New Testament
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The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible. It consists of 27 books, all originally written in Koine Greek, the common language of the eastern Mediterranean during the Roman period. The writings focus on the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) as understood by Christians, as well as the origins of early Christian communities.
The New Testament is read within the Christian Bible alongside the Hebrew scriptures of Judaism, known as the Old Testament. The word "covenant" (axdi) refers to a binding agreement; in Christian understanding, Jesus brought a new covenant that replaced or fulfilled the previous one. Jews and other religions do not recognize the New Testament as sacred scripture.
Divisions of the books
The books are divided into four groups. First, the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which recount the life and sayings of Jesus. Second, the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the spread of the early Christian community. Third, the Letters (Epistles), including those attributed to Paul and others such as Peter, John, James and Jude. Fourth, the Book of Revelation, an apocalyptic text.
History of writing
Modern scholars generally estimate that the writings were composed in the first and early second centuries. Paul's letters are widely considered the earliest, while the Gospels are believed to have been written later. The exact dates remain disputed among scholars, based on linguistic and historical analysis.
Formation of the canon
The list of 27 books did not form immediately. In the early centuries, other writings circulated among Christian communities; some were later excluded. The current canonical list developed gradually through the fourth and fifth centuries, with church councils and leadership playing a role. The major Christian denominations—Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant—all agree on the 27 books of the New Testament, though they differ on the canon of the Old Testament.
Manuscripts and translation
No original manuscripts in the authors' hands survive; many copies exist, some varying from one another in minor details. The discipline of textual criticism attempts to recover the text closest to the original. The New Testament has been translated into numerous languages, including Somali.