Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts [Hardcover]

David Wenham (Author), Steve Walton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0830825576 | ISBN-13: 978-0830825578 | Publication Date: January 27, 2005

This clearly written introduction to the Gospels and Acts offers a student-friendly approach that is rooted in up-to-date scholarship and actual classroom experience. Particularly aimed at students of theology, Exploring the New Testament: A Guide to the Gospels & Acts introduces

• Jewish and Roman background
• literary genres and forms
• conventional as well as new approaches to the study of the Gospels and Acts
• debated issues such as authorship, date and setting
• the quest for the historical Jesus
• content and major themes of each of the Gospels and Acts
• the intersection of New Testament criticism with contemporary issues of faith and culture

Written by seasoned New Testament teachers David Wenham and Steve Walton, Exploring the New Testament: A Guide to the Gospels & Acts is especially suited for introductory courses that focus on Jesus and the Gospels or the Gospels and Acts. It is a comprehensive package with numerous features to facilitate learning, like

• clearly stated goals for each chapter
• "What Do You Think" boxes posing issues to consider
• "Digging Deeper" boxes exploring select topics in greater detail
• boxed summaries highlighting essential facts
• practical study aids, including how to use a Gospel synopsis and how to exegete a Gospel text
• charts visually organizing complex material such as chronologies and genealogies
• maps giving quick geographical and spatial orientation to events
• topics for essays or research papers suggested for each chapter
• "Further Reading" giving annotated bibliographies for each chapter, classified by introductory or intermediate levels
• pointers to relevant articles in IVP's Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, facilitating parallel use of this valuable reference tool
• quotations from relevant ancient texts such as Josephus
• double-column formatting for easy reading
• glossary of terms to aid beginning students
• subject and Scripture indexes for quick access to topics

Product Details

• Hardcover: 314 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (January 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830825576
• ISBN-13: 978-0830825578
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #594,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steve Walton is a New Testament scholar who has done much of his scholarly research and writing on Luke and Acts. He teaches at the London School of Theology, where he is Senior Lecturer in Greek and New Testament Studies and Director of Research.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intro to NT Scholarship, March 23, 2007

By 

Alex L. Silva (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent introduction to the world of New Testament scholarship. Having gone to Christian schools my entire life, including college, I have seen "New Testament Survey" type books. I thought there couldn't possibly be any benefit from going through yet another New Testament survey as I'd heard it all before. But this rises above the rest. It opened my eyes to a whole new world of biblical studies that I had no idea existed.

Set up like any survey of the gospels and Acts, it delves deeper as it interacts with current scholarly debates and introduces you to the major players and important terminology used by scholars. After reading this book, you feel as if something has been hidden from you your whole life. As if they thought you were too dumb to be able to handle serious research into the historical Jesus and the early church.

This book isn't like that as it brings you into the conversation. I now have a voracious appetite for biblical scholarship and have read some of the greatest books of my life since reading this one. This book book started me on an incredibly influential path theologically and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs a bridge from the basics you learn through church, your own reading, and Sunday school to the gigantic and helpful world of NT scholarship.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous!, January 20, 2008

By 

W. S. Jones "bibliophile" (Noblesville, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts (Hardcover)

After having read most of better than a dozen books on NT survey, background, introduction, etc. Over the past few years this is perhaps the very best.

If I were building a church library and could afford only one book of this kind, I would without a doubt choose this book. It has a great balance of background material and commentary, but leaves the reader with essay and research questions that are challenging, yet "doable".

If you wish to LEARN about your faith and really grapple with the issues involved in understanding the Gospels, this is a book that will quench your thirst.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, May 12, 2007

By 

E3 "E.THE3RD" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring The New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts (Hardcover)

This book is wonderfully detailed, and reader friendly. I enjoyed it so much that I am purchasing its companions for both the Old & the rest of the New Testament.