ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Historical background of the New Testament

Okay kiddo, so let me tell you the story of the New Testament.

Long, long ago, in a place called Judea, there was a man named Jesus. He was a very special man because he was the Son of God. He went around doing good things and telling people about God's love. He had lots of followers who trusted and believed in him.

But some people didn't like Jesus and thought he was a troublemaker, so they decided to get rid of him. They arrested him, had a trial, and sentenced him to death by hanging him on a cross. But something miraculous happened, and Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was buried.

After Jesus died and rose again, his followers decided to spread his teachings to other people. They started writing down stories and letters about what Jesus said and did, and these became known as the New Testament.

The New Testament is made up of 27 different books. Some of these books are called Gospels and are about Jesus' life and teachings. Other books are letters written by people who knew Jesus or were his followers.

The New Testament was first written in Greek, and copies were circulated around the Mediterranean world. Over time, the different Christian communities accepted these writings as sacred scripture. It became an important religious text and was included in the Bible along with the Old Testament.

So that is the story of the New Testament, my dear. It is a book about Jesus and his followers and the teachings they spread across the world.