Introducing the New Testament : Its Literature and Theology

by Achtemeier, Paul J.

• ISBN13: 9780802837172
• ISBN10: 0802837174
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Introducing the New Testament is an outstanding new guide to the literature and theology of the New Testament.

Wonderfully readable, eminently teachable, and well supplied with maps, sidebars, photographs, and bibliographies, Introducing the New Testament makes an ideal textbook for seminary and college courses, regardless of their theological orientation. Written by three leading New Testament specialists, the book focuses directly on the New Testament's literature, its message, and the issues raised by a careful reading of its pages.

Unlike other New Testament introductions that are primarily concerned with historical-critical issues or with what other scholars have said, Introducing the New Testament gets directly to the business of clearly explaining the background and content of the New Testament books as well as inducting readers of the New Testament into sensitive appreciation and serious awareness of its major figures and concerns. No other text on the New Testament is so classroom friendly, authoritative, balanced, and enjoyable to use.

Author Biography

Paul J. Achtemeier is the Herbert Worth and Anne H. Jackson Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia Joel B. Green is professor of New Testament interpretation and dean of the School of Theology, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky Marianne Meye Thompson is professor of New Testament interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California

Table of Contents

Maps	xi
Abbreviations	xii
What Is the New Testament?	1	(14)
The Literary Angle	3	(3)
The Historical Angle	6	(3)
The New Testament as the Church's Scripture	9	(6)
The World of the New Testament	15	(38)
The Many Worlds of the New Testament	17	(4)
Environmental Conditions	21	(20)
Institutional Contexts	41	(10)
Conclusion	51	(2)
The Nature of the Gospels	53	(36)
Jesus and the Gospels: Milestones	53	(9)
What Is a ``Gospel''?	62	(5)
The Gospel Tradition	67	(7)
Literary Forms in the Gospels	74	(7)
Reading New Testament Narratives	81	(5)
Epilogue: The Gospels and Acts as Scripture	86	(3)
The Gospel according to Matthew	89	(34)
The Plan of the Gospel of Matthew	91	(5)
The Narrative of Matthew	96	(21)
The Gospel of Matthew, the Jews, and the Church	117	(6)
The Gospel according to Mark	123	(26)
Narrating the Story of Jesus	123	(2)
Jesus, the Disciples, and the Authorities in Mark	125	(4)
Mark's Dramatic Narrative	129	(14)
The Setting and Purpose of Mark's Gospel	143	(6)
The Gospel according to Luke	149	(26)
The Character of Luke's Gospel (and Acts)	152	(2)
The Unity of Luke-Acts	154	(2)
The Narrative of the Gospel of Luke	156	(15)
``He Has Lifted Up the Lowly''	171	(4)
The Gospel according to John	175	(32)
In the Beginning	175	(2)
Jesus, Conflict, and Confession	177	(2)
John's Narrative	179	(18)
John and the Other Gospels	197	(3)
The Setting and Purpose of the Gospel	200	(7)
Jesus of Nazareth	207	(38)
The Quest of the Historical Jesus	207	(2)
The Beginning of Jesus' Public Ministry	209	(5)
The Kingdom of God	214	(10)
The Miracles of Jesus	224	(4)
Jesus and the Messianic Task	228	(7)
The Death of Jesus	235	(6)
The Resurrection of Jesus	241	(4)
The Acts of the Apostles	245	(26)
Acts and the New Testament Canon	245	(2)
The Book of Acts as ``History''	247	(2)
The Narrative Progression of the Mission in Acts	249	(13)
The Speeches in Acts	262	(3)
The Purpose of Acts	265	(3)
The Authorship of Acts	268	(3)
Letters in the New Testament	271	(12)
Writing Materials and Delivery of Letters	271	(3)
Development and Purpose of Letters	274	(1)
Aramaic Letters	275	(1)
Hellenistic Letters	276	(2)
Letters in the New Testament	278	(5)
Paul and His World	283	(16)
The World	283	(6)
The Life of Paul	289	(5)
Paul's Intellectual World	294	(5)
Paul's Letter to the Christians in Rome	299	(28)
The Purpose of the Letter	299	(7)
Where the Letter Was Written	306	(1)
The Letter's Author and Integrity	306	(1)
The Theme of the Letter	307	(2)
The Content of the Letter	309	(18)
Paul and the Christians in Corinth	327	(28)
Corinth as Paul Knew It	327	(5)
The Corinthian Correspondence	332	(2)
1 Corinthians	334	(13)
2 Corinthians	347	(8)
The Letter to the Galatians	355	(22)
The Letter	356	(16)
Some Problems	372	(5)
The Letter to the Ephesians	377	(14)
Some Questions	378	(3)
Content	381	(10)
Paul and the Christians in Philippi	391	(16)
The Letter	392	(7)
Some Questions	399	(8)
Paul and the Christians at Colossae: Colossians and Philemon	407	(20)
Colossians	408	(13)
Philemon	421	(6)
Paul's Letters to the Thessalonian Christians	427	(20)
1 Thessalonians	428	(11)
2 Thessalonians	439	(8)
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus	447	(18)
1 Timothy	448	(5)
2 Timothy	453	(6)
Titus	459	(2)
Some Questions	461	(4)
Hebrews	465	(26)
The Origins of ``The Epistle to the Hebrews''	465	(8)
Use of the Old Testament	473	(3)
``In These Last Days, He Has Spoken to Us through a Son''	476	(6)
Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith	482	(1)
The Pilgrim People of God	483	(2)
``Such a Great High Priest''	485	(6)
James	491	(22)
``James, a Servant of God''	492	(3)
James and Jewish Christianity	495	(2)
``To the Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion''	497	(2)
The Genre of James	499	(3)
James and Jesus	502	(1)
Doers of the Word	503	(6)
Hearing and Doing, Faith and Works	509	(2)
James within the Canon	511	(2)
1 and 2 Peter, Jude	513	(22)
``Catholic'' Epistles?	513	(2)
1 Peter	515	(12)
2 Peter	527	(5)
Jude	532	(3)
1, 2, and 3 John	535	(20)
The Setting of the Epistles of John	535	(1)
The Conflict: Data from the Epistles	536	(2)
Historical Parallels and the Shape of the False Teaching	538	(4)
1 John	542	(5)
2 John	547	(4)
3 John	551	(4)
Revelation	555	(34)
The Genre of Revelation	556	(9)
The Historical Context of the Book of Revelation	565	(8)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ	573	(13)
Summary	586	(3)
The Formation of the New Testament Canon	589	(20)
Internal Forces Affecting the Shape of the Canon	590	(3)
External Forces Affecting the Shape of the Canon	593	(2)
The Growth of the New Testament Canon	595	(3)
The Process of Canonical Selection	598	(6)
Criteria of Canon Selection	604	(5)
Index of Names and Subjects	609