The first three Gospels are called synoptic because they are parallel accounts of the life of Christ. John describes many events not mentioned in the other three Gospels.
Matthew – by the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector, emphasizes Jesus as promised King of Kings: (1-2) birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, His royal lineage through Joseph, flight into Egypt; (3-18) great Galilean ministry and ministry of withdrawals; (19-20) Perean ministry; (21-28) last days, death, resurrection and appearances of Jesus, and commissioning of the Lord’s church.
Mark – by John Mark, Peter’s helper; emphasizes Jesus as the Servant of God and His deeds of service: (1-9) great Galilean ministry, ministry of withdrawals; (10) Perean ministry; (11-16) last days, death, resurrection of Jesus.
Luke – by Luke, Paul’s physician/helper; emphasizes Jesus as perfect Man without sin: (1-2) birth of Jesus, human lineage through Mary; (3-9) great Galilean ministry, ministry of withdrawals; (10-19) Perean ministry; (20-24) last days, death, resurrection and appearances of Jesus.
John – by the apostle John, emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God, a person of the Godhead revealed in the flesh of humanity; almost half of John concerns the last days of Christ before the crucifixion: (1-5) Judean ministry; (6) withdrawal across the Sea of Galilee; (7-11) Perean ministry; (12-21) the last days, death, resurrection and appearances of Jesus.
Acts – acts of the Holy Spirit during 33 years from Christ’s ascension to Paul’s 1 st Roman imprisonment; written by Luke, physician/helper of Paul: (1-12) empowering of the church, ministries of Peter and others; (13-28) life of Paul and his 3 missionary journeys. Paul’s epistles written as follows (cf., Acts 13-28): (1) 2nd missionary journey – I, II Thessaloniansfrom Corinth; (2) 3rd missionary journey – I Corinthians from Ephesus, II Corinthians from Macedonia, Galatians and Romans from Corinth; (3) 1st Roman captivity – Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Hebrews; (4) freedom – I Timothy in Macedonia and Titus in Ephesus; (5) 2nd Roman captivity – II Timothy and death.
Romans – to the church at Rome, summarizes gospel and major Biblical doctrines: (1-8) doctrinal summary emphasizing justification by faith; (9-11) promises to Israel, God’s chosen people; (12-16) practical applications.
I Corinthians – to correct errors in the church at Corinth: (1-4) improper divisions, (5) church discipline, (6) civil law and purity, (7) marriage, (8-11) Christian liberty, (12-14) spiritual gifts, (15) the resurrection, (16) help for needy saints and encouragement for all.
II Corinthians – to the church at Corinth: (1-7) the true gospel ministry and principles for action, (8-9) giving to help others in need, (10-13) Paul’s apostolic authority.
Galatians – to churches of Galatia; emphasizes salvation by God’s grace rather than by man’s obedience to the law, opposes Judaizers similar to Seventh Day Adventists: (1-2) Paul’s apostolic authority, (3-4) justification by faith, (5-6) instructions for practical living.
Ephesians – to the church at Ephesus emphasizing need to serve Christ through union with one of the Lord’s churches: (1-3) God’s sovereignty and believer’s security in Christ; (4-5) believer’s faithfulness and service in the body of Christ, His church; (6) Christian family and believer’s warfare.
Philippians – to the faithful Philippi church: (1) joy triumphing over suffering, (2) joy in sacrificial service to Christ, (3) joy of faith in Christ, (4) joy in the peace of God.
Colossians – to the church at Colosse stressing deity and humanity of Christ, and opposing Gnosticism (false mysticism): (1) exaltation of Christ, (2) warning against error, (3) new life in Christ, (4) fellowship in Christ.
I Thessalonians – to the church at Thessalonica concerning: (1-3) activities in the church, (4-5) the Christian life in view of the imminent return of Christ.
II Thessalonians – to the church at Thessalonica, instructions concerning: (1) persecutions, (2) the coming of Christ, (3) encouragements to serve until Christ returns.
I Timothy – 1st of 3 Pastoral Epistles, to Timothy, pastor of church at Ephesus: (1) warns against false teachers, (2-6) instructs in doctrine and church government.
II Timothy – 2nd of the 3 Pastoral Epistles, to Timothy, pastor of church at Ephesus: (1) describes the true minister of Christ, (2) encourages to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, (3-4) warns of apostasy in last days and encourages use of God’s Word to correct all error.
Titus – 3rd of the 3 Pastoral Epistles, to Titus, pastor of church at Crete, emphasizes: (1) qualifications of elders, warning against false teachers; (2-3) instructions for church members, sound doctrine as guide for godly life.
Philemon – to Philemon, wealthy Christian at Colosse; Paul intercedes for Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a Christian and helped Paul; encourages leaders and servants to treat each other with love.
Hebrews – probably written by Paul to answer questions of Jewish Christians and all who study the Old Testament: (1-4) glory of Christ better than Old Testament types and examples, (5-10) glory of the priesthood of Christ as the Son of God, (11-13) the worship and walk of the faithful.
James – probably written by the half-brother of Jesus; emphasizes that true faith produces works of righteousness: (1-2) faith tested, (3) difficulty controlling the tongue, (4) warnings against worldliness, (5) warnings to the rich and the encouragement of Christ’s return.
I Peter – by the apostle; warns and comforts suffering Christians attacked by non-Christians: (1) joy even in suffering, (2-3) holiness in suffering, (4) new life in Christ.
II Peter – by the apostle; warns Christians about false teachers already among them: (1) Christian virtue and the Scriptures; (2) warnings concerning false teachers; (3) warnings against scoffers who deny the creation, the world-wide flood of Noah, and the coming of Christ.
I John – by the apostle; opposes Gnosticism, spirit-mysticism similar to today’s Christian-Science who deny physical reality, and emphasizes: (1) reality of the deity and humanity of Christ, fellowship, and forgiveness; (2-3) abiding light and love in Christ, our Advocate with God; (4) false teachers, Christian love for the brethren; (5) faith victorious that overcomes the world.
II John – by the apostle; warns against compromise with error, encourages to guard truth with love.
III John – by the apostle; warns against church bosses like Diotrephes who refuse fellowship with servants of God.
Jude – probably written by half-brother of Jesus; warns against false doctrine, and encourages Christians to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Revelation – by the apostle John, reveals: (1) the vision of the glorious Christ, (2-3) letters of instruction to seven churches, (4-22) future events yet to be fulfilled ending in the Great White Throne Judgment of the unsaved and the eternal state of the redeemed in Christ.