A. M. Hunter – författare

St Paul has often been sadly misunderstood, both by Christians and non-Christians. Part One of this book is a personal - indeed autobiographical - invitation to the reader to think of Paul as `the fifth evangelist, the first in point of time and of value both'. Then, from his letters, Professor Hunter has portrayed him in turn as writer, liberator, pastor, theologian, churchman, friend and saint. In Part Two, after chapters on St John and the new look that has come over his Gospel in our time, he has added further essays on the Lord's supper, the Holy Spirit, prayer, preaching and the church's hymns. The final chapters concentrate on those three little words, faith, love and hope, which, properly understood, take us back to the church's first beginnings, as still today they sum up what it means to be a Christian. A. M. Hunter, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, was formerly Master of Christ's College, Aberdeen.

'The book is immensely readable; although it is clearly the work of a scholar, its abundant learning is firmly directed to practical ends. Often, when dealing with a point such as the real purpose of an obscure parable, or the authenticity of a probable late gloss, two or three theories are quoted and examined; the discussion is always scrupulously fair, but in every case Dr Hunter leaves the reader in no doubt that he feels that one answer is better than the others, and he explains just why he considers that it is better. Puzzling stories like the Unjust, Steward, the Labourers in the Vineyard, the Barren Fig Tree and the Importunate Widow, are convincingly explained. And the whole book is written in sinewy down-to-earth terms, as though the writer has got you by the coat lapels and is saying, "Now look here, man, this is the way it is; take it or leave it". I like a book to be written in that way, so long as it also sets out enough evidence to enable you to disagree intelligently with the author if you want to; and this book does just that' (The Inquirer).

`A combination of solid scholarship and living religion of a rare kind . . . An almost ideal book for an intelligent person who said: "I know little about Christian theology, but I want a straightforward introduction to it" ' (Dr Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury). `Professor Hunter excels in seizing on the essentials of any subject and presenting them to the non-specialist reader in a clear and interesting way. The result is a book which meets all the reasonable needs of the beginner and has quite a lot to say to those who are not beginners' (T. W. Manson in The Guardian). A. M. Hunter, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, was formerly Master of Christ's College, Aberdeen.

In twenty chapters, this book by a much loved New Testament scholar and Christian covers the main articles of Christian faith and practice. Beginning from the Bible, its message and its trustworthiness, it goes on to consider the gospel of the kingdom of God through all its stages from baptism to eternal life and hell, purgatory and heaven. Between these points, Dr Hunter considers miracles, the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit and the nature of Christian ethics.

With the parables of the gospels we may be sure that we are in direct contact with the mind of Jesus of Nazareth. Furthermore, thanks to the work of scholars like C. H. Dodd and Joachim Jeremias, we may claim to understand the parables better than any Christians since the apostolic age. But is that enough? Modern scholarship puts the parables back in their original setting, but when this has been done, Professor Hunter argues, 'You sometimes wonder if the parables have not been made so historically time-bound locked away in a first-century Jewish strait jacket-that Jesus' words have little obvious relevance for us today in this so different twentieth century.' In an attempt to go one stage further, Dr Hunter offers an interpretation of more than thirty of the parables of Jesus which not only takes into account their origin but also relates them to our world. This, and an introductory section on the history of interpreting the parables, makes the book a valuable guide to those teaching and preaching in schools and parishes. 'A useful book for preachers, teachers and Bible readers generally . . . Marked by the author's usual good judgment and lucid style this is a book to recommend' (The Expository Times). A. M. Hunter, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, was formerly Master of Christ's College, Aberdeen.

This book contains thirty-four sermons preached, Professor Hunter tells us, at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and to the Royal Family at Crathie Church, besides others preached in Oxford, Perth, Aberdeen and in the United States at Princeton and Atlanta. The themes are many and various, from 'Christian Faith and the Riddle of the World to The Holy City: there are studies of Christ s greatest parables and his teaching on prayer, plus addresses suitable for Good Friday, Easter Day and Whitsunday, as well as sermons on the-church and sacraments, the Christian ethic-and eternal life. Convinced that one prime cause for the church's decline today is the lack of truly evangelical preaching based firmly on the Good News of the apostles, Professor Hunter offers these sermons, arising from a lifetime's occupation with the New Testament, to help not only ministers but also lay preachers return to the great themes of the New Testament and proclaim them to their congregations in words and idioms which will come home to their hearers.

Over twenty-five years have passed since this book was first published, and the first edition went through nine impressions. Originally it was intended to provide students and others with a sketch of the ministry of Jesus which made serious use of the sources underlying the synoptic gospels. Much has happened in New Testament studies during that time, and this completely revised edition takes recent developments into consideration. In particular, since many scholars believe the Fourth Gospel to be independent of the first three and to preserve much early tradition, Dr Hunter draws on its testimony for some aspects of Jesus' ministry. The text of the RSV and NEB has been substituted for the RV throughout the body of the book. This revised edition provides an account of the work and words of Jesus which, while not ignoring the contribution of German critics, reflects the less radical approach to be found in the writings of many distinguished British scholars. `An excellent introduction to the ministry of Jesus for interested laymen, students and ministers' (Baptist Times).

The parables of Jesus seem to be an unending source of inspiration for teachers and preachers and it is possible to return to them again and again to find a new message in them. That is certainly the experience of Professor Hunter who, after the great success of his Preaching the New Testament (which was reprinted within its first year of publication), has here produced a second series of sermons on the best-known Gospel parables. Those who know his books already will need no further prompting; those who do not will find him here on his best form, the clarity of insight in no way dimmed by the years of experience.

This volume on John's Gospel is one of the series of commentaries on the New English Bible which is designed for use in schools and colleges, and for the minister and the layman. Each volume comments on one book, or a few short books, of the Bible, and in each the text is given in full. Sections of text and commentary alternate, so that the reader does not have to keep two books open, or turn from one part of the book to the other, or refer to a commentary in small type at the foot of the page. Great care has been taken to see that the commentary is suitable for the student and the layman: there is no Greek or Hebrew, and no strings of biblical references, but the commentary does convey the latest and best scholarship. The general editors all have experience of teaching or examining in school and working with adults. In addition to the general introductory volume, Understanding the New Testament, there is a volume of maps and plates, New Testament Illustrations.

In 64 short and lively essays, A. M. Hunter offers new and exciting insights into the New Testament.