The New Testament: A Student's Introduction

by Harris, Stephen L.

• ISBN13: 9780072876017
• ISBN10: 0072876018
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-14
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

Summary

This introductory student-centered text is now full color, enhancing its readers' visual experience! The fifth edition of The New Testament retains its effective 5-part organization ("An Invitation to the New Testament," "Diverse Portraits of Jesus," "An Account of the Early Church," "Paul and the Pauline Tradition," and "General Letters and Vision of End Time"), which traces the New Testament’s chronological, thematic, and literary development and examines each New Testament document on a book-by-book basis. This method helps students to become familiar with the content and major themes of the New Testament as well as to acquaint themselves with the goals and methods of important biblical scholarship. The fifth edition of The New Testament is the best revision ever.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
PART ONE An Invitation to the New Testament	1	(98)
Photo Essay | The Jewish and Hellenistic Background of Early Christianity	2	(2)
An Overview of the New Testament	4	(19)
Key Topics/Themes	4	(1)
What Is the New Testament?	5	(1)
The New Testament and the Hebrew Bible	6	(7)
Language and Literature of the New Testament	13	(5)
Other Early Christian Literature	18	(2)
Scholarly Approaches to the New Testament	20	(1)
Summary	21	(1)
Questions for Review	21	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	21	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	22	(1)
Recommended Reading	22	(1)
How the New Testament Was Formed and Handed Down to Us	23	(39)
Key Topics/Themes	23	(1)
Formation of the New Testament Canon	23	(4)
Transmitting the New Testament Texts	27	(4)
English Translations	31	(6)
Summary	37	(1)
Questions for Review	38	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	38	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	38	(1)
Recommended Reading	38	(2)
The Two Worlds in Which Christianity Originated
Jewish and Greek	40	(22)
Key Topics/Themes	40	(1)
The One God, Yahweh	40	(2)
The Torah	42	(1)
The Divine Promises	43	(1)
The Jerusalem Temple	44	(1)
The World of Greek Thought and Culture	45	(1)
Greek Philosophy	46	(3)
Greco-Roman Religion	49	(7)
The Mystery Religions	56	(3)
Summary	59	(1)
Questions for Review	60	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	60	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	60	(1)
Recommended Reading	60	(2)
The Troubled World into Which Jesus Was Born	62	(19)
Key Topics/Themes	62	(1)
Alexander and His Successors	63	(1)
Antiochus's Persecution and the Maccabean Revolt	64	(5)
The Roman Emperors	69	(6)
The Jewish Revolt Against Rome	75	(3)
Summary	78	(1)
Questions for Review	79	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	79	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	79	(1)
Recommended Reading	79	(2)
The Diverse World of First-Century Judaisms	81	(18)
Key Topics/Themes	81	(1)
First-Century Jewish Diversity	81	(9)
The Messiah: First-Century Expectations	90	(6)
Messianic Claimants Before and After Jesus	96	(1)
Summary	97	(1)
Questions for Review	97	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	97	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	98	(1)
Recommended Reading	98	(1)
PART TWO Diverse Portraits of Jesus	99	(190)
Photo Essay | Archaeological Sites and Artifacts Associated with Jesus' Life	100	(3)
The Gospels
Form and Purpose	103	(23)
Key Topics/Themes	103	(3)
The Gospels and Modern Scholarship	106	(2)
Assumptions and Approaches	108	(2)
The Synoptic Problem	110	(9)
The Gospel of John	119	(1)
Literary Analysis of the Gospels	119	(5)
Summary	124	(1)
Questions for Review	124	(1)
Question for Discussion and Reflection	124	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	124	(1)
Recommended Reading	124	(2)
Mark's Portrait of Jesus
The Hidden Messiah and Eschatological Judge	126	(29)
Key Topics/Themes	126	(1)
Mark's Historical Setting	126	(2)
Mark's Puzzling Attitude Toward Jesus' Close Associates	128	(3)
Mark as a Literary Narrative	131	(2)
Prelude to Jesus' Public Ministry	133	(2)
The Galilean Ministry: Inaugurating the Kingdom	135	(8)
The Journey to Jerusalem: Jesus' Predestined Suffering	143	(2)
The Jerusalem Ministry: A Week of Sacred Time	145	(4)
Mark's Passion Narrative: Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion	149	(3)
Postlude: The Empty Tomb	152	(1)
Summary	152	(1)
Questions for Review	152	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	153	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	153	(1)
Recommended Reading	153	(2)
Matthew's Portrait of Jesus
A Teacher Greater than Moses	155	(32)
Key Topics/Themes	155	(1)
Relation to the Hebrew Bible	155	(2)
Authorship, Purpose, Sources, and Organization	157	(9)
Introduction to the Messiah: Infancy Narrative	166	(1)
The Beginning of Jesus' Proclamation	167	(2)
First Major Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount	169	(3)
First Narrative Section: Ten Miracles	172	(1)
Second Major Discourse: Instructions to the Twelve Apostles	172	(2)
Second Narrative Section: Questions and Controversies	174	(1)
Third Major Discourse: Parables on the Kingdom	174	(2)
Third Narrative Section: From the Rejection in Nazareth to the Transfiguration	176	(1)
Fourth Major Discourse: Instructions to the Church	176	(1)
Fourth Narrative Section: The Jerusalem Ministry	177	(1)
Fifth Major Discourse: Warnings of Final Judgment	178	(4)
Fifth and Final Narrative Section: The Passion Story and Resurrection	182	(2)
Summary	184	(1)
Questions for Review	184	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	185	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	185	(1)
Recommended Reading	185	(2)
Luke's Portrait of Jesus
A Savior for ``All Nations''	187	(31)
Key Topics/Themes	187	(1)
Israel and the Church: Luke's Theology of History	188	(1)
The Author and His Sources	189	(8)
Infancy Narratives of the Baptist and Jesus	197	(3)
Jesus' Galilean Ministry and the ``Lesser Interpolation''	200	(3)
Luke's Travel Narrative: Jesus' Teachings on the Journey to Jerusalem	203	(7)
The Jerusalem Ministry: Jesus' Challenge to the Holy City	210	(2)
The Final Conflict and Passion Story	212	(2)
Epilogue: Postresurrection Appearances in the Vicinity of Jerusalem	214	(1)
Summary	215	(1)
Questions for Review	216	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	216	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	217	(1)
Recommended Reading	217	(1)
Photo Essay | Diverse Portraits of Jesus	218	(3)
John's Portrait of Jesus
Divine Wisdom Made Flesh	221	(29)
Key Topics/Themes	221	(1)
Authorship	222	(10)
Hymn to the Word (Logos)	232	(3)
The Book of Signs	235	(6)
The Book of Glory	241	(2)
John's Interpretation of the Passion	243	(3)
Epilogue: Postresurrection Appearances in Galilee	246	(1)
Summary	247	(1)
Questions for Review	248	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	248	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	248	(1)
Recommended Reading	248	(2)
The Other Gospels
Additional Portraits of Jesus	250	(16)
Key Topics/Themes	250	(1)
Contrasting Portrayals of Jesus	250	(3)
The Gospel of Thomas	253	(5)
Secret Mark	258	(1)
The Gospel of Peter	258	(1)
Gospels About Jesus' Infancy and Childhood	259	(4)
Summary	263	(1)
Questions for Review	264	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	264	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	264	(1)
Recommended Reading	264	(2)
The Continuing Quest for the Historical Jesus	266	(23)
Key Topics/Themes	266	(2)
Early Historical References to Jesus	268	(1)
A Survey of the Historical Search for the ``Real'' Jesus	269	(1)
Renewing the Quest	270	(1)
The Continuing Scholarly Debate	271	(1)
Some Criteria for Testing the Authenticity of Jesus' Words and Deeds	271	(2)
A Nonapocalyptic Wisdom Teacher	273	(2)
An Apocalyptic Jesus	275	(2)
Some General Agreements About the Historical Jesus	277	(3)
Jesus' Teaching About the Kingdom	280	(4)
Wisdom and the Kingdom of God	284	(1)
Summary	285	(1)
Questions for Review	286	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	286	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	287	(1)
Recommended Reading	287	(2)
PART THREE An Account of the Early Church	289	(28)
Photo Essay | Themes and Settings in the Book of Acts	290	(3)
Acts of the Apostles	293	(24)
Key Topics/Themes	293	(1)
The Divine Plan of Humanity's Salvation	294	(2)
Prologue and Account of the Ascension	296	(1)
Founding the Jerusalem Church	297	(2)
The Work of Peter and the Apostles	299	(1)
Persecution of the Hellenist-Jewish Christians: The First Missions	300	(1)
Preparation for the Gentile Mission: The Recruitment of Paul and Cornelius	301	(2)
The First Missionary Journey of Barnabas and Paul: The Jerusalem Conference	303	(4)
Paul's Second Missionary Journey: Evangelizing Greece	307	(4)
Paul's Third Missionary Journey: Revisiting Asia Minor and Greece	311	(1)
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea	312	(2)
Paul's Journey to Rome and His Preaching to Roman Jews	314	(1)
Summary	315	(1)
Questions for Review	315	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	316	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	316	(1)
Recommended Reading	316	(1)
PART FOUR Paul and the Pauline Tradition	317	(76)
Photo Essay | Paul and His World	318	(2)
Paul
Apostle to the Nations	320	(13)
Key Topics/Themes	320	(1)
Seeking the Historical Paul	321	(1)
The Historical Reliability of Acts	321	(1)
Paul's Experience of the Risen Jesus	322	(1)
Dating Paul's Career	323	(2)
Paul's Letters	325	(3)
Paul's Major Assumptions and Concerns	328	(3)
Summary	331	(1)
Questions for Review	331	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	331	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	331	(1)
Recommended Reading	332	(1)
Unity, Freedom, and Christ's Return
Paul's Letters to Thessalonica and Corinth	333	(17)
Key Topics/Themes	333	(1)
First Letter to the Thessalonians	334	(2)
First Letter to the Corinthians	336	(10)
Second Letter to the Corinthians	346	(2)
Summary	348	(1)
Questions for Review	348	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	348	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	349	(1)
Recommended Reading	349	(1)
Freedom from Law and Justification by Faith
Galatians and Romans	350	(15)
Key Topics/Themes	350	(1)
An Angry Letter to the ``Stupid'' Galatians	351	(3)
Letter to the Romans	354	(9)
Summary	363	(1)
Questions for Review	363	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	363	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	364	(1)
Recommended Reading	364	(1)
Letters from Prison
Philippians and Philemon	365	(11)
Key Topics/Themes	365	(1)
Place of Origin	365	(1)
Letter to the Philippians	366	(4)
Letter to Philemon	370	(1)
Paul's Lasting Influence	371	(2)
Summary	373	(1)
Questions for Review	374	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	374	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	374	(1)
Recommended Reading	374	(2)
Continuing the Pauline Tradition
2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, the Pastoral Epistles, 1 Clement, and the Epistle of Barnabas	376	(17)
Key Topics/Themes	376	(1)
The Problem of Pseudonymity	377	(1)
Second Letter to the Thessalonians	378	(1)
A Disputed Letter to the Colossians	379	(2)
Letter to the Ephesians	381	(3)
The Pastorals: Letters to Timothy and Titus	384	(3)
1 Clement	387	(1)
The Epistle of Barnabas	388	(1)
Summary	389	(1)
Questions for Review	389	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	390	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	390	(1)
Recommended Reading	390	(3)
PART FIVE General Letters and Some Visions of End Time	393	(56)
General Letters on Faith and Behavior
Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and the Teachings (Didache) of the Twelve Apostles	394	(20)
Key Topics/Themes	394	(1)
Authors and Dates	395	(1)
The Book of Hebrews	395	(4)
James	399	(3)
1 Peter	402	(2)
Jude	404	(1)
2 Peter	405	(2)
Letters from the Johannine Community	407	(2)
The Teaching (Didache) of the Twelve Apostles	409	(2)
Summary	411	(1)
Questions for Review	411	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	412	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	412	(1)
Recommended Reading	412	(2)
Photo Essay | The Conflict Between Caesar and Christ	414	(2)
Continuing the Apocalyptic Hope
The Book of Revelation and Other Jewish/Christian Apocalyptic Works	416	(24)
Key Topics/Themes	416	(1)
Revelation and the Apocalyptic Tradition	417	(9)
Jesus' Letters to the Seven Churches	426	(1)
Visions in Heaven	426	(2)
Signs in Heaven: The Woman, the Dragon, the Beast, and the Seven Plagues	428	(4)
Other Hellenistic-Jewish and Christian Apocalypses	432	(5)
Summary	437	(1)
Questions for Review	437	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	438	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	438	(1)
Recommended Reading	438	(2)
The Judeo-Christian Bible and Subsequent History	440	(9)
The Evolution of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Greek Scriptures	440	(2)
Constantine the Great	442	(1)
The Church and the Secular World	442	(2)
Shocks and Readjustments	444	(3)
Summary	447	(1)
Questions for Review	447	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	447	(1)
Terms and Concepts to Remember	447	(1)
Recommended Reading	447	(2)
Glossary of New Testament Terms and Concepts	449	(28)
Selected Bibliography	477	(1)
Credits	478	(2)
Index	480