Synopses & Reviews
This new edition of Bart Ehrman's highly successful introduction approaches the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Rather than shying away from the critical problems presented by these books, Ehrman addresses the historical and literary challenges they pose and shows why scholars continue to argue over such significant issues as how the books of the New Testament came into being, what they mean, how they relate to contemporary Christian and non-Christian literature, and how they came to be collected into a canon of Scripture. Distinctive to this study is its emphasis on the historical, literary, and religious milieu of the Greco-Roman world, including early Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, this text also discusses works by other Christian writers who were roughly contemporary with the New Testament, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of Ignatius.
This second edition features expanded coverage of the historical Jesus, adds new boxes on various topics (e.g., women in the New Testament and alternative approaches to the historical Jesus), incorporates a twelve-page color photo essay on illuminated manuscripts, and includes several important organizational changes. Ideal for undergraduate and seminary classes in the New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Christian Origins, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Second Edition, is an accessible, clearly written introduction that encourages students to consider the historical issues surrounding these writings.
Review
"An outstanding introduction. Blends contemporary scholarship, the early Christian world, and attention to the needs of students most skillfully. The best introduction currently available."--Francis J. Moloney, The Catholic University of America
"Ehrman's historical introduction to the New Testament is written more clearly than any other I have used; it situates Christianity more honestly in the ancient Greco-Roman world. It does not limit the picture of Christianity to the New Testament but draws on other early Christian writings. Lavishly illustrated."--John L. White, Loyola University
Synopsis
This new edition of Bart Ehrman's highly successful introduction approaches the New Testament from a comparative historical perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature. Ehrman shows why scholars continue to argue over such significant issues as how the books of the New Testament came into being, who produced them, what they mean, how they relate to contemporary Christian and non-Christian literature, and how they came to be collected into a canon of Scripture. Ehrman also discusses works by other Christian writers who were roughly contemporary with the New Testament.
Synopsis
This lucid introduction approaches the New Testament from a consistently historical and comparative perspective, emphasizing the rich diversity of the earliest Christian literature.
Table of Contents
Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
Notes on Suggestions for Further Reading
Acknowledgments
Credits
Maps, Timelines, and Diagrams
1. What is the New Testament? The Early Christians and Their Literature
2. The World of Early Christian Traditions
3. The Traditions of Jesus in Their Greco-Roman Context
4. The Christian Gospels: A Literary and Historical Introduction
5. Jesus, the Suffering Son of God: The Gospel according to Mark
6. The Synoptic Problem and Its Significance for Interpretation
7. Jesus, the Jewish Messiah: The Gospel according to Matthew
8. Jesus, the Savior of the World: The Gospel according to Luke
9. Luke's Second Volume: The Acts of the Apostles
10. Jesus, the Man Sent from Heaven: The Gospel according to John
11. From John's Jesus to the Gnostic Christ: The Johannine Epistles and Beyond
12. Jesus from Different Perspectives: Other Gospels in Early Christianity
13. The Historical Jesus: Sources, Problems, and Methods
14. Excursus: The Historian and the Problem of Miracle
15. Jesus in Context
16. Jesus, the Apocalyptic Prophet
17. From Jesus to the Gospels
18. Paul the Apostle: The Man and His Mission
19. Paul and His Apostolic Mission: 1 Thessalonians as a Test Case
20. Paul and the Crises of His Churches: 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon
21. The Gospel according to Paul: The Letter to the Romans
22. Dose the Tradition Miscarry? Paul in Relation to Jesus, James, Thecla, and Theudas
23. In the Wake of the Apostle: The Deutero-Pauline and Pastoral Epistles
24. From Paul's Female Colleagues to the Pastor's Intimidated Women: The Oppression of Women in Early Chritianity
25. Christians and Jews: Hebrews, Branabas, and Later Anti-Jewish Literature
26. Christians and Pagans: 1 Peter, the Letters of Ignatius, the Martyrdom of Polycarp, and Later Apologetic Literature
27. Christians and Christians: James, the Didache, Polycarp, 1 Clement, Jude, and 2 Peter
28. Christians and the Cosmos: The Revelation of John, The Shepherd of Hermas, and the Apocalypse of Peter
29. Epilogue: Do We Have the Original New Testament?
Glossary of Terms
Index