New Testament literature and themes

New Testament

The book of Galatians in the Christian New Testament is a letter, probably written by Paul, to the people of Galatia, in what is now Turkey. In this epistle, Paul asserts his destiny as a servant of God: "Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father," (Galatians 1:1). Moreover, Paul states that God "set him apart from birth," (Galatians 1:15). Thus, one of the main themes and purposes of the book is to establish Paul's authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ and thus inspire credibility in his words. The content of Paul's epistle focuses on his repudiation of Jewish laws. According to Paul, Jewish laws are outmoded and unnecessary in light of the new Christian doctrine and way of life. This theme is especially strong throughout the second chapter of Galatians: "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified," (Galatians 2:16). Paul is partly responding to the potential for believers in Christ to cloud Christian doctrine with adherence to Jewish laws, which Paul believes could detract from the development of full faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Basically, Galatians is Paul's reaction against merging Jewish laws, rituals, and customs with Christian ones. Furthermore, Paul establishes some of the fundamental Christian doctrines in this letter. Galatians 5:14 contains one of the New Testament's most famous maxims: "The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." In addition to the doctrine of love, Paul sets forth the Christian eschewing of bodily desires and passions: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions; and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like," (Galatians 5:19-21). Sins prevent the Christian from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Another famous Bible quote is contained in Galatians 6:7, which reads, "A man reaps what he sows."

The book Philippians is another Pauline epistle. This letter is presented to the members of the Church in Philippi that Paul established. Paul writes these passages from prison, which the author asserts made him stronger and more determined to carry out God's plan: "what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel," (Philippians 1:12). His words are crafted to inspire faith in the people of Philippi, who Paul hopes will fully embrace the teachings of the Gospels. In Philippians 1:27, Paul states, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Therefore, one of the themes of Philippians is Christian unity and community. Additionally, Paul preaches loving kindness, humility, and trust in God in Chapter 2 of the book. Paul demonstrates his own faith and humility, further establishing himself as a Christian leader. For example, in Philippians 3:12 Paul admits that he has not attained the level of spiritual development that he hopes for and is far from perfect.

The New Testament book of James was supposedly penned by James the brother of Jesus, who had been established as an important Church leader. The book of James is concerned primarily with setting forth practical rules and guidelines of living a Christian life. Many Christian moral precepts are established through the writings of James. For example, James denounces greed among the wealthy classes: "The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty," (James 5:4). James therefore contains a theme of Christian communal lifestyle. Patience is clearly established as a Christian virtue: "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains," (James 5:7). James also asks his readers to pray regularly as part of the Christian lifestyle and to constantly cultivate faith: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective," (James 5:16). Moreover, good words and deeds are central concepts in the book of James. Finally, the letter's main theme is summed up in 2:26: "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." While Paul heavily emphasizes faith as the cornerstone of Christianity, James seems eager to combine action with faith.