Part 1
Part 2
What if you could read the New Testament as a single, unfolding story—seeing the books in their real-life context and discovering the heartbeat of the early church? Brian Del Turco talks with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church.
You’ll see how the New Testament connects to your own storyline in Christ, as His Kingdom continues to advance today. This fresh perspective will help you unlock Scripture and your place in God’s epic narrative. Part 1 of 2.
See the complete episode transcript below.
Key Takeaways
✅ Discover how your personal faith journey connects with the story, history, and theology of the New Testament.
✅ Connect your life’s storyline to the greater narrative of the Kingdom of God.
✅ A fresh perspective on the New Testament and its contextual narrative.
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Resources — The Untold Story of the New Testament Church with Frank Viola
Frank Viola
FRANK VIOLA is a bestselling author, A-list blogger, and conference speaker. His mission is to help serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. He has written over 30 books, his landmark work being Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.
More about ‘The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Frank Viola website)
Beyond Evangelical (Frank Viola website)
The Deeper Christian Life Network
Resources
The Smart Edit (thesmartedit.beehiiv.com). Advance in Christ. Live Smart. Free newsletter every Thursday.
Episode Transcript, Part 1
(Transcript for Part 2 will be added below)
Brian: Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to have Frank Viola with us to discuss his new project—a book every follower of Jesus will want to explore. Frank, how are you today?
Frank Viola: I’m doing well, Brian. I always enjoy being on your show, and I’m excited to talk about the book.
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church
Brian: I have my copy right here, and I’ve been using it… literally curling it for reps! Listeners, this is a hefty book—over 600 pages—but it’s surprisingly accessible.
Frank Viola: That’s right. Despite its size, many readers find it easy to read. The goal was never just a history lesson—it’s to unlock the New Testament, especially the epistles, in a fresh way.
Brian: So, what inspired you to take on this massive project?
Frank Viola: It goes back to when I became a believer at 16. I stumbled upon a small book that linked the Book of Acts with Paul’s letters. That exposure shaped everything. Over time, I studied New Testament chronology, influenced heavily by F.F. Bruce, and by 1998, I began constructing a full chronological account of the New Testament, filling in historical and cultural details.
Solving a Common Problem for Christians
Frank Viola: The problem many Christians face is not fully understanding the New Testament. The books aren’t arranged chronologically, and Luke’s account in Acts is highly condensed.
Add the 16th-century chapter and verse divisions, and it’s easy to misinterpret. My book reconstructs the story from Pentecost to Patmos, blending Acts with the epistles to provide context that has been missing for centuries.
Brian: That’s incredible. It’s vital for Christians to see the full storyline of the kingdom, from the early church to today.
Frank Viola: Exactly. And this approach has been endorsed by 20 preeminent New Testament scholars. It’s the first book to combine the entire narrative chronologically with full citations, based on up-to-date scholarship.
Challenges and Approach
Brian: Scholars will disagree on some chronological details. Can you give an example?
Frank Viola: Sure. The dating of James’ epistle is debated. Some scholars place it before Galatians, others after. Either way, it doesn’t affect the overall narrative, which is what matters.
Brian: So, it’s about scoping and sequencing—seeing the narrative as a whole.
Frank Viola: Yes. The book organizes the 27 New Testament books, focusing on Acts to Revelation, and even includes Jesus’ story and eternity past, giving readers the full picture of God’s kingdom from beginning to end.
Making Study of the New Testament Accessible
Brian: Were there points where writing the book became particularly challenging?
Frank Viola: Definitely. Balancing scholarly accuracy with reader accessibility was tough. I wanted complex historical and cultural information to be understandable for every Christian reader.
Sourcing was also a major effort—over 2,400 footnotes, distilling insights from over 1,000 books. The goal was to create a compelling narrative that brings the New Testament to life.
Brian: It sounds like it transforms the reading experience.
Frank Viola: It does. Understanding the full story of the New Testament changed my life. When readers see the letters in context, they experience the New Testament in a way most have never imagined.
Understanding the Full Narrative
Brian: I love your analogy with LEGO.
Frank Viola: Yes! Reading the New Testament in its current order is like trying to build a dinosaur with only 400 of 600 LEGO pieces. Acts gives you the main body, but the epistles complete the picture. Only by combining them chronologically can you truly see the full story.
Brian: That really illustrates why understanding chronology and context is essential for faithful interpretation.
Frank Viola: Exactly. This book gives Christians the key to reading the New Testament as a connected, coherent narrative. It’s transformative for personal study, ministry, and understanding God’s kingdom story.
Thanks for bringing attention to this unique book! It sounds fascinating, worthwhile, and to say the least, WELL documented! I’m looking eagerly forward to reading it!
This book is super unique and probably worth 4X the retail price. I plan on staying with my commitment to read this book at least 3 times moving forward over the next several years, side-by-side with my New Testament reading. Because the NT is really the New Covenant, it’s challenging to think of a more worthwhile pursuit!