Critical Introduction to the New Testament. Continuity and Application in Contemporary Life

Academic Paper from the year 2020 in the subject Theology - Biblical Theology, grade: 95, Nations University, course: Critical Introduction to the New Testament, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the application of the New Testament in contemporary life, with particular attention to how to distinguish the universal and limited or specific application of the texts, as well as to provide a solution that reiterates the meaning and the means of salvation. Christians often read the Bible a few verses or a single chapter at a time. As a result, they may overlook the context and draw unwarranted conclusions. The critic, on the other hand, looks for the inconsistencies that inevitably throws him on the track. In this paper, the problem of proving the continuity of the New Testament is approached in a way that ties it together by means of a theme or connectivity. Moreover, since the material is now two thousand years old, modern New Testament students are faced with the problem of application, especially how to understand the original intention behind the New Testament for current human history. However, Jews and Muslims, for their part, are challenged by the question of biblical authority, a problem that confuses many people but presents them with difficulties. In other words, the two overriding questions are what Christians mean by New and Old Testaments and the relationship between them. This problem is compounded by the fact that Jews do not accept the New Testament while Muslims accept both, in theory. However, the common Messianic theme of the two covenants ties them together, so that the evidence points to the meaning of New Testament continuity and integration.

Dr. Sixbert Sangwa is a Rwandan Christian minister, Academic, Kingdom Entrepreneur and Non-profit Practitioner. Sixbert has extensive experience in managing economic empowerment projects in the humanitarian and development arena, through national and international NGOs. He leveraged his strategic and business development skills to become a caring SME consultant and is known as the founder of various entrepreneurial initiatives. Today, Sixbert has remained instrumental to higher education in the fields of business, entrepreneurship and theology. He believes that the future of employment belongs to social entrepreneurship. However, he is concerned about the disconnect between faith and business, hence his continental mission to integrate faith and work. Sixbert's education is twofold. His first secular degree is in Rural Development and Agribusiness. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Arts in Online and Distance Education as well as a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Branding. His religious track yielded him a Bachelor of Divinity, a Master of Ministry, a Master of Theological Studies, a Doctor of Chritsian Business Administration and a PhD in Religious Studies. As his research interests rest on general business management, open education and Christian affairs on the one hand, he is also open to offering advisory support in the same areas.