Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology

Front Cover
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Aug 10, 2001 - Religion - 624 pages
Introducing the New Testament is an outstanding guide to the writings of the New Testament for readers ranging from Bible students to those approaching the Christian Scriptures for the first time. Written by three leading Bible specialists, this book discusses in a clear and balanced way the New Testament's literature, its message, and the issues raised by a careful reading of its pages. Wonderfully readable and well supplied with maps and photographs, this volume is both an ideal textbook for courses covering the New Testament and a superb introduction for general readers wanting authoritative, straight-forward instruction on the writings of the New Testament.

Unlike other New Testament introductions that are primarily concerned with historical-critical issues or with what scholars have said, this book gets directly to the business of explaining the New Testament's background, content, and theology. The authors do not presume that readers need to be familiar with scholarly debates about the New Testament, nor do they assume those debates have necessarily raised the most important issues. Instead, this book is aimed at putting the message of the Christian Scriptures back within the reach of general readers. Although informed by the current scholarship in the history, traditions, and literature of the New Testament, this book is primarily designed to induct readers of the New Testament into sensitive appreciation and serious awareness of its major figures and concerns.

After explaining the nature of the New Testament and the world in which it was written, the authors thoroughly discuss each of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. The content and essential message of these ancient works are described in simple but dynamic language that reveals why they continue to inspire and challenge readers today. Separate chapters also explore the types of literature found in the New Testament, the life and teachings of Jesus, Paul's life and world, and the formation of the New Testament canon. In addition, numerous sidebars offer a wealth of fascinating and highly relevant background information that helps modern readers more fully grasp biblical themes. No other work on the New Testament is so accessible and enjoyable to use.
 

Contents

what Is the New Testament?
1
11 The Literary Angle
3
12 The Historical Angle
6
13 The New Testament as the Churchs Scripture
9
The World of the New Testament
15
21 The Many Worlds of the New Testament
17
22 Environmental Conditions
21
23 Institutional Contexts
41
133 1 Corinthians
334
134 2 Corinthians
347
The Letter to the Galatians
355
141 The Letter
356
142 Some Problems
372
The Letter to the Ephesians
377
151 Some Questions
378
152 Content
381

24 Conclusion
51
3 The Nature of the Gospels
53
32 What Is a Gospel?
62
33 The Gospel Tradition
67
34 Literary Forms in the Gospels
74
35 Reading New Testament Narratives
81
The Gospels and Acts as Scripture
86
The Gospel according to Matthew
89
41 The Plan of the Gospel of Matthew
91
42 The Narrative of Matthew
96
43 The Gospel of Matthew the Jews and the Church
117
The Gospel according to Mark
123
52 Jesus the Disciples and the Authorities in Mark
125
53 Marks Dramatic Narrative
129
54 The Setting and Purpose of Marks Gospel
143
The Gospel according to Luke
149
61 The Character of Lukes Gospel and Acts
152
62 The Unity of LukeActs
154
63 The Narrative of the Gospel of Luke
156
64 He Has Lifted Up the Lowly
171
The Gospel according to John
175
72 Jesus Conflict and Confession
177
73 Johns Narrative
179
74 John and the Other Gospels
197
75 The Setting and Purpose of the gospel
200
Jesus of Nazareth
207
82 The Beginning of Jesus Public Ministry
209
83 The Kingdom of God
214
84 The Miracles of Jesus
224
85 Jesus and the Messianic Task
228
86 The Death Of Jesus
235
87 The Resurrection of Jesus
241
The Acts of the Apostles
245
92 The Book of Acts as History
247
93 The Narrative Progression of the Missions in Acts
249
94 The Speeches in Acts
262
95 The Purpose of Acts
265
96 The Authorship of Acts
268
Letters in the New Testament
271
102 Development and Purpose of Letters
274
103 Aramaic Letters
275
104 Hellenistic Letters
276
105 Letters in the New Testament
278
Paul and His World
283
112 The Life of Paul
289
113 Pauls Intellectual World
294
Pauls Letter to the Christians in Rome
299
122 Where the Letter was Written
306
124 The Theme of the Letter
307
125 The Content of the Letter
309
Paul and the Christians in Corinth
327
132 The Corinthian Correspondence
332
Paul and the Christians in Philippi
391
161 The Letter
392
162 Some Questions
399
Paul and the Christians at Colossae Colossians and Philemon
407
171 Colossians
408
172 Philemon
421
18 Pauls Letters to the Thessalonian Christians
427
181 1 Thessalonians
428
182 2 Thessalonians
439
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus
447
191 1 Timothy
448
192 2 Timothy
453
193 Titus
459
194 Some Questions
461
20 Hebrews
465
202 Use of the Old Testament
473
203 In These Last Days He Has Spoken to Us through a Son
476
204 Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith
482
205 The Pilgrim People of God
483
206 Such a Great High Priest
485
James
491
211 James a Servant of God
492
212 James and Jewish Christianity
495
213 To the Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion
497
214 The Genre of James
499
215 James and Jesus
502
216 Doers of the Word
503
217 Hearing and Doing Faith and Works
509
218 James within the Canon
511
1 and 2 Peter Jude
513
222 1 Peter
515
223 2 Peter
527
224 Jude
532
12 and 3 John
535
Data from the Epistles
536
233 Historical Parallels and the Shape of the False Teaching
538
234 1 John
542
235 2 John
547
236 3 John
551
24 Revelation
555
241 The Genre of Revelation
556
242 The Historical Context of The Book of Revelation
565
243 The Revelation of Jesus Christ
573
244 Summary
586
25 The Formation of the New Testament Canon
589
251 Internal Forces Affecting the Shape of the Canon
590
252 External Forces Affecting the Shape of the Canon
593
253 The Growth of the New Testament Canon
595
254 The Process of Canonical Selection
598
255 Criteria of Canon Selection
604
Index of Names and Subjects
609
Copyright

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About the author (2001)

Paul J. Achtemeier (1927-2013) was Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, and the author of many books, including several New Testament commentaries. Joel B. Green is associate dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies and professor of New Testament interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of more than forty-five books, including Hearing the New Testament; coauthor of Introducing the New Testament; and editor of the New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Marianne Meye Thompson is George Eldon Ladd Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Her previous books include commentaries on the Gospel of John and the Johannine epistles.

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