.
Finding the Codex Sinaiticus
The New Testament was written in the 1st century CE. However, Tischendorf discovered that all the original manuscripts had long since vanished. Some had faded due to normal wear and tear and had been discarded. Others had been destroyed during the persecution of the early Christians.
In February 1859, Tischendorf journeyed to Egypt. There he visited the Monastery of St Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai.
The Monastery of St Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai.
