Synopses & Reviews
READING THE NEW TESTAMENT TODAY introduces the student to the contemporary study of the New Testament, with special attention to today's leading critical methods: historical, feminist, social scientific, narrative, and cross-cultural. These methods are used in each of the thirteen chapters that deal directly with the New Testament literature to guide the student through readings of the New Testament. Examples of each method, as practiced by leading interpreters, are given in every chapter for students to interact with as they build their understandings and skills. These methods are organized to allow professors to select which ones they wish to utilize with their classes. An accompanying Web site offers interactive pedagogy to develop student learning, and offers dozens of links to New Testament study sites to enrich student learning.
Synopsis
Being able to understand someone else's religious beliefs is crucial. READING THE NEW TESTAMENT takes the mystery out by introducing you to the five schools of interpretation and what they all mean. And because this introduction to the New Testament textbook is designed to launch conversations with your classmates, READING THE NEW TESTAMENT helps make class interesting. Plus, it's got links to Internet sites that help you get all the information you'll need to ace the test.
About the Author
Dr. Van Voorst, professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland Michigan, has written frequently on theology and ministry in various noted journals. He has also authored six books, including three with Wadsworth: READINGS IN CHRISTIANITY, Second Edition, ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES, Fourth Edition, and ANTHOLOGY OF ASIAN SCRIPTURES. His other books are BUILDING YOUR NEW TESTAMENT GREEK VOCABULARY, Second Edition; THE ASCENTS OF JAMES, a recovery and commentary on a second-century Jewish-Christian text; and JESUS OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT an examination of traditions about Jesus from pagan, Jewish, and Christian documents before and after the New Testament. Dr. Van Voorst has been named in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World for his contribution to religious studies. Ordained in the RCA, Bob Van Voorst served for twelve years as the pastor of Rochester Reformed Church in Accord, New York, while he pursued doctoral study. In 1989 he became a professor of religion at Lycoming College, a United Methodist liberal arts college, and served for three years as chair of its religion department. While teaching college, he was an interim pastor in four Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations, preached widely in north central Pennsylvania, and was a visiting professor in Westminster College in Oxford, England.
Table of Contents
Part I: INTRODUCING THE NEW TESTAMENT TODAY. 1. Introducing the New Testament. 2. Ways of Reading the New Testament Today. 3. The Jewish Matrix of the New Testament. 4. The Greco-Roman Matrix of the New Testament. Part II: GOSPEL PORTRAITS OF JESUS. 5. Introduction to the Gospels. 6. The Gospel of Mark: Following Jesus, the Suffering Messiah. 7. The Gospel of Matthew: Following Jesus, the Lord of a Diverse Church. 8. The Gospel of Luke: Following Jesus, the Savior of the World. 9. The Gospel of John: Following Jesus, the Eternal Son of God. Part III: AN EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY. 10. The Acts of the Apostles: The Church from Jerusalem to Rome. Part IV: PAUL AND THE PAULINE TRADITION. 11. Introduction to Paul and the Pauline Tradition. 12. 1 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians: Letters to Greek Churches. 13. Galatians and Romans: Life in Faith. 14. Philippians and Philemon: Letters from Prison. 15. 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians: The Pauline Tradition. 16. 1-2 Timothy and Titus: Pastoral Letters to Guide the Pauline Churches. Part V: CATHOLIC/GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION. 17. Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, Jude, 2 Peter: The Catholic/General Letters. 18. 1-3 John: the Johannine Community in Conflict. 19. Revelation: the Flowering of Christian Apocalyptic. Part VI: AFTER THE NEW TESTAMENT. 20. Christian Origins after the New Testament.