Invitation to the New Testament First Things

by Witherington III, Ben

• ISBN13: 9780190491949
• ISBN10: 0190491949
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780190491956
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2017-01-02
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details

About This Book

Invitation to the New Testament: First Things, 2nd Edition

ISBN: 9780190491949

"Invitation to the New Testament: First Things, 2nd Edition" is a comprehensive and engaging introductory text to the New Testament, written by renowned scholar and author Ben Witherington III. This book is designed to be both a valuable resource for college survey courses and a captivating read for seminary students and general readers.

Who Uses It?

Primarily, this book is used by students and instructors in introductory New Testament courses at the college and university levels. It is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the basics of the New Testament, including professionals looking to refresh their knowledge or expand their understanding of biblical principles.

History and Editions

The 2nd edition of "Invitation to the New Testament: First Things" has been updated to provide a balanced approach to the New Testament, incorporating dynamic color photos, maps, charts, and marginal definitions to keep students engaged. This edition includes chapter-ending study questions that review key ideas and encourage reflection, as well as "A Closer Look" boxes that cover more advanced topics.

Author and Other Works

Ben Witherington III is the Amos Professor of the New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and also serves on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He is one of the world's top evangelical scholars, having written over fifty books. His engaging and reader-friendly writing style makes complex concepts accessible to a broad audience.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Coverage: The book offers a detailed exploration of the New Testament, covering core concepts and historical contexts.
• Visual Aids: Numerous dynamic color photos, maps, and charts provide visual overviews at a glance.
• Marginal Definitions: Marginal definitions help students quickly grasp new concepts.
• Study Questions: Chapter-ending study questions review key ideas and encourage reflection.
• First-Century Quotations: First-century quotations expose students to the world of the New Testament.
• Advanced Topics: "A Closer Look" boxes cover more advanced topics, making it an ideal resource for both beginners and advanced learners.

Detailed Information

ISBNs and Formats

• Hardcover: ISBN-13: 9780190491949
• eBook: Available through VitalSource (ISBN: 9780190491956)

Publication Details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 2017
• Number of Pages: 520
• Language: English
• Item Weight: Not specified
• Dimensions: Not specified

Other Editions and Formats

• First Edition: Available through Oxford University Press (ISBN: 9780190491949)
• eBook: Available through VitalSource (ISBN: 9780190491956)

Related ISBNs:

• eBook (VitalSource): ISBN-13: 9780190491956

This detailed information section provides a quick reference for all the available formats and sources for "Invitation to the New Testament: First Things, 2nd Edition," making it easier to find and access the book in the preferred format.

Author Biography

Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of the New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and also serves on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. One of the world's top evangelical scholars, he has written more than fifty books and is also a popular lecturer. Along with many interviews on radio networks across the country, he has been seen on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, the BBC, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgments
The Plan of this Book
PART I. BACKGROUND AND FOREGROUND
Chapter 1. The Texture of the Text of the New Testament
The Material Used
Why a Continuous Flow of Letters?
The Oral and Rhetorical World of the New Testament
Implications of What We Have Learned
Chapter 2. The Literature of the New Testament
What Are the Gospels (and Acts)?
What about the "Letters" of the New Testament?
In the End, Apocalypse
What Is the Story the New Testament Seeks to Tell?
What Sort of History Is This?
Implications
Chapter 3. Jesus of Nazareth in His Early Jewish Setting
Did Jesus Even Exist?
What Manner of Man Was He?
What Is a Miracle?
Were There "Lost Christianities"?
Chapter 4. First Century Family Values
Greece and Rome Will Not Leave Us Alone
Social History and Ordinary Life
Implications
PART II. THE GOSPELS AND ACTS
Chapter 5. The Earliest Good News--Mark's Gospel
Who Was Mark, and When Did He Write?
How Is Mark's Gospel Arranged?
Brief Contents
The Presentation of and Reflection on Christ in Mark
Marking Time
The Kingdom Comes with Teaching and Healing
A Closer Look: Jesus' Wisdom Teachings--Parables, Aphorisms, Riddles
The Dramatic, Surprise Ending of Mark's Gospel
Implications
Chapter 6. The MOST POPULAR GOSPEL--MATTHEW
Describing a Scribe
The Audience, Date, and Character of Matthew's Gospel
Matthew's Special Contributions to the Story of Jesus
The Sermon on the Mount
The Peter Principle
The Grand Finale
Implications
Chapter 7. Luke the Historian's Two-Volume Work--Luke--Acts
Luke's Hellenistic, Yet Jewish, Historical Approach to Jesus and "the Way"
Who Was Theophilus?
Who Was Luke?
The Logical and Theological Structuring of Luke--Acts
The Gospel of the Holy Spirit
Luke's Views of Jesus
Synopsis of the Content of Luke--Acts
Implications
Chapter 8. The Last Word on Jesus--The Beloved Disciple's Testimony in the Gospel of John
First Things
The Theological Structure of the Fourth Gospel
A Closer Look: The I Am Sayings
In Passing--Meaningful Asides in the Gospel of John
A Glimpse of Glory--Special Moments in the Gospel of John with Nicodemus, the Samaritan Woman, Mary Magdalene, and Peter
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
PART III. PAUL AND HIS RHETORICAL LETTERS
Chapter 9. Paul--Outlines of the Life and Letters of the Apostle
The Trinity of Paul's Identity
Paul the Multilingual, Multicultural Apostle
Rhetoric in the Greco-Roman World
Paul's Rhetorical Letters
Paul's Narrative Thought World
Five Stories that Shook and Shaped Paul's World and Worldview
Implications
Chapter 10. Paul the Letter Writer Part One: The Earlier Letters
Paul's First Salvo--Galatians
Synopsis of Contents
1 and 2 Thessalonians
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
Chapter 11. Paul the Letter Writer Part Two: The Capital Pauline Epistles
1 and 2 Corinthians
Synopsis of Contents
A Closer Look: Paul, Sex, and Women
Synopsis of Contents
Romans--The Righteousness of God and the Setting Right of Human Beings
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
Chapter 12. Paul the Letter Writer Part Three: The Captivity Epistles
Synopsis of Colossians and Ephesians
Colossians 3:18-4:1/Ephesians 5:21-6/9--The Household Codes
Synopsis of Contents
Philemon
Philippians
Implications
Chapter 13. Paul the Letter Writer Part Four: The Pastoral Epistles and the Problem of
Pseudonymous Letters
Why the Authorship Issue Matters
The Pastoral Epistles--What Sort of Rhetoric Is This?
Primary Argument about False Teachers
Secondary Argument about False Teachers
Outlines and Synopses of Contents of the Pastorals
Titus
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Implications
PART IV. LETTERS AND HOMILIES FOR JEWISH CHRISTIA NS
Chapter 14. The Sermon of James the Just--Jesus' Brother
General Epistles?
James--A Wisdom Sermon in Encyclical Form
The Language, Wisdom, and Rhetorical Style of James
The Authorship and Provenance Question
What Kind of Document Is James?
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
Chapter 15. The Other Brother and his Eschatological Thinking--Jude
Jude--The Man
Jude the Book
Jude's Audience
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
Chapter 16. The Suffering Servant--1 Peter
The Social World of Early Christianity
The Authorship, Audience, and Social Milieu of 1 Peter
The Rhetorical Outline of 1 Peter
Synopsis of Contents
Implications
Chapter 17. The Sermon of the Famous Anonymous Preacher--Hebrews
The Authorship, Audience, and Provenance of Hebrews
The Rhetoric of Hebrews
Core Samplings
Implications
Chapter 18. A Beloved Sermon and Two Elderly Letters--1-3 John
The Authorship Issues
The Social Context of the Johannine Epistles
The Date and Provenance of the Johannine Epistles
The Rhetoric of the Johannine Epistles
The Rhetorical Structure of 1 John
The Rhetorical Structure of 2 John
The Rhetorical Structure of 3 John
Core Samples--1 John 4
Implications
PART V. IN THE END--APOCALYPSE--AND THEREAFTER
Chapter 19. Picking up the Pieces, Forming up the Canon-2 Peter
Preliminary Considerations
The Mystery That Is 2 Peter
Putting Together the Pieces
The Rhetoric of 2 Peter
Core Samplings--2 Peter 1.12-21
Implications
Chapter 19. APOCALYPSE LATER--THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
The Particularity of Revelation
The Rhetoric and Resources of Revelation
Revelation in Its Social Setting in Western Asia Minor
The Christology of Revelation
The Genre of Revelation
Core Samplings: Revelation
Implications
Chapter 20. The Making of the New Testament--Did the Canon Misfire?
Canon Consciousness and Scripture Consciousness
The Rise of New Testament Scripture and Canon Consciousness
The Organizing of Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy
In the End
Implications
Appendix A. Right on Q? Are the Synoptics a Problem?
Appendix B. Epistolary Pseudepigrapha and Intellectual Property in Antiquity--Framing the Discussion
Key Terms
Index