A Brief Introduction to the New Testament

The concise and more pedagogical version of The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Fourth Edition, Bart D. Ehrman's A Brief Introduction to the New Testament, Second Edition, is the intriguing story of the early Christian writings - their authors, their subject, and their influence. How were they formed? Why were they written? What do they mean? How do they differ? And how did they come to be collected into a canon of Scripture as the
New Testament?

Presenting challenging material in a way that is both accessible and understandable, Bart D. Ehrman takes a historical approach to these questions and builds his discussion based on context; he situates the writings of the New Testament in the social, cultural, and literary world of the early Roman Empire. His approach is also comparative, emphasizing similarities and differences between the texts. Bringing forth a multitude of perspectives, including those of various scholars in the field, he
raises critical issues while also exemplifying the richness and diversity to be found in the study of early Christian literature. Further enhancing the text, Ehrman incorporates time lines, maps, an extensive box program, a comprehensive glossary of over 200 hundred key terms that are also boldfaced
at their first appearance in each chapter and conveniently collected at the end of that chapter, and over seventy photos - now in full color throughout.

In this new edition, Ehrman has revised and moved his discussion of Acts of the Apostles to follow the discussion of the Gospels and the historical Jesus. He has also moved his discussion of the Johannine epistles to appear with that of the other epistles. In addition, he has updated the book to reflect recent scholarship and discoveries, including the Gospel of Judas Iscariot. Four boxes are new, as is a photo essay on Ancient Manuscripts of the New Testament; and the Suggestions for Further
Reading and the Questions for Study and Reflection (only included in this brief version, not in Ehrman's longer textbook) have been updated. An Instructor's Manual and a Companion Website complement the text.

Ideal for introduction to the New Testament courses and other courses on early Christianity, the text is written in Ehrman's inimitable style, bringing the story of the New Testament to life for students and general readers alike.

(Oxford)

Bli först med att recensera och betygsätt boken A Brief Introduction to the New Testament - du kan vinna 200 kr varje månad i tävlingen "Månadens recension".

Mark Finney, Journal for the Study of the New Testament This is an excellent introductory work, beautifully presented and lavishly illustrated. The use of full colour throughout makes it a visual delight...as an introductory text, this is one of the best on the market, and for the visual experience, the one to beat.

(Oxford)

BOXES; PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION; PREFACE; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; NOTES ON SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; CREDITS; MASTER TIME LINE; 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT?; WHAT TO EXPECT; THE NEW TESTAMENT: SOME BASIC INFORMATION; OTHER EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITINGS; THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN CANON; IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR STUDY; THE NEW TESTAMENT: ONE OTHER SET OF PROBLEMS; AT A GLANCE: THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON; EXCURSUS: SOME ADDITIONAL REFLECTIONS: THE HISTORIAN AND THE BELIEVER; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 2. THE ENVIRONMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS: THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD; WHAT TO EXPECT; THE PROBLEM OF BEGINNINGS; ONE REMARKABLE LIFE; THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: RELIGIONS IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD; AT A GLANCE: THE WORLD OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 3. THE ENVIRONMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS: THE WORLD OF ANCIENT JUDAISM; WHAT TO EXPECT; MONOTHEISM: THE BELIEF IN ONE TRUE GOD; THE COVENANT: ISRAEL'S PACT WITH ITS GOD; THE LAW: ISRAEL'S COVENANTAL OBLIGATIONS; TEMPLE AND SYNAGOGUE: ISRAEL'S PLACES OF WORSHIP; FORMS OF EARLY JUDAISM; POLITICAL CRISES IN PALESTINE AND THEIR RAMIFICATIONS; THE FORMATION OF JEWISH SECTS; THE JEWISH CONTEXT FOR THE TRADITIONS ABOUT JESUS; AT A GLANCE: THE WORLD OF EARLY JUDAISM; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 4. THE TRADITIONS OF JESUS IN THEIR GRECO-ROMAN CONTEXT; WHAT TO EXPECT; ORAL TRADITIONS BEHIND THE GOSPEL; THE GOSPELS AS BIOGRAPHIES OF JESUS; AT A GLANCE: THE TRADITIONS OF JESUS; SOME ADDITIONAL REFLECTIONS: THE AUTHORS OF THE GOSPELS; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 5. JESUS, THE SUFFERING SON OF GOD: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK; WHAT TO EXPECT; THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM; THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL: JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD WHO FULFILLS SCRIPTURE; JESUS THE AUTHORITATIVE SON OF GOD; JESUS THE OPPOSED SON OF GOD; JESUS THE MISUNDERSTOOD SON OF GOD; JESUS THE ACKNOWLEDGED SON OF GOD; JESUS THE SUFFERING SON OF GOD; JESUS THE CRUCIFIED SON OF GOD; JESUS THE VINDICATED SON OF GOD; CONCLUSION: MARK AND HIS READERS; AT A GLANCE: THE GOSPEL OF MARK; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 6. JESUS, THE JEWISH MESSIAH: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW; WHAT TO EXPECT; A REDACTIONAL APPROACH TO MATTHEW; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEGINNINGS: JESUS THE JEWISH MESSIAH IN FULFILLMENT OF THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES; THE PORTRAYAL OF JESUS IN MATTHEW: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AS A SPRINGBOARD; JESUS REJECTED BY THE JEWISH LEADERS; MATTHEW AND HIS READERS; AT A GLANCE: THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 7. JESUS, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE; WHAT TO EXPECT; A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF THE GOSPEL; THE PREFACE TO LUKE'S GOSPEL; LUKE'S BIRTH NARRATIVE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE; FROM JEW TO GENTILE: LUKE'S PORTRAYAL OF JESUS THE REJECTED PROPHET; LUKE'S DISTINCTIVE EMPHASES THROUGHOUT HIS GOSPEL; CONCLUSION: LUKE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE; AT A GLANCE: THE GOSPEL OF LUKE; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 8. JESUS, THE MAN SENT FROM HEAVEN: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN; WHAT TO EXPECT; THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FROM A LITERARY-HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE; THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FROM A REDACTIONAL PERSPECTIVE; THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FROM A THEMATIC PERSPECTIVE; THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FROM A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE; THE AUTHOR OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL; AT A GLANCE: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN; SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; KEY TERMS; QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION; 9. THE HISTORICAL JESUS; WHAT TO EXPECT; PROBLEMS WITH SOURCES; USING OUR SOURCES; JEWISH APOCALYPTICISM; JESUS IN HIS APOCALYPTIC CONTEXT; THE BEGINNING AND END AS KEYS TO THE MIDDLE; THE APOCALYPTIC DEEDS OF JESUS; THE APOCALYPTIC TEACHINGS OF JESUS; THE APOCALYPT

(Oxford)