New Testament Chapter Titles

New Testament Chapter Title

Tod Kennedy

Revised July 15, 2002

Chapter titles for the Bible books become keys or identification tags for each chapter, and by remembering the key or the tag, we are able to recall the themes, doctrines, people, and events that the key or tag unlocks. Learning chapter titles is a method to think through a book. If we will read through a book of the Bible and relate the contents of each chapter to a title for that chapter, we can better understand the entire book. Furthermore, learning chapter titles helps us to remember where certain topics are in the Bible.

Matthew’s Gospel

Section 1, Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, 1-11

  1. Genealogy of Christ
  2. Infant; Child; and Herod
  3. John the Baptist and Jesus
  4. Temptation and Proclamation
  5. Sermon on the Mount: blessed; the Law; anger; reconciliation; adultery; divorce; vows; revenge; love
  6. Sermon on the Mount: alms; prayer; fasting; money; worry
  7. Sermon on the Mount: judging others; sense; prayer; treat others; narrow gate; wise and foolish
  8. Miracles: leper; paralytic; fever; wind and sea; demons
  9. Miracles: paralytic; publican; dead daughter; disease; demons
  10. Disciples are taught and sent
  11. John in Prison; my yoke

Section 2, Opposition and Rejection Builds, 12-15

  1. Pharisees criticize; Jonah sign
  2. Kingdom of Heaven parables
  3. Loaves; Fish; Walk on Water
  4. Wash hands

Section 3, Preparation of the Disciples, 16-20

  1. Leaven; Keys; On to Jerusalem
  2. Transfiguration
  3. Children; Forgiveness
  4. Divorce; Rich Man
  5. Landowner; Jesus nears Jerusalem

Section 4, Opposition and Rejection Climax, 21-25

  1. Jesus enters Jerusalem
  2. Wedding Feast; Pharisees and scribes silenced
  3. Woe to Scribes, Pharisees, and Jerusalem
  4. Sign of Jesus’ coming; sign of the end
  5. Christ return; Judges nations

Section 5, Cross, 26-27

  1. Supper; Arrest; Trials
  2. Trials; Cross

Section 6, Resurrection, Commission, 28

  1. Resurrection; Commission

Mark’s Gospel

1. Jesus’ Public Ministry, 1-13

  1. Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and early ministry
  2. Jesus heals and forgives the paralyzed man; Levi
  3. Jesus’ authority over illness and demons; calls his disciples
  4. Sower and mustard seed; Jesus’ power over the storm
  5. Jesus’ authority over swine demons, illness, and death
  6. Jesus sends his disciples in pairs; Herod flashback; feeds 5000
  7. Pharisees’ traditions over scripture; the Syrophoenician; the deaf mute
  8. Jesus feeds the 4000; Peter said “You are the Christ”
  9. The transfiguration; Jesus predicts his death and resurrection
  10. Divorce; children; “with men salvation is impossible”
  11. Jesus enters Jerusalem and curses the fig tree
  12. Vinyard; taxes; resurrection; the main commandment; Son of David; pride; and giving
  13. Events around Jesus’ return to earth

2. Jesus’ Private Ministry, Arrest, Death, and Resurrection, 14-16

  1. Last Passover meal; arrest; illegal trials; and Peter’s failure
  2. Pilate interrogates Jesus; the Jews crucify him
  3. Jesus rose from the dead

Luke’s Gospel

1. Jesus Christ is Born, 1-2

  1. Angels announce two births; John is born; Zacharias prophecies
  2. Jesus’ birth, dedication, and first 12 years

2. Jesus’ Early Ministry, 3-6

  1. John baptizes Jesus; Jesus’ geneology
  2. Jesus temptation; power of the Holy Spirit; and Jesus’ public ministry
  3. Catching men; healing sick; Levi
  4. Jesus calls the twelve, then taught the Sermon

3. Doctrine, Miracles, Opposition, 7-19

  1. The centurion’s faith; John’s question; perfume.
  2. The sower; storm and faith; demons and swine; Jairus’ daughter
  3. Jesus sends the twelve; feeds 5000; transfiguration; demons; disciples
  4. Jesus sends the seventy; the good Samaritan; Martha
  5. The Lord’s prayer; kingdom divided; Jonah.
  6. Leaven of Pharisees; sparrows; grain barns; ready stewards
  7. Repent or judgment; the kingdom of God
  8. Sabbath trap; self-promotion; hospitality; my disciples
  9. One hundred sheep; ten coins; and two sons
  10. The fired steward; the Pharisees; and Lazarus
  11. Stumbling blocks; ten lepers; days of Noah
  12. Persistent prayer; two men; children; young ruler; Jesus predicts his death
  13. Zaccheus; the nobleman; Jesus enters Jerusalem

4. Opposition Hardens, 20-21

  1. Religious leaders challenge Jesus’ authority; vine growers; Caesar; resurrection; David
  2. Jesus predicts persecution; Jerusalem’s destruction; tribulation; second coming; fig tree

5. Death, Resurrection, Ascension, 22-24

  1. Lord’s Passover; arrest; Peter; trials
  2. Crucifixion after more trials; burial
  3. Resurrection; Jesus in the Old Testament; ascension

John’s Gospel

Section 1, Public Ministry, 1-12

  1. Living Word
  2. Cana Wedding
  3. Nicodemus
  4. Samaritan Woman
  5. Lame Man Healed
  6. Bread of Life
  7. Tabernacles
  8. Abraham’s Descendants
  9. Blind Man Healed
  10. Sheepfold-Shepherd
  11. Lazarus
  12. Enters Jerusalem

Section 2, Private Ministry, 13-17

  1. Footwashing
  2. Way, Truth, Life
  3. Vine-Branches
  4. Christ to Depart
  5. Lord’s Prayer

Section 3, Cross, 18-19

  1. Arrest-Trials
  2. Death for Sins

Section 4, Resurrection, 20-21

  1. Resurrection
  2. Sea of Tiberius

Acts Chapter Titles

Section 1, Church begins, 1-2

  1. Christ ascends, disciples wait
  2. Pentecost

Section 2, Church scatters and adjusts, 3-12

  1. Not gold, but health
  2. Peter and John on trial
  3. Apostles must obey God
  4. Seven table-servers
  5. Stephen goes in glory
  6. Saul’s inquisition, Philip’s ministry
  7. Saul’s salvation
  8. Cornelius and Peter
  9. Peter’s Gentile report
  10. James killed; Peter freed

Section 3, Paul travels, witnesses, and teaches, 13-21

  1. First trip: Pisidian Antioch
  2. First trip: Paul stoned
  3. Jerusalem council
  4. Second trip: Philippi
  5. Second trip: Thessalonica, Berea, Athens
  6. Second trip: Corinth
  7. Third trip: Ephesus
  8. Third trip: Miletus
  9. Third trip: Jerusalem arrest

Section 4, Paul arrested, yet still serving, 22-28

  1. Paul’s first defense
  2. Jerusalem conspiracy
  3. Caesarea prison: Felix
  4. Caesarea prison: Festus
  5. Caesarea prison: Agrippa
  6. Shipwreck, Malta, and Rome
  7. Two year house arrest

Romans

Section 1 , God’s Righteousness And Man’s Unrighteousness, 1-3

  1. Positive and negative volition at work
  2. Judging others is being self righteous
  3. All people are sinful

Section 2, God Gives His Righteousness Through Faith, 4-5

  1. Righteousness through faith
  2. Justification gives benefits

Section 3, Living The Christian Way Of Life Is Possible, 6-8

  1. Union with Christ makes the Christian way of life possible
  2. The Old Sin Nature inside
  3. The Holy Spirit inside

Section 4, God’s Plan for Israel, Romans 9-11

  1. Mercy through believed promise
  2. Israel needs faith righteousness
  3. Always a grace remnant

Section 5, Day To Day Christian Living, Romans 12-16

  1. A new kind of priesthood
  2. Authority orientation and the Christian way of life
  3. Give freedom instead of judgments and obstacles
  4. Onward and upward
  5. Personal notes and greetings

1 Corinthians

Section 1, Foundations for Church Life, 1-2

  1. Sanctified in Christ; foolishness and wisdom of the cross
  2. God revealed and now teaches through the Holy Spirit

Section 2, Carnality in Church Life, 3-11

    1. Carnality, production, and God’s temple
    2. Faithful stewards; the church needs them
    3. Separation from believers characterized by consistent and well known sin
    4. Lawsuits; sin patterns; and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
    5. Sex, marriage, and the status quo.
    6. Knowledge and love; sacrificial food and the weak believer; the law of liberty and the law of love
    7. God’s communicator should be well paid, but the ministry, not money, must motivate him
    8. Israel an example; idols and demons; the law of liberty and the law of profitability
    9. Headship and authority; order; the Lord’s table in church assembly

Section 3, Edification in Church Life, 12-14

  1. Spiritual gifts, service, and the church
  2. Love that God produces
  3. Communication gifts are to edify the church

Section 4, Resurrection, Victory for the Church, 15-16

  1. Christ’s resurrection ensured the believer’s resurrection
  2. Orderly giving; ministry instructions; and greetings

2 Corinthians

Section 1, Paul wants to remove misunderstanding, 1-2

  1. Comfort during suffering.
  2. Forgive, comfort, and reaffirm you love.

Section 2, Paul describes the apostolic ministry, 3-7

  1. The Holy Spirit’s New Covenant ministry
  2. Clay jars hold God’s glory
  3. Live by faith because we are reconciled
  4. Servants of God; unequal relationships
  5. God refreshes us during spiritual battle fatigue

Section 3, Grace Giving is God’s kind of giving8-9

  1. Grace giving of ourselves, then our wealth
  2. God multiplies our grace gifts

Section 5, Paul the apostle wants to build up the Corinthians, 10-13\

  1. Spiritual warfare requires God’s weapons and God’s authority
  2. Beware of spiritual of counterfeits
  3. Thorns in the flesh bring grace support
  4. Christian life checkup

Galatians

  1. One grace gospel
  2. Challenges to grace
  3. Abraham’s faith, not law’s works
  4. Sons and heirs, not slaves
  5. Grace, through the Spirit, by faith
  6. The spiritual believer’s opportunities

Ephesians

  1. Blessings in Christ
  2. By grace through faith
  3. The mystery of Christ
  4. Equipping the saint
  5. Imitate God
  6. Spiritual warfare

Philippians

  1. Paul exploits pressure.
  2. Live out your own salvation life.
  3. Pursue knowing Christ.
  4. Stability, joy, and contentment.

Colossians

    1. Christian growth; Christology; Paul’s stewardship
    2. Live in Christ, not religion
    3. In Christ attitude and challenges
    4. Prayer; witness; and fellow workers

1 Thessalonians

  1. God’s message taught God’s way gave God’s results
  2. Paul and his team chose to please God, not to please men
  3. The Thessalonians’ spiritual growth encouraged Paul
  4. Reminder to apply doctrine daily
  5. The day of the Lord; authority orientation; and other commands

2 Thessalonians

  1. Spiritual growth and undeserved suffering
  2. The day of the Lord and the lawless man
  3. The undisciplined believer

1 Timothy

    1. Instruct men in Bible doctrine
    2. Pray for leaders; godly women
    3. Overseers and deacons
    4. Warn against demon doctrine
    5. To the elderly, widows, and elders
    6. Sound doctrine and godliness

2 Timothy

      1. Kindle afresh your ministry
      2. Entrust, remind, and charge faithful men
      3. Last days have difficult times
      4. Preach the word; fulfill your ministry

Titus

  1. Organize the churches on Crete
  2. Teach sound doctrine: speak; exhort; reprove
  3. Authority; good deeds; foolish controversies

Philemon

  1. Paul appeals for Onesimus

Hebrews

Section 1, Christ the Son, 1-4

  1. The Father speaks through the Son
  2. The Father honors the Son
  3. Christ, the Faithful Son.
  4. Faith in the Son produces rest

Section 2, Christ the High Pries t5-10

  1. Jesus Christ is our high priest
  2. Trust Christ alone
  3. Melchizedek priesthood of Jesus Christ
  4. Jesus Christ is the high priest mediator
  5. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant by death
  6. Jesus Christ, the high priest, benefits believers

Section 3, Therefore Live the Faith Life, 11-13

  1. Approved by faith
  2. Live occupied with Christ
  3. Selected instructions

James

  1. Tests; temptation; and doers of the Word
  2. Christian life faith delivers the goods
  3. The tongue and wisdom from above
  4. Friend of the world or friend of God
  5. Money; patience; prayer

1 Peter

  1. Foundations of our faith
  2. Royal priesthood and authority orientation
  3. Husbands and wives; blessing others; a ready defense
  4. Suffering as a Christian
  5. The shepherd pastor; spiritual warfare

2 Peter

  1. Everything for life and godliness
  2. Judgment of false teachers and rescue of the godly
  3. Mockers cannot hinder Christ’s return

1 John

  1. Believers confess sin for fellowship
  2. Really know God; worldliness; antichrists
  3. God’s seed (nature) cannot sin
  4. Test spirits; God is love; abide
  5. Victory; assurance; prayer; sin

2 John

  1. Walk in truth and love one another

3 John

  1. Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius

Jude

  1. Earnestly contend for the faith

Revelation

Section 1, Jesus Christ, God and Kind, 1

  1. Jesus Christ revealed

Section 2, Letters to the seven churches, 2-3

  1. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira
  2. Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

Section 3, The Tribulation, 4-19

  1. Father on the throne is worshipped
  2. Lamb takes the scroll
  3. Seals 1-6
  4. 144,000 sealed
  5. Seal 7, Trumpets 1-4
  6. Trumpets 5-6
  7. Strong angel, thunder, and book
  8. Two witnesses, Trumpets 1-7
  9. Woman, Child, and Dragon
  10. Dragon, 2 Beasts
  11. Lamb on Zion, 6 angels
  12. Seven angels, Bowls
  13. Seven bowl Judgments
  14. Harlot, First Beast
  15. Judgment of Babylon
  16. Living Word on the white horse

Section 4, Millennium and Eternity

  1. Millennial reign
  2. New Heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem
  3. Eternal life