The New Testament comprises which components?

• A. The Gospels, Acts, Pauline Epistles, and Revelation
• B. The Pentateuch
• C. The Writings and Prophets
• D. The Apocrypha

Answer: (B)

Think of the New Testament as a single collection that centers on Jesus and the early Christian church. It has four parts that together form its shape: the Gospels tell Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection; Acts shows how the church began and spread; the Epistles (letters) address believers and communities with instruction and theology; and the final book, Revelation, offers prophetic imagery about God’s final redemption and victory.

The other options pull in writings that belong to the Old Testament or are considered non-canonical in many traditions. The Pentateuch are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, not part of the New Testament. The Writings and Prophets are the other two major sections of the Hebrew Bible, again not a part of the New Testament. The Apocrypha consists of additional books found in some Christian canons but is not included in the New Testament itself.