New Testament Guides – serie

Burkett offers a new viewpoint on the much-debated Synoptic Problem. He contends that each theory regarding the Synoptic Problem is problematic. Each presents a case for the mutual dependence of one source upon another - for example, Matthew and Luke depend primarily on Mark, but use each other where they report the same story not contained already in Mark. Neither Mark nor Matthew nor Luke served as the source for the other two, but all depended on a set of earlier sources now lost. The relations between the Synoptic Gospels are more complex than the simpler theories have assumed.

Burkett offers a new viewpoint on the much-debated Synoptic Problem. He contends that each theory regarding the Synoptic Problem is problematic. Each presents a case for the mutual dependence of one source upon another - for example, Matthew and Luke depend primarily on Mark, but use each other where they report the same story not contained already in Mark. Neither Mark nor Matthew nor Luke served as the source for the other two, but all depended on a set of earlier sources now lost. The relations between the Synoptic Gospels are more complex than the simpler theories have assumed.

This volume offers a concise and accessible introduction to 1 Peter, especially aimed at undergraduate-level students. It provides information on the likely historical and social setting of this letter, on its literary form and theological content, and on issues involved in its interpretation. In particular, this volume suggests that 1 Peter is an important text not least for the ways in which it both reflects and constructs early Christian identity, in its relationships with Judaism and the Roman Empire. Although 1 Peter remains neglected compared with the canonical gospels and the major Pauline letters, Horrell argues that the letter deserves much more attention for the pivotal contribution it makes to the development of early Christianity and for the ways in which it reveals this development in progress.

This volume offers a concise and accessible introduction to 1 Peter, especially aimed at undergraduate-level students. It provides information on the likely historical and social setting of this letter, on its literary form and theological content, and on issues involved in its interpretation. In particular, this volume suggests that 1 Peter is an important text not least for the ways in which it both reflects and constructs early Christian identity, in its relationships with Judaism and the Roman Empire. Although 1 Peter remains neglected compared with the canonical gospels and the major Pauline letters, Horrell argues that the letter deserves much more attention for the pivotal contribution it makes to the development of early Christianity and for the ways in which it reveals this development in progress.

Concise yet comprehensive, manageable and affordable, T&T Clark Study Guides are an invaluable resource for students, preachers and Bible study leaders. Each book in the series gives the reader a thorough introduction to a particular book of the Bible or the Apocrypha and includes: An introduction to the contents of the particular biblical book A balanced survey of the important critical issues Attention to literary, historical, sociological, and theological perspectives Suggestions about critical appropriation of the text by the contemporary reader Reference to other standard works through annotated bibliographies. All the books in the series, formerly published by Sheffield Academic Press, are by leading biblical scholars and the authors have drawn on their scholarly expertise as well as their experience as teachers of university and college students.

James offers a concise and accessible introduction to a New Testament text, in this case aimed specifically at undergraduate-level students. John S. Kloppenborg introduces the reader to a series of critical issues bearing on the reading of James and provides a balanced presentation and assessment of the range of scholarly views, with guidance for further reading and research.

Like other volumes in the New Testament Guides series, James offers a concise and accessible introduction to a New Testament text, in this case aimed specifically at undergraduate-level students. Kloppenborg introduces the reader to a series of critical issues bearing on the reading of James and provides a balanced presentation and assessment of the range of scholarly views, with guidance for further reading and research.

The women in Jesus' life are a raucous and rowdy bunch, including "riotous" foremothers, "loose women," and "distressed daughters of Israel." Reading these new ways of interpreting women in the Gospels, male New Testament scholars have discovered liberating perspectives. In seven scintillating studies, Spencer explores among others the genealogy of Matthew's Gospel to discover the riotous yet righteous nature of Jesus' foremothers, slave girls and prophetic daughters in Luke-Acts, and women leading men in the Gospel of Mark 5-7. Scott Spencer, a virtuoso young New Testament scholar, provides his own lively forays into reading the Gospels through women's eyes. He shows what it is like for a man to read stories about the women in Jesus' life from a new perspective. Spencer is an able and inventive scholar whose broad-ranging insights and engaging style make his work very accessible.

This is a short, up-to-date volume, concise yet comprehensive, on the New Testament text. It has been designed to meet your needs and includes items such as an introduction to the contents of the particular biblical book, a balanced survey of the important critical issues, suggestions about critical appropriation of the text by the contemporary reader, and much more.

The first question is: Should Revelation be studied at all? Is it monopolised by fundamentalists, or of such a minority interest that it doesn't belong in the New Testament? This study guide introduces the text anew by a series of thematic readings. The text is seen to deal with essential themes-God and Christ, the Church in the World, Creation and the end of the Universe, Politics and Rival Powers, and the Future Hope. Special attention is paid to the living traditions within which Revelation is interpreted, including art, literature and music. Not only does this guide seek to orientate the reader within the whole range of the text and its traditions; it also focusses discussion in three substantial chapters dealing in turn with the key literary, historical, and theological issues raised. How can one describe Revelation's literary character? From what historical and social context did it come? What are its abiding theological values and doctrines? This study is set in the context of modern approaches to the biblical text and is supported by selected bibliographies and recommendations for further reading.

This brief study is intended primarily for theological students, and perhaps also for ministers who wish to update their scholarship. It seeks to show the issues facing those who seek to study Ephesians or interpret it. The first part examines in detail the normal questions of authorship and destination. The second offers a brief survey of the content of the letter drawing out its main points. The third part concentrates attention on its theology, treating in detail its teaching about the church and behaviour. In this it is claimed that these two areas of life together in the Christian community and conduct within it reflect on one another and influence each other; in that sense the letter is a unity of thought. While an attempt is made to solve the problems which present themselves, for example whether, the author was not Paul but a disciple, there is no suggestion that the writer's own solutions are the only possible ones.

Anyone who tries to read through Paul's epistle to the Romans soon discovers it is a dense and difficult text. Some of the difficulties are concealed by modern translations, yet even those translations are likely to baffle the average reader with unfamiliar terms-or to mislead the well-informed reader with terms that are over-familiar through the Christian doctrinal tradition. Morgan provides a guide to Romans, to help modern readers understand what Paul intended his audience to understand. The religious language of the epistle, its use of scripture and tradition, and its impact are all clearly discussed, with the needs of students in mind.

These two small texts have often been outshone by other New Testament writings and have sometimes been regarded as of scant importance. Neither of them is easy to understand. Their language is sometimes difficult and the symbolism and biblical allusions are obscure to readers who do not know Jewish apocalyptic literature. Knight demonstrates that they do, however, repay careful study. They reveal a thought-world that is dominated by meditation on biblical literature, and they show how such material was interpreted to deal with problems in the life of certain unknown churches in the first century CE.

The three epistles of John occupy only five or six pages of an English Bible, yet they are among the most intriguing writings of the New Testament. Were they written by one person or more? In what sort of community did they originate, and what situation are they addressing? What is the background to their thought? How do they relate to the Gospel of John? What is their theological message, and does it have any relevance to the modern world? These are some of the issues considered in this student textbook Guide to the Johannine epistles.