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WHY DO CATHOLICS...? ARCHIVE
The following question was answered as a part of our Why Do Catholics...? series. If you would like to submit a question for our Why Do Catholics...? series, email faithform@abecket.org or leave your question in the Faith Formation box in the Parish Office.

Why are there an Old Testament and a New Testament? Why are the chapters named after saints?

The Old Testament (testament a word that means covenant) is about God’s revelation to his people, Israel. The unfolding of God’s revelation of Godself in the Old Testament was a God who hungered for a personal and intimate relationship with humankind, made in his image and likeness. The Old Testament reveals several covenants, each of which is designed to deepen the relationship between God and humankind.

For us as Christians, the coming of Christ and his message of Good News is highlighted with God's New Covenant at the Last Supper. This covenant was sealed in Christ's blood —a giving of himself to humankind in the reality of Eucharist—to be with us for all time. The New Testament is the story of that Good News and how it was received and lived in the early church. It serves as a living word of God’s revelation to us.

Why are the books named after saints? Because the Four Gospels were attributed to be written or written under the school of the four evangelists named Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Some were thought to be apostles, possibly Matthew and John. Mark may have been John Mark, possibly an apostle or at least follower. Luke, a physician, was an early convert and missionary. Luke also wrote Acts of the Apostles as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. The letters or epistles that follow are named for their author or for the anonymous author who wrote in the name and spirit of the named epistle. The early church considered all believers saints. We don’t use that term today very often. This was before the formal process of canonization. All those named in scripture who lived their lives of saints have been recognized in the church as Saints so even without formal canonization, Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul were all considered Saints with capital S.

Laura Broyles, Adult Faith Formation Director
laura.broyles@abecket.org

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