New Testament Story An Introduction

by Barr, David L.

• ISBN13: 9780534541637
• ISBN10: 0534541631
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-17
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The thesis of this book is that every New Testament writing stands within a story, even if it does not tell stories. The approach allows readers to view the documents as vital elements in the lives of real persons. The book maintains its focus on bringing the writings alive and shows how critical study enhances understanding of their meanings. Its prime goal is teaching students to read these writings for themselves, bridging the chasms of language, history, and culture that separate them from us. The latest methods of research are utilized in this quest, but the focus always remains on the New Testament documents.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Three Worlds of the Text	1	(2)
Reading the New Testament as Story
The World within the Text: Literature	3	(1)
The World behind the Text: History	3	(2)
The World in front of the Text: Our Culture	5	(3)
Maps for the World: Using Methods	8	(6)
The Worlds of the Text: Historical Literature	14	(7)
Learning on Your Own	21	(3)
Preparing to Hear the Stories	24	(27)
The Cultural Contexts of the First Audience
Who Do People Say That I Am?	25	(14)
What Must I Do to Be Saved?	39	(8)
Learning on Your Own	47	(4)
The Story Before the Writings	51	(23)
Storytelling in Earliest Christianity
A Storytelling Culture	53	(7)
How the Stories of Jesus Were Told	60	(7)
The Oral Stories of Jesus	67	(4)
Learning on Your Own	71	(3)
The Earliest Christian Literature	74	(24)
The Thessalonian Correspondence
A Literary Analysis of First Thessalonians	75	(7)
A Historical Analysis of First Thessalonians	82	(6)
A Comparative Analysis of Second Thessalonians	88	(7)
The Thessalonian Story	95	(1)
Learning on Your Own	95	(3)
Paul's Letters to His Followers	98	(45)
Philemon, Philippians, Galatians, Corinthians
Written While Imprisoned	99	(9)
Written for Gentiles	108	(28)
Paul and His Followers	136	(2)
Learning on Your Own	138	(5)
Paul's Address to Those Outside His Circle	143	(33)
Romans
Literary Analysis of Romans	144	(4)
Historical Analysis of the Context	148	(6)
The Theme of Romans: Two Views	154	(12)
In Conclusion: Imagining Paul's Story	166	(6)
Learning on Your Own	172	(4)
Paul for a New Day	176	(32)
Colossians, Ephesians, Timothy, Titus
Evaluating Claims to Authorship	178	(2)
The Trajectory of the New Community	180	(6)
The Trajectory of the Emerging Institution	186	(6)
The Trajectory of World Denial	192	(4)
The Trajectory of Mystical Experience	196	(4)
The Trajectory That Rejected Paul	200	(3)
Christianity after Paul	203	(1)
Learning on Your Own	204	(4)
Echoes of Other Stories	208	(33)
James, Jude, Hebrews, Peter
The Family of Jesus: James and Jude	209	(8)
Traditions of a Hellenized Judaism: Hebrews	217	(9)
Traditions Associated with Peter	226	(11)
How Jewish Was Jewish Christianity?	237	(1)
Learning on Your Own	238	(3)
Stories Told	241	(27)
An Approach to Understanding the Gospels
A Case in Point: The Empty Tomb Stories	243	(2)
Gospel Interpretation: A Review	245	(20)
Learning on Your Own	265	(3)
God's Kingdom in a Tragic World	268	(29)
The Gospel according to Mark
The Making of Mark's Gospel	269	(4)
The Presence of God: Kingdom and Power	273	(6)
The Absence of God: Kingdom and Suffering	279	(9)
The Situation of the Markan Community	288	(5)
Learning on Your Own	293	(4)
The Book of the New Community	297	(41)
The Gospel according to Matthew
An Overview of the Whole	298	(6)
Reading the Story: Key Incidents	304	(15)
Understanding the Characters	319	(6)
The Situation of the Matthean Community	325	(8)
Learning on Your Own	333	(5)
The Gospel as Heroic Narrative	338	(42)
The Story of Luke-Acts
Understanding Luke's Narrative	339	(6)
Gathering Witnesses in Galilee	345	(6)
Instructing the Witnesses on the Journey to Jerusalem	351	(3)
The Witnessing of the Events in Jerusalem	354	(5)
Witnessing to the Events in Jerusalem	359	(6)
Witnessing on Journeys into the Whole World	365	(6)
The Situation of Luke's Community	371	(4)
Learning on Your Own	375	(5)
Irony and the Spirit	380	(38)
The Gospel according to John
The Structure of John's Gospel	381	(7)
The Descent: The Word Became Flesh	388	(7)
The Ascent: The Hour Has Come	395	(8)
The Situation of John and His Community	403	(12)
Learning on Your Own	415	(3)
The Dawn of a New Day	418	(41)
The Apocalypse of John
Theories of Interpretation	419	(4)
The Nature of the Genre	423	(5)
Symbols, Images, and Meanings	428	(6)
The Plot of the Apocalypse	434	(12)
Symbols, Story, and History: The Setting of Revelation	446	(9)
Learning on Your Own	455	(4)
The Story after the Writings	459	(27)
One Story in Many
The Making of the Canon	460	(7)
The Meaning of the Canon	467	(2)
Canon, Story, and History	469	(14)
Learning on Your Own	483	(3)
Appendix A: Doing Your Own Research	486	(6)
Appendix B: Detailed Chronology of the New Testament Era	492	(3)
Bibliography	495	(68)
Credits	563	(1)
Index	564