BibleProject Podcast: How Did the New Testament Come to Be?

Release Date: June 2, 2025
Host: BibleProject Podcast
Description: The creators of BibleProject engage in in-depth conversations about the Bible and theology, complementing their video content available at bibleproject.com.

Introduction

In the final installment of their concise series on the formation of the Bible, the BibleProject Podcast delves into the origins and compilation of the New Testament. Building upon previous episodes that explored the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and Second Temple Jewish literature, hosts Grace and Rob navigate the intricate process through which the 27 books of the New Testament emerged and were canonized alongside the Old Testament.

The Centrality of Jesus in New Testament Literature

[00:05] Grace:
"This is our last episode in a quick tour of how the Bible was formed... Today we talk about the literature that was written after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the literature we call the New Testament."

Grace sets the stage by positioning the New Testament as post-Jesus literature that significantly differs from other Second Temple writings due to its focus on a central figure—Jesus of Nazareth.

[00:40] Rob:
"What made the New Testament literature stand out was who it was about."

All 27 books of the New Testament revolve around Jesus as the Messiah and the risen Lord, a unifying factor that distinguishes them from contemporaneous Jewish texts.

Jesus' Fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures

[01:05] Grace:
"Jesus believed that he was fulfilling the story of the Hebrew Bible."

[01:09] Rob:
"Jesus claimed that he was bringing the story and the meaning of what the Hebrew Scriptures are about to their fulfillment."

Jesus positions himself as the culmination of the Hebrew Bible, asserting continuity rather than discontinuity. He emphasizes that his mission is to "fill" the Torah and the prophets, not to abolish them.

[01:21] Grace:
"Jesus told his disciples to go and teach people all over the world to follow his teachings."

This commissioning underscores the expansion of his mission beyond the Jewish community, highlighting the universal scope of the Gospel.

Formation and Circulation of New Testament Texts

[01:43] Rob:
"The New Testament didn't come together by the independent circulation of each document on its own, but very similar to the Hebrew Bible."

Grace and Rob discuss how, akin to the Hebrew Bible's compilation, the New Testament texts were formed into sub-collections by friends and companions of the authors. This suggests a deliberate and communal process in canon formation.

[02:13] Grace:
"The New Testament is making a claim that in the person, the life, the teachings... the story of what the Hebrew Bible is about is coming to its fulfillment."

This linkage emphasizes that the New Testament was not an isolated development but intrinsically connected to the Hebrew Scriptures, providing a narrative completion through Jesus.

Key Figures in the New Testament Canonization

[07:28] Rob:
"This is why every time Jesus quotes from the Scriptures, he's not referring to anything in the New Testament."

The hosts clarify that Jesus and the apostles referenced the existing Hebrew Scriptures, as the New Testament had not yet been compiled.

[08:30] Grace:
"However, if you read the story of Jesus, what you note is that he claimed that he was bringing the story and the meaning of what the Hebrew Scriptures are about to their fulfillment."

Grace reiterates Jesus' role in fulfilling the Scriptures, setting the foundation for the New Testament's theological themes.

[10:35] Rob:
"The New Testament writings fit into a category of writings that was already there in the Jesus movement from the beginning."

This underscores the embeddedness of New Testament texts within the early Christian community's existing literary framework.

The Synoptic Gospels and Their Interrelations

[17:42] Rob:
"Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem to all come from the same source or the same series of traditions because they are more similar than they are different."

They explore the Synoptic Problem, highlighting the literary relationships between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, suggesting shared sources and collaborative traditions.

[23:02] Rob:
"This is an analogy to Isaiah and his crew and his crew that he calls the disciples."

By comparing New Testament authors to Old Testament prophets and their scribes, Rob emphasizes the communal and disciplined approach to biblical writing.

The Role of Gaius and Other Early Christian Leaders

[30:09] Grace:
"You're saying that this crew is responsible."

They introduce Gaius as a pivotal figure connecting the circles of the apostles, illustrating how key individuals played roles in both hosting apostles like Paul and stewarding John’s writings.

[35:04] Rob:
"That's right. Yep."

The discussion spotlights Gaius's dual involvement with both John and Paul, serving as a linchpin in the interconnectedness of early Christian communities.

Manuscript Practices: Nomina Sacra

[52:39] Grace:
"Now for something completely different. But this was also, as I prepped for this conversation, it was something that I knew about but hadn't looked into ever before."

Grace transitions to discussing the scribal conventions of early Christian manuscripts, particularly the use of nomina sacra.

[53:41] Rob:
"These are called the nomina sacra, which means the sacred names, a Latin term for it. But it's essentially a Christian manuscript convention."

Nomina sacra involved abbreviating frequently used sacred terms like God, Christ, Jesus, and Lord with a line over the letters, a practice unique to Christian scribes that reinforced theological concepts through writing.

[56:56] Grace:
"The abbreviation would have been that. What's it called? The letter Ki."

They delve into the specifics of how nomina sacra were formed, connecting linguistic practices to theological affirmations within early Christianity.

Symbolism and Confession of Faith

[56:13] Rob:
"This was the work of a New Testament scholar, Thomas Boquedal... His argument is that these abbreviations in the manuscripts... was a way of helping readers of the New Testament documents reinforce their basic confession of faith."

The hosts cite Thomas Boquedal’s research, emphasizing how manuscript abbreviations served as mnemonic devices for core Christian beliefs, thereby aiding in the dissemination and reinforcement of the faith.

[57:17] Grace:
"So this is why, like, I've heard lore, you know, why the Christian symbol of the fish with a cross in it, probably one of the earliest uses of a Christian icon or symbol."

They connect the use of nomina sacra to the development of Christian symbols like the Ichthys (fish), which encapsulates key theological declarations about Jesus.

Conclusion: The Organic Formation of the New Testament Canon

[60:35] Grace:
"And what it shows us is that the Christian Bible was both the product and the fuel of the missionary movement of spreading the good news about Jesus... Assuming these have been central to the Jesus movement from the very beginning."

In wrapping up, Grace and Rob reflect on the New Testament's formation as an organic, community-driven process that both shaped and was shaped by the early Christian missionary efforts. They highlight that the canon was never a top-down imposition but a collective affirmation of faith centered on Jesus.

[65:01] Grace:
"The most important thing that I hope those of you listening are hearing is simultaneously a firm conviction in the importance of the divine and human nature of Scripture and that we balance both of those convictions."

The podcast concludes by emphasizing the dual nature of Scripture as both divinely inspired and historically situated, culminating in the person of Jesus as the fulfillment of biblical narratives.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus as Fulfillment: The New Testament was intentionally composed to present Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures, bridging the Old and New Testaments in a cohesive theological narrative.

• Communal Canon Formation: Early Christian texts were formed into the New Testament through the collaborative efforts of apostles and their close companions, such as Gaius, Paul, Luke, and John.

• Synoptic Interrelations: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share sources and traditions, indicating a shared community and literary practices that shaped their content.

• Nomina Sacra as Theological Reinforcement: The use of sacred abbreviations in manuscripts served to reinforce core Christian beliefs and facilitated the spread of the faith through memorization and symbolic representation.

• Organic and Decentralized Canonization: Contrary to later narratives of top-down canon formation, the New Testament emerged from grassroots, community-driven efforts aligned with missionary activities.

Notable Quotes

• Grace at [00:05]:
  "This is our last episode in a quick tour of how the Bible was formed..."

• Rob at [00:40]:
  "What made the New Testament literature stand out was who it was about."

• Grace at [07:28]:
  "This is why every time Jesus quotes from the Scriptures, he's not referring to anything in the New Testament."

• Rob at [53:41]:
  "These are called the nomina sacra, which means the sacred names, a Latin term for it."

• Grace at [56:13]:
  "The abbreviation would have been that. What's it called? The letter Ki."

• Grace at [65:01]:
  "The most important thing that I hope those of you listening are hearing is simultaneously a firm conviction in the importance of the divine and human nature of Scripture and that we balance both of those convictions."

Looking Ahead

The hosts tease upcoming episodes, including a Q&A session to address listener questions and a new thematic study centered around the book of Exodus, specifically focusing on the concept of "redemption."

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the New Testament's origins, highlighting the intricate web of relationships and communal efforts that shaped the Christian canon. By intertwining historical scholarship with theological insights, Grace and Rob provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of how the New Testament emerged as a foundational scripture for Christianity.