What Is the New Testament About?

What Is the New Testament About? offers a concise introduction to the major themes that unite the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, helping readers understand its overarching message within the sweep of redemptive history.

Dr. R.C. Sproul guides readers through five key subjects—the kingdom of God, salvation, the church, mission, and the second coming of Christ—showing how each theme builds on Old Testament expectation and finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Part of the Crucial Questions series published by Ligonier Ministries, this booklet is designed for personal study, small-group discussion, or as an accessible entry point for those seeking to grasp the New Testament’s central concerns.

Sproul traces how the kingdom of God, long anticipated in Israel’s history, breaks into the world through Jesus’ ministry, miracles, and proclamation. He then explores what it means to be saved, how the church functions as the body of Christ, and what Scripture teaches about the mission entrusted to God’s people. The booklet concludes with the New Testament’s call to vigilance as believers await Christ’s promised return.

Key Themes

• The kingdom of God as the unifying theme of the New Testament
• The continuity between Old Testament expectation and New Testament fulfillment
• Salvation as a settled relationship with God through the work of Christ
• The church as an interdependent body marked by diversity and unity
• Christian vigilance and faithfulness in light of Christ’s promised return

Featured Quotes

“In Jesus’ self-consciousness, according to His own self-testimony, one of the principal reasons that He came to this planet in the first place was to proclaim the kingdom of God.”

“Vigilance is the call for the church.”