Exploring the New Testament

by Marshall, I. Howard; Travis, Stephen; Paul, Ian

• ISBN13: 9780830825561
• ISBN10: 0830825568
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-08-01
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Table of Contents

How to use this book	xi
A. SETTING THE SCENE
The world of first-century Christians	3	(20)
How do we know what we know	3	(1)
The emergence of Roman power	4	(2)
A century of civil conflict	4	(2)
Augustus' successors	6	(2)
The Julio-Claudian dynasty	6	(1)
The Flavian dynasty	6	(2)
Government of the empire	8	(1)
The provinces	8	(1)
Client kingdoms	9	(1)
Cities and colonies	9	(1)
The army	9	(1)
The legions	9	(1)
Auxiliaries	10	(1)
The Praetorian Guard	10	(1)
Roman society	10	(4)
Citizenship	10	(1)
Classes	10	(1)
Women	11	(1)
Patrons and clients	12	(1)
Language and culture	13	(1)
Entertainment	13	(1)
Religion and philosophy	14	(5)
Traditional religion	14	(1)
Healing cults	15	(1)
Mystery religions	15	(1)
Fate, astrology and magic	15	(1)
The imperial cult	16	(1)
Cynics, Stoics and Epicureans	17	(1)
Romans, Jews and Christians	18	(1)
Essay topics	19	(1)
Further reading	20	(3)
B. PAUL AND HIS LETTERS
Letters in the New Testament	23	(8)
Ancient letter-writing	23	(1)
The format of letters	24	(1)
The format of Paul's letters	25	(3)
Letters of recommendation or introduction	28	(1)
Other New Testament letters	28	(1)
Further reading	29	(2)
Paul, his letters and his life	31	(16)
Where can we learn about Paul?	31	(3)
Material from outside the New Testament	32	(1)
The Acts of the Apostles	32	(2)
The letters of Paul	34	(1)
Difficulties in the Pauline letters	34	(2)
Were the letters all written by Paul?	34	(2)
Do we have the letters in their original form?	36	(1)
Is Paul a reliable informant about himself?	36	(1)
Early days	36	(2)
Paul's call and conversion	38	(1)
Paul as a missionary	39	(2)
Paul the captive	41	(1)
Problems of chronology	42	(2)
Essay topics	44	(1)
Further reading	44	(3)
The letter to the Galatians	47	(14)
What led to the writing of the letter?	47	(2)
The structure of the letter	49	(1)
Paul's argument in the letter	50	(2)
Was the letter effective?	52	(2)
To whom was the letter sent?	54	(2)
When was the letter written?	56	(3)
Consequences for the date of the letter	58	(1)
For today's Galatians	59	(1)
Essay topics	59	(1)
Further reading	59	(2)
The letters to the Thessalonians	61	(12)
Paul and Thessalonica	61	(2)
The contents of 1 Thessalonians	63	(3)
The contents of 2 Thessalonians	66	(4)
Problems in 2 Thessalonians	70	(1)
For today's Thessalonians	71	(1)
Essay topics	71	(1)
Further reading	71	(2)
The `first' letter to the Corinthians	73	(18)
Paul's mission	73	(1)
The `previous' letter	74	(1)
Getting behind the second (first) letter	75	(5)
Continuing immorality	76	(1)
Party squabbles in the congregation	76	(1)
The rich and the poor	77	(1)
`Strong' and `weak' believers	78	(1)
Spiritual superiority and inferiority	79	(1)
Questions about the resurrection	80	(1)
Surveying 1 Corinthians	80	(8)
Party spirit	81	(1)
Immorality and litigation	82	(1)
Sexual and marital issues	83	(1)
Food offered to idols	84	(1)
Congregational meetings	85	(2)
Spiritual gifts	87	(1)
The resurrection	88	(1)
In conclusion	88	(1)
For today's Corinthians	88	(1)
Essay topics	89	(1)
Further reading	89	(2)
The `second' letter to the Corinthians	91	(14)
An overview of the problems	91	(1)
The events leading up to 2 Corinthians 1-7	92	(1)
Identifying the tearful letter	93	(2)
Survey of 2 Corinthians 1-7	95	(3)
Thanksgiving (Berakah)	95	(1)
The rift with the congregation	95	(1)
The nature of apostleship	96	(2)
Resuming the story	98	(1)
2 Corinthians 8 and 9	99	(1)
More fragmentary letters?	100	(1)
The problem of 2 Corinthians 10-13	100	(2)
The occasion of 2 Corinthians 10-13	102	(1)
For today's Corinthians	103	(1)
Essay topics	104	(1)
Further reading	104	(1)
The letter to the Romans	105	(24)
The purpose of the letter	105	(3)
The nature of the argument in the letter	108	(1)
An overview of the letter	109	(12)
The opening (and the closing) (Rom. 1:1-15; 15:14-16:27)	109	(1)
The text is announced! (Rom. 1:16-17)	110	(1)
Universal sin and guilt (Rom. 1:18-3:20)	110	(1)
The main proposition (Rom. 3:21-31)	111	(1)
Abraham as an example of faith (Rom. 4:1-25)	112	(1)
The results of justification (Rom. 5:1-11)	112	(1)
Christ contrasted with Adam (Rom. 5:12-21)	113	(1)
No longer under sin and under the law (Rom. 6:1-23)	114	(1)
The law is good - but impotent (Rom. 7:1-25)	115	(1)
New life by the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-39)	116	(1)
The problem of Jewish unbelief in the gospel (Rom. 9-11)	117	(2)
Practical implications of the new life (Rom. 12-13)	119	(1)
Jews and Gentiles living together in the same congregation (Rom. 14:1-15:13)	120	(1)
Paul's mission - to Rome and beyond (Rom. 15:14-33)	121	(1)
Closing greetings (Rom. 16:1-27)	121	(1)
Scribes do strange things	121	(1)
Again - the purpose of the letter	122	(1)
The composition of Romans	123	(1)
The problems of Romans 16	124	(1)
Two versions of one letter	124	(1)
Two separate letters	124	(1)
For today's Romans	125	(1)
Essay topics	126	(1)
Further reading	126	(3)
The letter to the Philippians	129	(14)
Paul and the congregation at Philippi	129	(1)
Paul's situation	130	(3)
The situation and needs of the church	133	(1)
Attacks on the church	133	(1)
Tensions within the church	133	(1)
A rival version of the gospel	133	(1)
The structure of the letter	134	(3)
Philippians as a letter	135	(1)
Philippians as an example of rhetoric	135	(2)
The development of the message	137	(2)
Philippians - one letter or several fragments?	139	(1)
For today's Philippians	140	(1)
Essay topics	140	(1)
Further reading	141	(2)
The letter to Philemon	143	(8)
Paul, Philemon and Onesimus	143	(3)
The structure of the letter	146	(1)
The outcome	147	(1)
For a twenty-first-century Philemon	148	(1)
Essay topics	148	(1)
Further reading	148	(3)
The letter to the Colossians	151	(12)
The planting of the congregation	151	(1)
Why was the letter written?	151	(1)
The `philosophy'	152	(2)
Identifying the issues	152	(2)
The structure of the letter	154	(1)
Paul's teaching in the letter	154	(4)
Paul's circumstances	158	(1)
Other possible places of origin	158	(1)
Did Paul write Colossians?	159	(1)
Arguments against Pauline authorship	159	(1)
Arguments in favour of Pauline authorship	159	(1)
For today's Colossians	160	(1)
Essay topics	160	(1)
Further reading	161	(2)
The letter to the Ephesians	163	(12)
To whom was the letter sent?	164	(1)
What is the letter?	165	(2)
The unity of the church	166	(1)
`Power' language	166	(1)
The structure of the letter	167	(1)
A quick survey of the letter	167	(2)
Who wrote the letter?	169	(3)
Arguments against Pauline authorship	169	(1)
Arguments for Pauline authorship	170	(1)
Weighing the probabilities	171	(1)
For today's Ephesians	172	(1)
Essay topics	172	(1)
Further reading	173	(2)
The letters to Timothy and Titus	175	(18)
Letters that are somehow different	175	(1)
The problem of non-Pauline authorship	176	(1)
To whom were the letters written?	177	(1)
When were the letters written?	178	(1)
What are the letters about?	179	(1)
The structure of the letter to Titus	179	(1)
An overview of Titus	179	(1)
The structure of 1 Timothy	180	(1)
An overview of 1 Timothy	181	(2)
The structure of 2 Timothy	183	(1)
An overview of 2 Timothy	183	(1)
What is the situation reflected in the letters?	184	(4)
Opposition and heresy	184	(1)
The development of church order	185	(1)
Christian living and pastoral care	186	(2)
Evaluating the evidence	188	(2)
Not by Paul?	188	(1)
Written or dictated by Paul?	189	(1)
A middle way?	189	(1)
For today's congregational leaders	190	(1)
Essay topics	190	(1)
Further reading	190	(3)
Paul - the missionary theologian	193	(20)
Paul as an apostle	193	(1)
Humanity and its need	194	(2)
Creation	194	(1)
Human nature	194	(1)
Sin	195	(1)
Getting right with God	196	(1)
Justification by works	196	(1)
Covenantal nomism	196	(1)
The marks of belonging	196	(1)
Paul's radical alternative	197	(1)
The language of salvation	197	(1)
Sacrifice	197	(1)
Justification	197	(1)
Redemption	198	(1)
Reconciliation	198	(1)
Salvation	198	(1)
Faith	198	(1)
The new life of believers	199	(4)
God as father	199	(1)
`In Christ'	200	(1)
The work of the Spirit	201	(2)
Theological implications for Paul's understanding of God	203	(1)
The community of believers	204	(1)
Ministry and the functions of the church	205	(2)
What principles shape Christian behaviour?	207	(2)
Five general principles	207	(1)
The new way of life	207	(2)
Some specific areas of concern	209	(1)
Relations between men and women	209	(1)
Slavery	209	(1)
The state	209	(1)
Money and possessions	209	(1)
The future for the world and believers	209	(1)
The missionary obligation	210	(1)
Essay topics	211	(1)
Further reading	211	(2)
New Testament letters - interpretation and authorship	213	(18)
Understanding what we read in New Testament letters	213	(1)
Two related activities	214	(4)
Entering into the situation	218	(2)
Speeches in the form of letters?	220	(1)
Getting the message	221	(2)
The question of pseudonymity	223	(3)
The traditional view	223	(1)
Alternative suggestions	224	(1)
Further reactions	225	(1)
Essay topics	226	(1)
Further reading	226	(5)
C. LETTERS BY OTHER CHURCH LEADERS
The letter to the Hebrews	231	(16)
Clues about the recipients	231	(1)
What kind of a document?	232	(1)
The structure and argument of Hebrews	233	(5)
Theological themes of Hebrews	238	(2)
The high priest and his sacrifice	238	(1)
Other perspectives on Jesus	239	(1)
Salvation and the Christian hope	239	(1)
Discipleship	240	(1)
Special issues	240	(2)
The author's thought-world	240	(2)
Is Hebrews anti Jewish?	242	(1)
Where were the readers located?	242	(2)
Who wrote the letter?	244	(1)
Some issues for today	245	(1)
Essay topics	245	(1)
Further reading	246	(1)
The letter of James	247	(14)
The character of the letter of James	247	(2)
James as exhortation or `parenesis'	248	(1)
James as wisdom	248	(1)
James as a letter	249	(1)
The structure of the letter	249	(1)
Who wrote the letter?	250	(2)
To whom was the letter addressed? Why, and when?	252	(1)
Jewish Christians in Palestine?	252	(1)
Jewish Christians in the Dispersion?	253	(1)
James and the teaching of Jesus	253	(1)
James and Paul	254	(2)
Theology and themes in James	256	(2)
God	256	(1)
Jesus	256	(1)
Eschatology	256	(1)
Friendship with the world and with God	256	(1)
The law	257	(1)
Faithful living	257	(1)
The testing of faith	257	(1)
Poverty and wealth	257	(1)
Some issues for today	258	(1)
Essay topics	258	(1)
Further reading	259	(2)
The first letter of Peter	261	(14)
Outline of the letter	261	(1)
The situation of the recipients	262	(2)
What was the nature of their suffering?	264	(1)
The letter's message to the churches	265	(4)
Christian existence in a hostile environment	265	(1)
The grace of God in Christ	265	(1)
The household of God	266	(1)
God's people	266	(1)
Facing suffering	266	(1)
Christian responsibilities	267	(2)
Who wrote 1 Peter?	269	(2)
Assessing the arguments	270	(1)
Some issues for today	271	(1)
Essay topics	272	(1)
Further reading	272	(3)
The second letter of Peter and the letter of Jude	275	(14)
What do these letters have in common?	275	(2)
The letter of Jude - its purpose	277	(2)
The false teachers	277	(1)
Jude's strategy for advising his readers	278	(1)
Who wrote this letter?	279	(1)
2 Peter - genre and outline	280	(1)
2 Peter - the problem of authorship	281	(3)
The false teachers in 2 Peter	284	(1)
The purpose and theology of 2 Peter	284	(2)
The hope of Christ's coming	285	(1)
Some issues for today	286	(1)
Essay topics	286	(1)
Further reading	286	(3)
The letters of John	289	(16)
1 John - background and authorship	289	(3)
Is the author of 1 John the same as the author of the Fourth Gospel?	290	(1)
The location of the author and his readers	291	(1)
The circumstances addressed in 1 John	292	(1)
The nature of the false teaching	292	(1)
John's response to the false teaching	293	(1)
The purpose and shape of 1 John	294	(2)
Some issues for today	296	(1)
2 and 3 John - their relation to 1 John	297	(1)
The context and content of 2 John	297	(2)
Hospitality to missionaries	298	(1)
The context and content of 3 John	299	(1)
3 John - evidence of an emerging pattern of church leadership?	300	(1)
Essay topics	301	(1)
Further reading	301	(4)
D. APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
The Revelation to John	305	(24)
Language and genre	306	(2)
Historical context and dating	308	(5)
Dating	308	(2)
Authorship	310	(1)
Context	310	(3)
Theological perspectives	313	(2)
God	313	(1)
Jesus	313	(1)
The Spirit	314	(1)
The followers of the Lamb	314	(1)
Mythological context and emperor worship	315	(2)
Use of the Old Testament	317	(2)
Some examples	318	(1)
Structure and composition	319	(1)
Numbers and their meaning	320	(4)
Phrase repetition and word frequencies	320	(1)
Numerology	321	(1)
Words and their numbers	322	(1)
The decoding of 666 (Rev. 13:18)	323	(1)
Interpretative issues	324	(2)
Traditional approaches	324	(1)
Image, symbol and metaphor	324	(2)
Some issues for today	326	(1)
Essay topics	326	(1)
Further reading	327	(2)
Glossary	329	(4)
Index	333