The dictionary defines testament as:

• A will, especially one that relates to one's personal property.
  
• A covenant, especially between God and man.

Today, we find the Scriptures grouped under Old Testament and New Testament. In the ancient world a testament, or more often a covenant, was the term for a special relationship between two parties or a formal agreement between two people.. Occasionally we still speak of the marriage covenant, which binds husband and wife to each other. The Testaments are irrevocable promises of God to man.

The Old and New Testaments describe the relationship between God and man.
The Old Testament starts with creation and the fall of man and promises the Messiah (Christ) for the redemption of man.
In the Bible, the Old Testament consists of 39 books starting with Genesis and ending with Malachi.
This is the Bible that Jesus read. He quoted the Old Testament often.

The New Testament picks up where the Old Testament leaves off. It completes God’s plan of redemption by revealing Jesus Christ as the Messiah, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament.
In the Bible, the New Testament consists of 27 books.
There are: 4 gospels (Glad tidings concerning salvation. The story of Christ’s life.)

Matthew	– written approximately 60 – 65 AD
Mark	written approximately 50 – 60 AD
Luke	written approximately 65 – 68 AD
John	written approximately 90 AD

1 book of church history Acts

Written approximately – 62 AD

13 letters written by Paul
9 letters to churches

Romans	written approximately 58 AD
1 Corinthians	written approximately 56 AD
2 Corinthians	written approximately 57 AD
Galatians	written approximately 49 AD
Ephesians	written approximately 60 AD
Philippians	written approximately 62 AD
Colossians	written approximately 61
1 Thessalonians	written approximately 51 AD
2 Thessalonians	written approximately 51 AD

4 Personal letters

1 Timothy	written approximately 63 AD
2 Timothy	written approximately 66 AD
Titus	written approximately 65 AD
Philemon	written approximately 61 AD

8 general letters

Hebrews	written approximately 64-68 AD
James	written approximately 45 – 48 AD
1 Peter	written approximately 63-67 AD
2 Peter	written approximately 67-68 AD
1 John	written approximately 90 AD
2 John	written approximately 90 AD
3 John	written approximately 90 AD
Jude	written approximately 70-80 AD

1 book of prophesy

Revelation

written approximately 90 AD

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