1. I believe that the Ketuvei Schliachim, Writings of the Emissaries, or the Apostolic Writings (the so-called New Testament) rightfully belong as part of the Kituvim. As a colleague of mine used to say, “There are only two pages of the Bible that are not inspired; one says ‘Old Testament’ and the other says ‘New Testament.’” [BACK]

2. In an apparent effort to flatter the king who commissioned the 1611 English translation of the Bible, the “translators” arbitrarily changed the name of Messiah’s half-brother from Ya'akov to “James” (which they rendered as “Jacob” in the “Old Testament”) so the monarch could see his name in the Scriptures. The question needs to be asked, can we trust the accuracy of a translation in which the “translators” (who were not at all proficient in the Hebrew language) were specifically instructed to consider the traditions of the apostate Church of England of greater priority than accuracy of translations, and who place political favor above textual accuracy? [BACK]

3. Although the traditional understanding is that Yeshua had a three-year or three-and-one-half-year ministry, I believe that it was only one year, “the favorable year of ADONAI” (Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:16-20). [BACK]

4. I have placed the Revelation to Yochanan as literally the sixth Gospel, as it presents Yeshua as the Coming Judge. Refer to “An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts.” [BACK]

5. According to Frank Viola in The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded) [BACK]

6. “Paul mentions this lost letter in 1 Corinthians 5:9. Note that some other letters (by Paul and John) also haven’t survived. For example, see Colossians 4:16 and 3 John 9. Bruce Longenecker, ed., The New Cambridge Companion to St. Paul, 6 and n. 8.” Viola, Frank. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church [Revised and Expanded] (p. 415). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition. [BACK]

7. 2Corinthians 2:4ff.; 7:8ff. This lost epistle is often called “the painful letter.” N.T. Wright, Paul: A Biography, 259. It’s also called “the tearful letter.” Bruce Malina, et al., Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul, 150; F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 274; Donald Guthrie, The Apostles, 208. Viola, Frank. Ibid. (p. 415) [BACK]

8. Date of writing is probably mid-to-late 50s or early 60s. [BACK]

9. Date of writing is based on the assumed dates of Paul’s Roman imprisonment, about 59-62 CE. [BACK]

10. Author unknown, perhaps Apollos. “Possibilities offered by scholars have been Apollos, Barnabas, Silas, Philip, and Priscilla. Amy Peeler, Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2024), 16-20; Craig Blomberg, et al., From Pentecost to Patmos, 602-603; Alan Mitchell, Hebrews, 2-6; F.F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 18-19. A reasonable case can be made that Apollos penned the letter. Ben Witherington III, The New Testament Story, 68; Raymond Brown, The Message of Hebrews, 15-16. An early tradition says Barnabas authored the epistle. Craig Keener, Acts, 3:2310. The idea that Paul wrote Hebrews was only championed in the West by Jerome and Augustine before it formed deep roots. David deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament, 695; Alan Mitchell, Hebrews, 2-3. The earliest advocate of Pauline authorship was Pantaenus of Alexandria (in the East) in the second century. Like Witherington, I favor Apollos as the most likely option. For specific arguments supporting this conclusion, see Ben Witherington III, Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, 3:21-24; Sigurd Grindheim, The Letter to the Hebrews, 6-17.” (Viola, Frank. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church [Revised and Expanded] (p. 570). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.) [BACK]

11. FF. Bruce, Paul, Apostle to the Heart Set Free, 443. [BACK]

12. 1 Pet. 5:12 [BACK]

13. “For the early dating, see Jonathan Bernier, Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament, 87-111; John A.T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament, 276; Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, 26-30. According to Craig Keener, most who accept John’s authorship date the Gospel and his three letters in the 90s. Personal correspondence with Craig Keener, 12/4/23. Other scholars have argued that a date much earlier than the reigns of Domitian and Trajan (A.D. 81-117) is “possible and even preferable.” N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, The New Testament in Its World, 661. For details on the debate regarding the dating of John, see Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction, 297-303; Mark Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, 402-404; Clinton Arnold, ed., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), vol. 2a.” (Viola, Frank. op. cit., p. 570. Destiny Image. Kindle Edition. [BACK]

14. Gerald Hawthorne, et al., eds., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 662; Samuel Ngewa, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, ABC (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan/HippoBooks, 2009), 3; Herbert Lockyer, ed., Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 227. 2 Timothy was “probably written around A.D. 67.” The NKJV Study Bible, 1832. Some scholars date the book earlier. For an overview of 2 Timothy, see Clinton Arnold, ed., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, 3:479-497; David deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament, chap. 19; N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, The New Testament in Its World, 23. Viola, Frank. Ibid. p. 570. [BACK]

15. Scholars disagree on the dating. It’s impossible to be confident about it. See Jonathan Bernier, Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament, 230-234. Witherington gives reasons to believe Jude had to be written before A.D. 70. Ben Witherington III, Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, 3:577. Others say it was written between A.D. 66 and 70. M.G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 398; Keith Brooks, Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament, Logos edition (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 88. Given the brand of false teaching Jude was combating in the letter and its parallels with 2 Peter, A.D. 68 is a reasonable estimate. Schreiner agrees that a date in the 60s is most likely. Thomas Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, NAC (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 276, 409. Some scholars believe the letter is contemporaneous with the letters of Paul or it was written at least before A.D. 80. David deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament, 767-769. Green, on the other hand, indicates the epistle may have been written before A.D. 65. Michael Green, 2 Peter and Jude, 56. Viola, Frank. Ibid. (p. 570) [BACK]

16. Scholars debate Peter’s authorship of the letter. Keener says the letter “is one of the most disputed letters in the New Testament.” Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 698-699. Some believe someone like Mark wrote down Peter’s concerns in the epistle. For the style of Asiatic Greek that marks the letter, see Ben Witherington III, Invitation to the New Testament, 382. For the problems associated with the authorship of 2 Peter, see I. Howard Marshall, et al., Exploring the New Testament, 2:329-332. Barton affirms its authenticity. Bruce Barton, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, 1995), 150. Other scholars confirm, saying, “no compelling arguments have been put forward against the authenticity of 2 Peter, and doubts that have arisen have reasonable explanations.” Gary Burge, et al., The New Testament in Antiquity, 406. Viola, Frank. Ibid. (p. 570). [BACK]

17. Those who hold to a later date for Revelation rely on traditions alleging John was exiled in A.D. 82 and released to return to Ephesus in A.D. 96. Thomas Schmidt, The Apostles After Acts, 141. The tradition that John was exiled to Patmos during the reign of Domitian is questionable. Patmos was a penal colony, not a military garrison. N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, The New Testament in Its World, 818. Viola, Frank. Ibid. (p. 570). [BACK]

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Bible Books Index (in order of the Hebrew Tanakh)

The Apostolic Writings in Chronological Order[5]

Bible Books Index
(in order of the Hebrew Tanakh)