Reading the New Testament Today

by Van Voorst, Robert E.

• ISBN13: 9780534541804
• ISBN10: 0534541801
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-26
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Being able to understand someone else's religious beliefs is crucial. READING THE NEW TESTAMENT takes the mystery out by introducing you to the five schools of interpretation and what they all mean. And because this introduction to the New Testament textbook is designed to launch conversations with your classmates, READING THE NEW TESTAMENT helps make class interesting. Plus, it's got links to Internet sites that help you get all the information you'll need to ace the test.

Table of Contents

Figures, Maps, and Tables	xvi
Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments	xx
Part One Introducing the New Testament Today
Introducing the New Testament	2	(21)
What Is the New Testament?	3	(5)
An Overview of the New Testament	8	(8)
The New Testament in Translation	16	(2)
Using the World Wide Web to Study the New Testament Today	18	(1)
Suggestions on How to Read Scriptures	19	(4)
Ways of Reading the New Testament Today	23	(28)
The Historical-Critical Method of Reading	24	(9)
Narrative Reading	33	(3)
Social Scientific Reading	36	(4)
Feminist Reading	40	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading	43	(5)
Conclusion	48	(3)
The Jewish Matrix of the New Testament	51	(32)
A Brief Review of the Essentials of Jewish Religion	51	(2)
Origin, Development, and Structure of the Hebrew Bible	53	(1)
Palestine from Alexander's Death to Roman Occupation	54	(10)
Jewish Literature in the Hellenistic Age	64	(5)
Religious Groups in Second Temple Judaism	69	(5)
Institutions of Jewish Life	74	(6)
Conclusion	80	(3)
The Greco-Roman Matrix of the New Testament	83	(29)
The Conquests of Alexander the Great	83	(1)
Alexander's Successors and the Spread of Greek Culture	84	(2)
The Decline of the Diadochi Kingdoms	86	(1)
Roman Rule and Life	87	(1)
Judea from 40 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.: From Client Kingdom to Failed Revolt	88	(2)
Greco-Roman Culture	90	(12)
Religion in the Greco-Roman World	102	(10)
Part Two Gospel Portraits of Jesus
Introducing the Gospels	112	(36)
What Is a Gospel?	112	(5)
Why Were the Gospels Written?	117	(2)
The Synoptic Problem and Source Criticism	119	(8)
Form Criticism of the Synoptic Gospels	127	(6)
Redaction Criticism	133	(2)
Narrative Reading	135	(5)
Social Scientific Reading of the Gospels	140	(2)
Feminist Reading	142	(2)
Cross-Cultural Reading	144	(4)
The Gospel of Mark: Following Jesus, The Suffering Messiah	148	(37)
A Guide to Reading	149	(10)
Historical Reading	159	(10)
Narrative Reading	169	(3)
Social Scientific Reading	172	(3)
Feminist Reading	175	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading	178	(7)
The Gospel of Matthew: Following Jesus, The Lord of a Diverse Church	185	(32)
A Guide to Reading	186	(12)
Historical Reading	198	(7)
Narrative Reading	205	(3)
Social Scientific Reading	208	(3)
Feminist Reading	211	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading	214	(3)
The Gospel of Luke: Following Jesus, the Savior of the World	217	(33)
A Guide to Reading	218	(14)
Historical Reading	232	(5)
Narrative Reading	237	(2)
Social Scientific Reading	239	(4)
Feminist Reading	243	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading	246	(4)
The Gospel of John: Following Jesus, the Eternal Son of God	250	(34)
A Guide to Reading	251	(12)
Historical Reading	263	(9)
Narrative Reading	272	(2)
Social Scientific Reading	274	(2)
Feminist Reading	276	(4)
Cross-Cultural Reading	280	(4)
Part Three An Early Christian History
The Acts of the Apostles: The Church from Jerusalem to Rome	284	(28)
A Guide to Reading	286	(10)
Historical Reading	296	(4)
Narrative Reading	300	(2)
Social Scientific Reading	302	(3)
Feminist Reading	305	(2)
Cross-Cultural Reading	307	(5)
Part Four Paul and the Pauline Tradition
Introduction to Paul and the Pauline Tradition	312	(20)
Our Sources for the Study of Paul	312	(1)
Paul as a Letter Writer	313	(1)
Paul's Letter Format	314	(2)
Seeking the Historical Paul	316	(4)
Paul's Major Teachings: A Very Brief Introduction	320	(5)
The New Perspective on Paul	325	(1)
The Pauline Tradition	326	(6)
1 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians: Paul's Letters to Greek Churches	332	(37)
1 Thessalonians: Faithful Life and the Near Return of Christ	332	(1)
A Guide to Reading 1 Thessalonians	333	(3)
Historical Reading of 1 Thessalonians	336	(4)
Social Scientific Reading of 1 Thessalonians	340	(2)
Feminist Reading of 1 Thessalonians	342	(2)
Cross-Cultural Reading of 1 Thessalonians	344	(2)
1 Corinthians: Unity, Wisdom, Love, and Hope in a Dynamic Church	346	(1)
A Guide to Reading 1 Corinthians	347	(5)
Historical Reading of 1 Corinthians	352	(3)
Social Scientific Reading of 1 Corinthians	355	(2)
Feminist Reading of 1 Corinthians	357	(1)
2 Corinthians: Paul Defends His Apostolic Calling	358	(1)
A Guide to Reading 2 Corinthians	359	(3)
Historical Reading of 2 Corinthians	362	(7)
Galatians and Romans: Believers Live Faith	369	(25)
Galatians: Stand Firm in Christ's Freedom	369	(1)
A Guide to Reading Galatians	370	(3)
Historical Reading of Galatians	373	(2)
Social Scientific and Cross-Cultural Readings of Galatians	375	(2)
Feminist Reading of Galatians	377	(2)
Romans: Paul Explains His Gospel to an Independent Church	379	(1)
A Guide to Reading Romans	380	(4)
Historical Reading of Romans	384	(3)
Social Scientific and Feminist Reading of Romans	387	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Romans	390	(4)
Philippians and Philemon: Two Letters from Prison	394	(23)
Philippians: Joy in the Lord	394	(1)
A Guide to Reading Philippians	395	(3)
Historical Reading of Philippians	398	(5)
Social Scientific Reading of Philippians	403	(2)
Feminist Reading of Philippians	405	(1)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Philippians	406	(1)
Philemon: Paul's Intervention for a Christian Slave	407	(1)
A Guide to Reading Philemon	408	(1)
Historical Reading of Philemon	409	(3)
Social Scientific Reading of Philemon	412	(2)
Feminist Reading of Philemon	414	(3)
2 Thessalonians, Colossians, and Ephesians: The Pauline Tradition	417	(27)
2 Thessalonians: Awaiting the End of Time Faithfully	417	(1)
A Guide to Reading 2 Thessalonians	418	(2)
Historical Reading of 2 Thessalonians	420	(3)
Social Scientific and Feminist Readings of 2 Thessalonians	423	(1)
Colossians: Following the Cosmic Christ	424	(2)
A Guide to Reading Colossians	426	(2)
Historical Reading of Colossians	428	(2)
Social Scientific and Feminist Readings of Colossians	430	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Colossians	433	(1)
Ephesians: Following Christ in a Cosmic Church	434	(1)
A Guide to Reading Ephesians	435	(2)
Historical Reading of Ephesians	437	(3)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Ephesians	440	(4)
1--2 Timothy and Titus: Pastoral Letters to Guide the Pauline Churches	444	(22)
1 Timothy: Combating False Teaching and Setting Up Church Leadership	445	(1)
A Guide to Reading 1 Timothy	446	(2)
Historical Reading of 1 Timothy	448	(4)
Feminist Reading of 1 Timothy	452	(2)
2 Timothy: Personal Advice for Church Leadership	454	(1)
A Guide to Reading 2 Timothy	455	(1)
Historical Reading of 2 Timothy	456	(1)
Social Scientific and Feminist Readings of 2 Timothy	457	(1)
Titus: False Teaching and Church Office	458	(1)
A Guide to Reading Titus	459	(1)
Historical Reading of Titus	460	(1)
Social Scientific Reading of Titus	460	(1)
Feminist Reading of Titus	461	(5)
Part Five General/Catholic Letters and Revelation
Hebrews, James, 1--2 Peter, and Jude: The General Letters	466	(43)
The Letter to the Hebrews: Stay True to Christ	466	(1)
A Guide to Reading Hebrews	467	(5)
Historical Reading of Hebrews	472	(3)
Social Scientific Reading of Hebrews	475	(2)
Feminist Reading of Hebrews	477	(1)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Hebrews	478	(1)
James: Faith and Justice in Keeping God's Law	479	(1)
A Guide to Reading James	480	(3)
Historical Reading of James	483	(4)
Social Scientific Reading of James	487	(1)
Cross-Cultural Reading of James	488	(2)
1 Peter: Faithful Life under Persecution	490	(1)
A Guide to Reading 1 Peter	490	(3)
Historical Reading of 1 Peter	493	(3)
Feminist and Cross-Cultural Readings of 1 Peter	496	(1)
Jude: Contending for the True Faith	497	(1)
A Guide to Reading Jude	498	(2)
Historical Reading of Jude	500	(2)
2 Peter: Contending for the True Faith Reiterated	502	(1)
A Guide to Reading 2 Peter	502	(2)
Historical Reading of 2 Peter	504	(1)
Cross-Cultural Reading of 2 Peter	505	(4)
1, 2 and 3 John: The Johannine Community in Conflict	509	(20)
1 John: Love and Community	509	(1)
A Guide to Reading 1 John	510	(5)
Historical Reading of 1 John	515	(3)
Social Scientific Reading of 1 John	518	(2)
Feminist Reading of 1 John	520	(2)
2 John: Keep False Teachers Away	522	(1)
A Guide to Reading 2 John	522	(2)
Historical Reading of 2 John	524	(1)
3 John: Let Faithful Teachers In	524	(1)
A Guide to Reading 3 John	525	(1)
Historical Reading of 3 John	526	(3)
Revelation: The Flowering of Christian Apocalyptic	529	(23)
A Guide to Reading Revelation	530	(8)
Historical Reading of Revelation	538	(6)
Social Scientific Reading of Revelation	544	(2)
Feminist Reading of Revelation	546	(1)
Cross-Cultural Reading of Revelation	547	(5)
Part Six After the New Testament
Christian Origins after the New Testament	552	(21)
The Formation of the NT Canon	552	(6)
On the Borders of the New Testament	558	(5)
The Challenge of Gnosticism	563	(3)
The Apocryphal New Testament	566	(7)
Glossary	573	(14)
Bibliography	587	(10)
Index	597