1.
New Testament
The second of the two main divisions of the Christian Bible, recounting the life and teachings of Jesus, the early Christian church, and the letters of the apostles. The Japanese name literally means 'the scripture of the new covenant,' the covenant that Christians believe God established through Jesus.
Compound of 新約 ('new covenant') and 聖書 ('scripture; Bible'). The term reflects the Christian view that Jesus established a 'new covenant' fulfilling and renewing the older one described in the 旧約聖書.
Common collocations
- 新約聖書を読む: to read the New Testament
- 新約聖書の福音書: the Gospels (in the New Testament)
- 新約聖書の教え: the teachings of the New Testament
- 新約聖書の一節: a passage from the New Testament
- 新約聖書の原文: the original text of the New Testament
Well-known books
- マタイによる福音書: Gospel of Matthew
- マルコによる福音書: Gospel of Mark
- ルカによる福音書: Gospel of Luke
- ヨハネによる福音書: Gospel of John
- 使徒言行録: Acts of the Apostles
- ヨハネの黙示録: Book of Revelation
Usage
- A standard term in religious, historical, and literary discourse. Often paired with 旧約聖書 when discussing the Bible as a whole.
- Commonly abbreviated to 新約 when context is clear, e.g., 新約の時代 ('the New Testament era').
- In Japan, many proper names and cultural allusions derived from the New Testament — such as 最後の晩餐 ('Last Supper') or 復活 ('resurrection') — appear regularly in art, novels, and films.
Related words
Related Words
Related:
旧約聖書 (Old Testament)
Related:
聖書 (Bible (general))
Related:
福音書 (the Gospels)
Related:
キリスト教 (Christianity)
Related:
聖典 (sacred text)