Synopses & Reviews
Featuring vibrant full color throughout, the fifth edition of Bart D. 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. Distinctive to this study is its unique focus on the historical, literary, and religious milieux of the Greco-Roman world, including early Judaism. As part of its historical orientation, the book also discusses other Christian writings that were roughly contemporary with the New Testament, such as the
Gospel of Thomas, the
Apocalypse of Peter, and the letters of Ignatius.
FEATURES:
* A uniquely accessible and engaging writing style that vividly brings the New Testament story to life
* Descriptions and models of various methods for studying ancient literature
* Time lines, illustrations, maps, and more than 100 photos, including three photo essays
* Five types of text boxes: "What to Expect," "At a Glance," "Another Glimpse into the Past," "What Do You Think?," and "Take a Stand"
* An extensive glossary of key terms, which appear in boldface type the first time they are used in each chapter
* An updated Instructor's Manual on CD containing a media resources section, chapter summaries, key terms, pedagogical suggestions, PowerPoint-based lecture outlines, and a test bank with essay and multiple-choice questions (not included with book, available separately)
* An updated Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/ehrman that provides students with links to media resources, chapter summaries, interactive multiple-choice self-quizzes, reading guides, flash cards, maps, and time lines
* A FREE 6-month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com)--a $180 value--with the purchase of every new copy of this text. Please contact your Oxford University Press Sales Representative at 800.280.0280 for details.
NEW TO THIS
Review
"The overall quality of this text is far superior to others of the same genre on the market today. Its biggest advantage is its readability. Bart Ehrman has done a masterful job at developing what at times are the most arcane issues of early Christian textual studies in such an inviting and clear manner that he's able to not only keep students' interest, but also present the arguments in a clear, concise, and highly logical manner. Of special interest are the boxes, which have provided some of the best discussions for my students."--George Heyman, St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry
"Outstanding. This is the only book that students have told me they like."--Kenneth Atkinson, University of Northern Iowa
"From cover to cover, this book is packed with rich information. It's also a strength that Ehrman chooses a different methodological approach for each of the gospels as an illustration of the variety of ways that scholars can read a text. I have used this book for a long time and will continue to do so indefinitely."--Zeba A. Crook, Carleton University
"The text makes a special effort to acquaint students with recent developments in New Testament scholarship and offers responsible appraisals of scholarly opinions. I like very much the 'What to Expect' and 'At a Glance' features, which must be a great help to students in grasping major points."--Bradley Nystrom, California State University, Sacramento
"The presentation, especially the many boxes and the glossary of terms, is wonderful for students to grasp the vast project that any introduction to the New Testament entails. The book's pedagogical devices are generally outstanding and extremely helpful to students."--Robert A. Ludwig, Loyola University Chicago
"I especially like the approach of introducing critical methods for reading the Bible by demonstrating various methods along the way, reinforcing and reviewing by returning to a few methods in different chapters."--Janet Everhart, Simpson College
"When I first encountered this text, I felt that it was exactly the book I needed for the course. Ehrman writes with an admirable clarity and straightforwardness appropriate to his audience. He's clearly a good teacher and his classroom experience is constantly evident in his writing and general presentation."--Michael O'Connell, University of California, Santa Barbara
"The overall quality is excellent. The appearance of the word 'historical' in the title gets to the heart of the matter; the text is unapologetically historical and critical in focus. This is a major strength for a textbook that will be used in a state university context. The book is also very reader-friendly. The pedagogical devices are great and the overall design and layout is outstanding."--Mark D. Given, Missouri State University
About the Author
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has published numerous books and articles, including
The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations (OUP, 2011);
A Brief Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition (OUP, 2010); and
Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew (OUP, 2005).
Table of Contents
Chapters 2-30 end with Key Terms and Suggestions for Further Reading. Boxes
Maps, Time Lines, and Diagrams
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Preface to the Fifth Edition
Acknowledgments
Notes on Suggestions for Further Reading
Credits
Master Time Line
1. WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT? THE EARLY CHRISTIANS AND THEIR LITERATURE
The Diversity of Early Christianity
The New Testament Canon of Scripture
Implications for Our Study
At a Glance: Box 1.5 The New Testament Canon
Excursus: Some Additional Reflections: The Historian and the Believer
Take a Stand
2. DO WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL NEW TESTAMENT?
Publishing Books: Now and Then
How Can We Know if We Have an Ancient Author's Actual Words?
What Manuscripts of the New Testament Do We Have? The Good News and Bad News
A Concrete Example
Accidental Mistakes
Intentional Errors
Criteria for Establishing the Text
At a Glance: Box 2.6 The Text of the New Testament
Take a Stand
3. THE WORLD OF EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS
The Problem of Beginnings
One Remarkable Life
The Environment of the New Testament: Religions in the Greco-Roman World
Another Glimpse into the Past: Box 3.3 The Roman Empire
At a Glance: Box 3.6 The World of Early Christianity
Take a Stand
4. THE JEWISH CONTEXT OF JESUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS
Judaism as a Greco-Roman Religion
Political Crises in Palestine and Their Ramifications
The Formation of Jewish Sects
At a Glance: Box 4.6 The Jewish World of Early Christianity
Take a Stand
5. THE TRADITIONS OF JESUS IN THEIR GRECO-ROMAN CONTEXT
Oral Traditions behind the Gospels
At A Glance: Box 5.3 The Traditions of Jesus
Excursus: Some Additional Reflections: The Authors of the Gospels
Take a Stand
6. THE CHRISTIAN GOSPELS: A LITERARY AND HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
The Question of Genre
Biography as a Greco-Roman Genre
The Gospels as Ancient Biographies
At A Glance: Box 6.2 The Christian Gospels
Take a Stand
7. JESUS, THE SUFFERING SON OF GOD: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
The Beginning of the Gospel: Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God Who Fulfills Scripture
Jesus the Authoritative Son of God
Jesus the Opposed Son of God
Jesus the Misunderstood Son of God
Jesus the Acknowledged Son of God
Jesus the Suffering Son of God
Another Glimpse into the Past: Box 7.6 Son of God and Son of Man
Jesus the Crucified Son of God
Jesus the Vindicated Son of God
Conclusion: Mark and His Readers
At A Glance: Box 7.8 The Gospel of Mark
Take a Stand
8. THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR INTERPRETATION
Methods for Studying the Gospels
The Synoptic Problem
The Methodological Significance of the Four-Source Hypothesis
At a Glance: Box 8.3 The Synoptic Problem
Take a Stand
9. JESUS, THE JEWISH MESSIAH: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
The Importance of Beginnings: Jesus the Jewish Messiah in Fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures
Jesus and His Forerunner from Matthew's Perspective
The Portrayal of Jesus in Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount as a Springboard
Jesus and the Jewish Cultic Practices Prescribed by the Law
Jesus Rejected by the Jewish Leaders
Matthew and His Readers
At A Glance: Box 9.6 Matthew
Take a Stand
10. JESUS, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
The Comparative Method and the Gospel of Luke
A Comparative Overview of the Gospel
The Preface to Luke's Gospel
Luke's Birth Narrative in Comparative Perspective
From Jew to Gentile: Luke's Portrayal of Jesus the Rejected Prophet
Luke's Distinctive Emphases throughout His Gospel
Conclusion: Luke in Comparative Perspective
At A Glance: Box 10.7 Luke
Take a Stand
11. LUKE'S SECOND