New Testament: Background, Acts and Epistles

What this unit covers

The unit follows the New Testament from its background to the letters. Some resources deal with the Gospels and Acts. Others take the Pauline epistles one at a time. You will find mind maps on Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philemon, 1 Timothy and 2 Corinthians. The Colossians map covers structure, background, big ideas and each chapter, and notes that the letter was written to the church in Colossae.

Where to start

Begin with the background. The mind maps on New Testament Religious Parties and Pauline Theology set the scene. The flashcard deck New Testament Exam 2 (Chapter 5, 6, 7 & 8) checks the Synoptic Gospels, and the Synoptic Gospels and Acts Week 8 Quiz looks at themes such as purity and the feeding stories.

Then move to the epistles in this order:

1. Read a mind map for one letter, such as 1 Thessalonians, which describes Thessalonica as a busy trading city on the Via Egnatia.
2. Test yourself on the matching flashcards, for example the deck of verses from Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.
3. Take a quiz on the same letter.

Using quizzes and maps together

Maps show how a letter is built. Quizzes show what you remember. The series of L2L Bible Bowl quizzes on 1 Corinthians works chapter by chapter. The 1 Cor 1 quiz asks who wrote the letter, and the 1 Cor 8 quiz asks about things offered to idols. Read the 1 Corinthians mind map first, then take the quiz for that chapter. Wrong answers tell you which part of the map to read again.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the Bible strand within Religion and theology. It is useful for school students whose courses, such as GCSE Religious Studies or A-level Religious Studies, are mentioned in some of the listed resources. It also suits university students and professional candidates working through survey courses and final exams.

Pick one letter, work through its map, deck and quiz, and then build your own set of notes to fill any gaps you find.