Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will study the New Testament for the 2027 Come, Follow Me program. Donny Anderson, an instructor at the Logan Institute of Religion in Logan, Utah, recently shared insights regarding the themes, structure, and language of the New Testament in preparation for the upcoming study.
In a recent Church News podcast, Anderson highlighted several key themes that Jesus Christ reveals in the Gospels. These include His divinity, His power, His indispensability, and His paramount role in God's dealings with His children. Anderson noted that Jesus reveals His divinity through various instances, such as His ability to forgive sins and His use of the phrase "I am."
Anderson also observed that the current generation of young adults is increasingly focused on Christ. He noted a trend where students are seeking more consistent and deep personal scripture study, even beyond the standard Come, Follow Me curriculum. He suggested that teachers focus on depth rather than mere coverage to create meaningful experiences for students.
The discussion also covered the structure of the New Testament. The books include the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—the first three being the Synoptics because they present the life of Jesus in a similar way. Luke is noted as the most prolific writer in terms of word count, while Paul wrote the most individual books, including 13 letters.
To aid in study, Anderson recommended three tools: using multiple translations, accessing Greek text, and learning about New Testament culture. He explained that different translations, such as the New International Version or the New Living Translation, can offer different reading levels that may be more accessible to certain students than the King James Version.
Anderson concluded by emphasizing the importance of the Holy Ghost as a source of knowledge and spiritual truth. He stated that the answers to life's questions are found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
